Desperate! Why did no one tell me this about chickens?

[Mulemom]

Hey Spotted Crow! My DH is also 17 years older then I am and I will be 43 next week!
He said he would love to have a couple of hens, I orderd 26!
I was teasing some ladies with "purse dogs" about dressing them in clothes and he just had to tell them I had "lap chickens"! He loved pointing out that they all had names and were all wearing custom painted leg bands!

Biretta, sounds like you did the right thing. People have to come first, and when he realized that you were willing to do that, he was willing to give more too. I think you'll be just fine with the two, and when you move to your new home, you will appreciate what you can have there even more. Why so long? Are you building?

 

[biretta]

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No, no offense taken at all. We ladies have to watch out for each other, right?

I just packed up the 2 chickens and the pen looks so barren!

 

[biretta]

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Yes, that's probably the dynamics going on here. The property deal is closing in September. He wants to hang on to his house here as an investment (it's waterfront) for a couple of years. But also I'm back in school for nursing and have another year left. After I start working we'll take out a loan to build on it. Right now there's nothing: no power, septic, or even a road.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

If noise is a factor in your future flock, be sure to check out the Henderson's chart and select breeds that don't mind being cooped up. Some breeds just have a tougher time with that.
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

You've been given some great suggestions. Providing distractions for them is helpful. A head of lettuce that is dangled, a tree stump, a large dust box, anything to peck at are all helpful.

As was suggested, they can and do get used to a certain amount of freedom and don't much like when it is changed. When I know that I'm going to be out of town, and know that the chicken sitter won't have them out as much as I would, I do adjust their amount of freedom prior to my trip and they do adjust accordingly.

Now, that said, they can get noisy when they are used to being out and I've got them cooped up. Because I live in the city, I have to be mindful of my neighbors. One of my girls (RIR) tends to be the loudest, but there is usually an explanation for it. When the other RIR is in the nest, the EE has to go and watch and the little RIR is left alone and she doesn't like that much. This can be solved by letting just her out for the duration of the egg laying and everything is quiet in the hen house.

But, don't underestimate how smart they are. My noisy girl has learned a new trick. She has learned that the "cackle" brings me out to check for eggs. So, she's learned that if she wants to get me out there, she can cackle, egg or none! Goofy girl!

 

[Zenbirder]

Well SpottedCrow and MuleMom,
I am right there with you, 45 years old with a DH that is 20 years older. He is so tolerant of my foibles, like chickens, and the greatest blessing ever. Biretta, be careful if you want kids. My first marriage was to a man who was picky in neatness. I nearly lost my life trying to keep things neat and clean and perfect enough for him with two normal kids (there was a lot more to it than neatness to be honest but that is a key psychological feature). It ended up messing up the kids as well as me. I would say best of luck to you, but it is more important to say best of intelligence of your head over your heart.

 

[Mulemom]

I've done the building thing twice now. The first time all by myself. Bare land, had the well drilled, put in the septic, driveway (long one)...put a manufactured house on it and then built the 4 stall barn with the help of the handsome cowboy who started coming by a lot a couple of weeks after I moved in. I married that cowboy almost 2 years ago, and we did it again with his property. Did the manufactured home thing again (but more then twice the size of the first one), and would recomend it to anyone who was developing property.

Good luck to you! It's great fun, but it's a pain in the .....Oh yeah, and whatever you think it's gonna cost, add 30%!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Happy Birthday early Mulemom...Mine's the first week of Sept.
It's always good to have waterfront property, providing that Utah isn't the seacoast soon.

I can see holding onto it.
My sister just got a settlement for her house. Her ex had to re re re finance to give her her money and he's telling her to buy this and that with it! And he's crying poor because (GASP) he has to pay bills with his portion!
My sister's gonna pay off some of her debt...and invest the rest. That's what we should do at our age. There's only so many things you can buy.
Most loaners want you to be employed at the same place for at least 6 months before they consider you for a loan also...
Good luck Biretta.

 

[aran]

sorry if i missed this...i didnt read the whole thread...if the problem is the noise they make when they are able to see you why not make only one area of the coop/run ( FACING AWAY from the house) able to be seen out of?
Do they still make the noise if they cannot see anyone?

 

[biretta]

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Thanks, I'll check that site out. In the future though where there will be a reasonable distance separating the house from the coop, I don't think that noise will be a factor. I guess that is characteristic of chickens, or any other animal. I just thought hens were quiet.

 

[biretta]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions about chickens, kids, and building advice. I will take it all to heart.

In response to when they squawk, now it's whether they see me or not. I am hoping I can recondition them to not expect to be out all the time.