Hi, from Randolph Maine

[eggepay]

I don't have any chickens yet..I'm concerned that our town ordinance allows us to have them, just we can't have a coop or even a space in a shed to keep them...kinda tough on the birds in a Maine winter...so I'm thinking that ordinace needs to be changed before I bring a few birds into the fold..or maybe not..

...the "fold" currently consists of 2 dogs, 5 cats, a few fish and 3 Bahama anoles..there's also a kid or two roaming around..we live in a rather close, see into ur neighbors home kind of space with those neighbors being on the elderly side and set in their ways and extremely nosy and controlling...I've introduced composting and organic growing to my little plot of earth and think chickens are the next step toward a certain level of independence from the expense of grocery shopping and what that entails..plus it's just the coolest to get an egg still warm from the chicken..spent a year on a farm..feeding scraps to their birds and gathering the eggs...so any advice is welcome, what kinds of birds are best up here in the cold, etc...thanks for reading...peggy

 

[Imp]

from Washington & good luck.

imp

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

from TN

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida. I'm like you. A very tightly housed community, with extremely nosy neighbors. Quite elderly to boot. I know where you are coming from. Am trying to get our ordanance varied so that I can keep my girls here. Good luck to you as well, and do keep us posted.

 

[banter]

 

[mrsengeseth]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[banter]

I did a lot of research before I got my Russian Orloffs and Brabanters. The are endangered and are excellent winter layers. There are a bunch of New Englanders on this forum now, and they will give you many ideas!

 

[shelleyb1969]

from Michigan, Peggy! I can help you out with the cold winter stuff. Anything I can help you with, just let me know!

 

[Cheryl]

Welcome... please see Seachicks info @ http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm She is in Porland , ME and got zoning changed

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Hello from Chicago's suburbs! As for cold weather, we worry too. When the temp got down to 8-below, my husband called me at work and informed me that "the chickens came inside, I was just too scared for the Silkies" so we made a winter coop in the basement. Which is fine for the chickens, their happiest endeavor is to snoop around inside the house anyhow. So it smells of cedar chips in here, which could be worse. They have officially moved in. Just like pet dogs (or cats), they're sent outside bright and early to poke around in the yard, and they enjoy that too. But they come throwing themselves at the door and the windows promptly at 7pm to come in for bedtime. Don't know how to transition back to outdoor cooping once that project is complete....afraid of hurting their feelings. But there's something very therapootic about scooping poop whether its inside or out. Long as we keep it tidy, everyone's happy. Good luck! Write back to tell us how it's going! Check my homepage too, see our suburban house with chicken-