Does anyone regret getting chickens?

[teach1rusl]

Granted, I've only had my five chickens for 6 months, but I've never regretted getting them. I LOVE them! My DH claims that I've spent more time outside this winter than I've done over the past 5 winters together (and this has been SOME winter). I see that as a good thing, because I hate cold weather, but have been motivated to get out because of my chickens. Even DH gets excited when he finds eggs in the nest box, and he laughs at how they follow us around when they're out of the run. He didn't want them on the porch at first (because of the poop), but now he sits out there and talks with them when they're visiting (begging for treats) there. Our dog helps with clean-up

out and about, and I don't think a thing of giving the coop a quick pick-up any time I'm out there (dropping boards help a LOT). I have room for more chickens, but really like just having a few...I can enjoy their individual personalities a lot more this way.

 

[CTChickenMom]

We will be your 'enablers'! Truly, we love our feathered family. Should you have problems, of any kind, come see us. We're always here and will be happy to help you figure out something, even if it's as simple as naming your new fuzzy butts!

Here are a few coop sites I've marked, besides the one here of course!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/

http://feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultrySites.html#coops Just scroll down to the coop section

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=294278&p=1 This is currently going on now. Fellow made a bet with his dad to build a coop and only spend $20. I have it bookmarked to keep tabs on it!

 

[Reinbeau]

My only issue is travel. We have a home up in Maine we like to go to every other weekend or so, and now that my youngest has flown the coop

there's no one here to help with them. I'm still working that out. We've got a vacation coming up at the end of March and I definitely have to get that settled by then. Other than that I have absolutely no regrets, we're going on two years now having chickens and I'm very happy with them.

 

[quiltnchik]

I don't regret it for a minute. Yes, it makes it difficult sometimes - having to make sure someone is home at sundown to lock them up - but I LOVE watching them when I'm outside. Chicken TV is the BEST!! In fact, I love them so much that I'm hatching some as I type this, and my DH agreed to take 4 more hens from the guy down the road, when he stopped last weekend and asked if we wanted them (he has too many)! *LoL*

 

[Lil_Chickadee]

Quote:
No eggs because of the cold weather?

 

[Mahonri]

From time to time.

But most of the time, no.

Believe it or not, there was an hour yesterday when I wished I didn't have any.

I'm almost over it... I spent A LOT of time with my chickens today. I've got to spend more time.

 

[EweSheep]

Regretting getting chickens.....NO!

 

[LittleFeat]

I'm new to this too as of about 6 months ago. I live in a subdivision and was worried about many of the same things as you. I think a lot of my worry
came from focusing tooooo much on the negative aspects that seemed to be so prevalent on the BYC forum that kept me kind of in turmoil. Before I had
any chicks, I would just read and read and see posts about predators and impacted crops and all the pain that people were experiencing. Well this is
a huge group of people and of course when anyone is having trouble they are going to turn to this wealth of knowledge so I was seeing so much of the
problems. I bet if we did a survey, there would also be huge numbers on here that have not had anywhere near the problems or sicknesses or predator
issues as we think. It's just kind of like watching the news too much, we get focused on the problems and lose sight of the joys.

My girls have just started to lay and watching the development of them going from day-old chicks to hens laying eggs has been absolutely the most fascinating, hilarious, hypnotic
time spent and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The only 2 concerns I can say I've had to deal with has been mud from where my dogs run around the pen and here
lately they are beginning to get a little loud....yes there really is an EGG SONG!!

My advice...really pay attention and try to think through all possible issues with location of the coop and don't get carried away and start too big. I have 5 which is a perfect number
but I really should have done a better job of deciding on location. I wanted to have my coop as far from any neighbors as possible in case of noise but the best place for that was also
a low area of the yard that retains water. Well didn't mean to get so long-winded but just had these thoughts for you.

Feel free to check out my coop on my page and good luck, have fun, and just try and be prepared and I doubt you'll regret it....especially after you taste that first egg!

 

[nanawendy]

At this point in time I am only grateful for this experience. We have learned new things that keep our brains working. We enjoy working together in the yard... it's becoming a family project. We've discovered ways to use found materials to avoid expenses. We are finding ways to share our blessings, by giving eggs to others that can't have chickens... and many more wonderful opportunities. Even my 19 y/o son gets in the act, with a suggestion about new breeds and wanting to hatch.

We are especially grateful for this site... Because I feel we have expert info at our finger tips.
The one draw back is the travel thing. but we're not that into traveling at this point and will deal with that at a later time.
Good Luck and ENJOY

 

[ClairedeLune]

Nope, I don't have any regrets from when I started keeping chickens, except for when I sold all my hard-to-find Serama chickies. They're great!