My plan to build a hen house and run would take up some (200 sq ft or so) of the approx 1,500 sq ft lawn area that my two elementary age sons use to play. My husband thinks that the area should remain grass, that was the plan when we moved to a house with a large yard. I want what I want though, and while I could shoe-horn in a smaller version closer to the house (one plan is to put it under the deck that is about 5' off the ground and not sunny at all) I think I should have soome space here too. I'm a stay at home mom that gives up a lot in terms of income and goodies to be home, I don't want to give up my dream of chickens too! Am I being selfish?
NO, you are not. Think of all the educational opportunities that having chickens will provide for your children. Bring the children to the park more often if they need more space. I don't think that changing the play area from 1500 to 1300 is going to make that much of a difference. Lawn isn't ecologically friendly anyhow. You have to mow it, fertilize it, cover it with chemicals....and it's boring. As a kid I spent more time in the woods than on the lawn...the worst thing my mom could tell me was to "stay in the yard!" We eventually got chickens then too. I'd spend hours sitting by the coop, reading books to the chickens. Some of the best memories of growing up was having those chickens.
