Hi from the Mitten!

Hello! I am raising my first half-dozen chicks and have learned ever so much from this forum. For me this project is partly for fun (and because I want eggs and fertilizer for the garden) and partly because I am a cultural anthropologist specializing in human-animal relationships, now studying various practices pertaining to backyard farming, including urban chickens.

Our brooder box is right next to our bed. Are you wondering how we can sleep through all the peeping? Well, we are using a Brinsea Eco-glo and at night as soon as the lights go out in the room we hear not a peep until the light starts seeping in in the morning. Then they gradually start peeping and rustling. Very cute. My husband has been opposed to the whole venture, but is starting to come around. I hope that continues!

We've had a rare break in the rainy cold weather so I am painting our coop today. Greetings to all.

Michigan

 

Thanks, all! So far they are not smelly and we aren't allergic. But they sure are growing fast, so they won't be in our bedroom for long!

I am hoping to get them legal... for now they are stealth chickens. We have a HUGE backyard (double lot) with 6 foot privacy fence on 3 sides, smaller fence on one side. The chickens will also be surrounded by a 6 foot dog kennel fence, though we hope to let them free range a little in the yard too. The immediate neighbors are all very enthusiastic. But we worry about other neighbors complaining. I have friends on farms who would take them if need be, but I am terribly attached already and would hate to give them up.

Right now the folks at city hall seem not to even know what the laws are--but I've looked them up. The city manager was asked by someone else if chicks were legal and he said "sure, as long as they are pets."