Good idea?

[Chikehcat]

I want to get some hens who are amber stars in a coop/run in my backyard because 1.Chickens are highly abused and i want to help 2.Yummy eggs! 3.They are very fun and friendly! But since i'm a kid, i have a hard time convincing my parents. anyway, i have questions:


How do I convince my dad and brother (My mom supports me with this)

How many and what age should i get chickens?

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

How many hens you should get is up to you and how many you think you can handle. I wouldn't get any less than three.
You can buy them as chicks and watch them grow up, or you can buy them as started pullets, or even adult hens. Chickens start laying around 16-20 weeks of age. Some take longer, all depending on breed and individual.

I wish you luck convincing your family. Chickens are great pets. They are very social critters and can even be trained to come when called, especially when there are treats around. They are smarter than many people may think.

Good luck!

 

[Chikehcat]

Thank you! I'm thinking 4 amber star pullets (each family member chooses one) But one big problem: i have indoor cats. I would keep the hens in a run but i want to bring them in to watch tv every so often. Don't want to bother you, but, any advice?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Like "Sunny and the 5 egg layers" said, it's entirely up to you as far as how many chickens you can keep. Remember, they need about 8-15 square feet per bird.
As far as convincing your family, I would talk about the huge quality and nutrition in fresh eggs. In fact, they contain 1/3 the Cholesterol, 2/3 vitamin A, two times more omega 3s, 1/4 less fat and two times more vitamin E than regular eggs! Chickens are also entertaining, friendly (depending on the breed) sociable and adorable. They will provide fresh, top-notch fertilizer, they will happily consume your leftovers and they don’t cost much to maintain and are easy to care for.

 

[lazy gardener]

You might even consider getting 2 or more different breeds to make them easier to tell apart. You might start by getting some eggs from your local farmer's market. Your family will immediately notice the difference in the egg quality. Your biggest hurdle will be the expense of housing for them. Good luck. I can tell you that I had chickens as part of my pet menagerie when I was a kid. Chickens are wonderful pets because they give back so much!