Does anyone regret getting chickens?

[SilverPhoenix]

I've just got to say, it's warmed my heart reading all these posts about how much everyone appreciates their chickens, and the simple joy they bring into our lives. I sometimes feel a little silly for how addicted I am to chickens and how much I love them, but, hey, this all just proves I'm not alone at all! I think there's something very special about chickens that brings us back to simplicity in life. Here we live in such a chaotic and complicated culture, often fraught with stress and drama, and one of the best things we can do for ourselves is watch these wonderful creatures be truly enthusiastic about simple things--food, water, sunlight, company of friends and family. It brings us back to our roots, in a sense, I think. Sometimes all we need to help us get through the complexities of life is a reminder that it's the simple things in life that matter, and a little hard work for the happiness of others (your flock) is one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world.

I'm glad to be in such great company, with people who also find happiness and personality and love in these very beautiful creatures.

The people who have not gotten to watch some happy chickens free-ranging or a broody hen raising her clutch or a flock contently lying in the sun together in the afternoon...are missing out.

 

[Daisygirl]

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Wise words!!

Never regretted it, am glad that my dad has such a good sense of humour - - - otherwise our girls would belong to someone else, there would be more grass on the lawn, and I would be grumbling about getting them!!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

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I'll answer this one since i'm in Louisiana and we have similar weather!! Honestly the only time I've had trouble with mine smelling bad is when it gets wet in the coop & run. I don't have an enclosed coop only three sided but we're having a severe problem with water and mud (My poor fuzzy butts are knee deep in water & mud right now!). And trust me it STINKS!!

It's an issue that can be fixed (and will be soon!) All during September (when we first got ours) and it was in the high 90's we didn't have a problem with it smelling until the wet season started!!

And to the other questions I can't really answer most since I haven't had a problem with them.

As far as the coop goes recycle recycle recycle.... Mine is 16 X 21 (Coop & Run combined) and I don't think we spent more than $250 to build it.

I love my birds and don't regret getting them for a second!! It's a wonderful thing when you can go out there and get your breakfast everyday!!

Missi

 

[augustmomx2]

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That is so very well said

I totall agree! To the OP...never once have I regretted getting chickens. Your concerns are certainly valid, and they may even occur, but as a responsible animal owner you deal with it and move on. Just as if your dog or cat had an illness, etc. The work (which really is minimal) is completely worth the payoff

 

[Sjisty]

I don't regret my chickens in the least! In answer to your concerns -

The smell. I live in Florida. We have a total of 4 coops now for approximately 25 chickens, 4 ducks, and a turkey. It only smells when it is wet. I use Stall-Dry. Every weekend I and sprinkle DE and Stall-Dry (if it's wet), rake the bedding (deep litter method), and add more shavings if needed. It take all of 5 minutes per stall and we have had no problems. No problems with mites, either - maybe because of the DE? I also scoop the poop boards daily, also just takes minutes.

Dealing with death, sickness, etc. We have lost a few to predators, which is very upsetting. We have lost a few to sickness, also upsetting. We lost a dog last year to illness (he was 18 years old), also upsetting. We reinforced the runs, trapped the predators, and moved on. The joys of having the little guys well outweighs any problems.

All things poopy. I have a good washing machine and plenty of paper towels and water. Not a problem.

Someone to care for them. We are gone almost every weekend doing bird shows/fairs for exotic birds. If we are only gone for a couple of days, we just leave plenty of water, food, etc. Anything longer, we have friends who come out and feed and collect eggs.

Initial setup cost. Well, when we bought this property it had several sheds on it already. We tore down the worst of them and converted one big one into 3 coops. I'm not sure about the eyesore part; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I dont' think they look bad, though.

We have 3 acres and when we are home the chickens run free. I love watching them through the window while I am at work (I work at home as a medical transcriptionist). There is nothing more calming than chicken TV! When I go outside, they all come running (greedy little buggers), sit on my lap outside, and generally enrich my life no end. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world!

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

No regrets at all! And I am a city girl who never had or desired any pet before. Now I can't imagine not having them. Sounds like you are a serious gardener, so you will really appreciate the benefits - the manure, and help with pest control.

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I don't live in the south, so can't speak to that. I have developed some fairly simple and fast ways to keep the poop scooped and coop clean and have come to believe that with a little planning, they don't have to be stinky.

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I don't look forward to dealing with any of that, either, but that is life. I do think that the "killing each other" can really be kept to a minimum with good management.

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No experience with this.

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I really dreaded this one, but it was only a couple of chicks and only once. Really not bad at all.

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This, for me, is the biggest con. Most people in cities don't know how to care for chickens nor wish to learn. It's really hard to find somebody. Winter is the worst, b/c I really feel they need monitoring in very cold weather. Summer is better; with sufficient food and water they're okay for a week-end. And if you build your coop with an egg door, neighbors won't mind collecting eggs.

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This can run you several hundred dollars. Just save up, if you really want chickens. And check places like Craigslist (where we got small quantities of tar paper and roofing) and Habitat ReStore for supplies. You might be able to scrounge around and get some stuff free.

As an aside, with the coop contest here, I really wish they had broken the winners down into categories like best design for an urban setting, and especially best design for lowest cost. There were some good ones built for little money. Check the coop page.

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Yeah, you skewed your survey a bit, didn't you?

Best of luck!

Katherine

 

[MareeZoCool]

Just wait 'till you can get outside with warm weather. THEN you will fall so deeply in feather-loving love, you won't be 2nd guessing your purchase!

 

[gryeyes]

Gosh, no. No reqrets, even though I'm only five months into this Chicken Keeping Lifestyle, and have experienced chicks dying ("Failure to Thrive") plus my own elderly dachshund killing 3 of my pullets. He can't help it, it was MY fault for not being vigilant enough. Over the years I've lost many companion animals and it was always heart-rending. I was surprised how deeply I was affected by chickens dying. SO mad at my dog, SO sad about the killing of Hillary, Rhoda and Sarah.

But I built my first coop - and it looks like a girl built it!

Bought a coop kit for the second coop. Plan on building a THIRD coop, incorporating the best aspects & features of the first two. Now that I know I can handle a cordless power drill and circular saw, I'm planning on picking up a jig saw to do a better job cutting out windows.

First I had lawn chairs set up next to the chicken run, to watch 'em. Now I have a plastic lawn chair IN the run, where I sit and commune with the flock. That Chicken TV is wonderful watching! I listen to all the things the chickens say - there's a remarkable variety of conversational sounds - and laugh my butt off when they do something silly. (And that's more than once a day, easily.)

Oh, about that "traveling" issue - I actually USE the chickens as an excuse for NOT visiting people.

However, I'm going to invest in an automatic chicken door, and I already have a feeder and waterer that will last over a week, so.... I think I'll have to get some chicks so there's absolutely NO way I could go anywhere overnight for at least 8 weeks.

I am NOT a morning person, so getting up to do chicken chores is really a chore for me until I step out the back door into the yard. Then I'm all smiley as the chickens tumble out the pop door and gather around me. Interestingly enough, it also means I drive to work more alert, more friendly, and happier about the day. (But I still need coffee.)

If *I* - a formerly confirmed couch potato of 50+ years - can do this Chicken Thing, you can, too! Without any regrets. Well, except for the "still haven't gotten the breeds I really want" yet, part. That's more of a desire than a regret, though. Go for it!

HEY! I also want to say my BP medication has been lowered, and I attribute that to having chickens!

 

[judyb]

I have had my 3 chickens for 1 year. I had never had any pets other than a dog, but now I am hooked! The thrill of getting that first egg is unbelievable! Plus, I haven't bought store eggs since October - my girl's eggs are the best!

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Never, ever, ever have I regreted having chickens, even though I have only had them for about a year.

We have a farm with a lot of livestock, but the chickens are MY part of our farm, and I love them! I also have peafowl and yellow golden pheasants.