Hi, I also have to worry about hot GA summers (Burke County). I have no regrets about my chickens--I love them! Here are my thoughts as a fellow Peach Stater:
* the smell in hot Georgia summers
It hasn't been that bad because I keep the hen house scrupulously dry. I do deep litter method, a good cleaning twice a year, and that really helps. My main concern in the heat is keeping everyone cool and hydrated. You know what I think stinks worse than the poop? I left some grain pellets/feed out on the ground, and it rained--ugh, they smelled awful!
* dealing with all the ways they die - sickness, predators, accidents, killing each other
I have 12 hens and 1 roo (gave another away because he was just vicious to us and our son). I lost 2 chicks, but we have been lucky thus far and had no losses of adults. Still, we've had other critters, and alas, loss is a part of the experience of owning animals. A clean coop helps with the sickness worries. Many others have commented on predator proofing, which is also great. The weird accidents, though--they are hard to predict.
* chicken mites
No problems with these thus far. I check frequently, though.
* pasty chicken butts and all things related to poop
No pasty butts. Poop is not that bad if you are clean and careful. I often wear garden gloves when cleaning, and always, I do a very careful washing of hands and lower arms after working with the chickens. I clean out feeders and waterers regularly, too.
* trying to find someone to care for them when we are out of town, or would we never get to leave town again?
It was hard when they were chicks in the home-made brooder; definitely plan to stay close for 4-6 weeks, since they'll need to be checked on frequently. Now, it's not so bad for a weekend--we feed them well on Friday before we leave and Sunday when we get home, and make sure clean water is plentiful. For longer stints, we give eggs to friends and neighbors in exchange for checking the chickens, giving food and water, and so on.
* Initial setup cost (mostly the time and money to build a coop that would not be an eyesore)
We saved a ton of money by calling on friends with scrap lumber and willing hands to help us build. We built the coop and chicken tractor for less than $500. People were glad to chip in for the promise of fresh eggs. Building sites often have useful scraps, too--and the builders may be happy to give you their leftovers, such as pallettes.
I am a college teacher, and the stress/pressure from my job can be intense. After school on a good day, I'll just go out and let the chickens play in the tractor and sit with me, and it is a HUGE stress reliever. Many like to hop up into my lap. When I go out to feed them and lock them up for the night after they've been free ranging, they all run to me squawking happily and looking for treats. They have also been big fun for my son, who is almost 9 and has Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. He likes the responsibility and picks the chickens up and carries them around like any pet. Chickens have been very gratifying for our family.
Dee in Waynesboro, GA
* the smell in hot Georgia summers
It hasn't been that bad because I keep the hen house scrupulously dry. I do deep litter method, a good cleaning twice a year, and that really helps. My main concern in the heat is keeping everyone cool and hydrated. You know what I think stinks worse than the poop? I left some grain pellets/feed out on the ground, and it rained--ugh, they smelled awful!
* dealing with all the ways they die - sickness, predators, accidents, killing each other
I have 12 hens and 1 roo (gave another away because he was just vicious to us and our son). I lost 2 chicks, but we have been lucky thus far and had no losses of adults. Still, we've had other critters, and alas, loss is a part of the experience of owning animals. A clean coop helps with the sickness worries. Many others have commented on predator proofing, which is also great. The weird accidents, though--they are hard to predict.
* chicken mites
No problems with these thus far. I check frequently, though.
* pasty chicken butts and all things related to poop
No pasty butts. Poop is not that bad if you are clean and careful. I often wear garden gloves when cleaning, and always, I do a very careful washing of hands and lower arms after working with the chickens. I clean out feeders and waterers regularly, too.
* trying to find someone to care for them when we are out of town, or would we never get to leave town again?
It was hard when they were chicks in the home-made brooder; definitely plan to stay close for 4-6 weeks, since they'll need to be checked on frequently. Now, it's not so bad for a weekend--we feed them well on Friday before we leave and Sunday when we get home, and make sure clean water is plentiful. For longer stints, we give eggs to friends and neighbors in exchange for checking the chickens, giving food and water, and so on.
* Initial setup cost (mostly the time and money to build a coop that would not be an eyesore)
We saved a ton of money by calling on friends with scrap lumber and willing hands to help us build. We built the coop and chicken tractor for less than $500. People were glad to chip in for the promise of fresh eggs. Building sites often have useful scraps, too--and the builders may be happy to give you their leftovers, such as pallettes.
I am a college teacher, and the stress/pressure from my job can be intense. After school on a good day, I'll just go out and let the chickens play in the tractor and sit with me, and it is a HUGE stress reliever. Many like to hop up into my lap. When I go out to feed them and lock them up for the night after they've been free ranging, they all run to me squawking happily and looking for treats. They have also been big fun for my son, who is almost 9 and has Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. He likes the responsibility and picks the chickens up and carries them around like any pet. Chickens have been very gratifying for our family.
Dee in Waynesboro, GA
