Do you have to stay at home in order to have chickens?

[ECBW]

It may depend on how many birds you are talking about. If only as a hobby, backyard thing, 20 minutes a day (everyday though) would be enough to care for them. Many of us spend way more time with the birds because we choose to.

 

[ThomsonCentennialFarm]

Quote:
Yes. This is very true.

I could spend hours out just watching the chicks fall asleep and wake up again, and then go out and sit with Fritzi my EE roo (who is a total snugglebug).

 

[cravenchx]

"Many of us spend way more time with the birds because we choose to."


Boy, isn't that the truth. Chicken TV is the best
thing I've seen in a loonnngg time!

 

[stephpaige]

I work full time as well and it is VERY doable.

When I got my chicks I kept them in the garage in a brooder because it was spring, the weather was nice, and I didn't want the mess in the house. Chicks kick dust everywhere.
I used a dog crate with fine pine shavings in the bottom. I hung the heat lamp on the wall above the crate and had a little digital thermometer in there so
I could monitor the heat and raise or lower it if needed. I took off the first couple of days to make sure they weren't too hot or cold.

I had the coop ready before they were old enough to go out. After about 4 weeks I moved them into the coop. Leave them locked in for about 4 days so
they get accustomed to it and return to roost every night. I let mine freerange during the day, but it's not necessary.

My morning schedule changed somewhat because I have to go let the chickens out. They are up when the sun rises, so I have to make sure they have water.
I also am battling a rat problem right now, so I bring in their food at night and have to take it out in the morning. They put themselves to bed at night so I
just go out and lock the coop door. I built my coop with a small run so they can dust bathe and scratch around. If you haven't built your coop yet and are
not going to let them freerange, I recommend putting in a dutch door so they don't run out if you want to give them treats.

Other than that, I don't get home until after 5 and then I give them treats (corn, spinach, scratch, tomatoes) when I get home. I take whatever eggs they've laid for the day.
I wouldn't trade them for the world. They come running as soon as I go in the backyard and are super funny to watch. The most important thing is to keep the coop clean.
I throw the used pine bedding in my garden and let it compost down. I had 6 ft wide zinnia plants this year because of the rich soil.

Do your research. Read the posts here. READ READ READ. I researched for a year before I purchased my chicks. I would also figure out what kind of chickens you want.
Some are more likely to go broody over others, some are really skiddish, not friendly, friendly, ect. My best girl is a Red Star Sex Link. I would check out this website, it's
where I got my girls: http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks-c36.aspx

Good luck and don't worry, they're tons of fun

 

[allpeepedout]

In the case of raising chicks for the first time, I think it would be helpful to be able to monitor the first 24 hrs. I had problems with chicks overheating using the standard guidelines for temperatures (babies not savvy enough to move away and just melted down in apparent sleep), and the endless sad posts about dying chicks seem to indicate that many people have problems of one sort or another. Perhaps a baby-chick cam at work?