Does anyone regret getting chickens?

[Kansaseq]

Youhavebeenassimilated

Welcome aboard!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Besure to click on 'coop desgins' at the top of the page. You'll get get ideas of coops that will work for you... There are small ones, big one, fancy ones, plain ones, some pretty and some very workable.. So take a day and look thru them...

 

[matthewschickens]

I have NEVER regretted getting chickens!
I think that all the good things that happen overway the bad by far.

MY FAVORITE BREED IS THE CALIFORNIA WHITE

Look on my BYC page for more info on this bird!

 

[FollowingMyNose]

Quote:
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And thanks again! I will definitely start going through those coop designs.

and I'll check out the California Whites too!

 

[babyblue]

the only thing we regret is not building bigger. we have room for a few more hens but with around 10 more we would have enough to sell at the local farmers market. right now we have way to many eggs for our little family, but not quite enough to constantly sell to others.

if the paint mare we have sells anytime soon we are turning her stall into a coop. the old horse would have company and we would have an animal using space that somewhat would provide for themselves.

 

[pride&joy]

Quote:
Exactly what I was thinking

 

[PunkinPeep]

I have been surprised by how happy it makes me to watch chickens peck around my yard.

I have been disappointed when they were sick.

I have become a much better doctor than i had ever thought i could be.

I have cried when i lost them.

I have been grossed out by poop.

But i have only regretted not having them when they were gone.

In my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[mdbokc]

I was thinking the same on flock size. Five is a good number...enough eggs when they come and not a problem in the city. Five are easy to care for and provide every bit as much enjoyment as 12. Go for it!

 

[StupidBird]

I'm in Walton County, Georgia. We have 5 hens in a moveable tractor, don't regret anything (except the usual "wish bigger coop/more chickens") The back yard sounds familiar: about half acre, just bought the trees for the little orchard, big garden.
- the smell: I've got a routine of moving the coop (well, having the guys move it) every few days. During the drier days, thorough cleaning once a week is fine. Right now in the damp and cold, I spot clean daily as well (removing the poopy bedding, fluff and add a bit more fresh), change water daily, and have the run part covered with a plastic tarp. The tractor is close to the house right now so a drop cord will reach to keep the waterer from freezing. It usually is a bit farther, behind the veggie beds. The only time I smell them is when the weather is just so wet, and the tractor stays too long in the same spot. My future coop will be bigger, have a covered run, and the poop board setup.
- the predators: although we have everything except mountain lions and bears here, the only thing I worry about for real are DOGS. Even though there is a leash law, the neighborhood is full of loose dogs. So I have to keep a close eye out when the hens are free ranging - we don't have a fenced yard (yet). there are a few inquisitive hawks. Our tractor has a locking bar across the pop door and gets locked every night and the food put away.
- mites: are a re-occurring problem for me. I use DE in the coop, dusting the bedding after every clean out. When they get mites (at least I think it was mites, this is my first year) I use a poultry dust a few times according to the package directions.
- poopy butt and the like: no worse than babies. The chicks had been chilled badly when we bought them - the power had been out all night at the feed store. But I nursed a starving 4 week old dumped kitten that was in worse shape. Gently washing chick fluffy butts several times a day for a week wasn't too bad a chore.
- chicken sitting: Got the BIG feeder and waterer from TSC, so we can be away overnight. Also, both sons are able to come over most times to check on them. It's just the not having the coop's pop door locked up at night I don't like if there's no one to do it. I'm sure our other friends in town would think it cool to play chickensitter if needed.
- cost: most of the building materials were scavenging from packing crates, construction sites. Only bought the 1/2" hardware cloth, hinges and latches. Used leftover paints all mixed together. We are currently saving stuff up for the future coop.

Anyways, this is our setup. Its ok, maybe just a little crowded for 5 big breed birds, but its working so far. And I would just repeat what everyone else said previously. So good luck!

 

[melody]

NEVER!!!! Last year I lost most of my whole flock to the nieghbors dog and really missed them. Sometimes you get one or two that's a pain, but all and all I just love having chickens.