Did you ask the naysayers how much experience they have had with owning chickens? How many coops they have kept in their yards? How many years they have raised birds?
Yes, chickens can be a bit of trouble just like any other responsibility. Dogs, cats, gardens, houseplants, children, all these things are responsibilities that can be a lot of trouble;however, we choose to have them anyway because of the joy they add to our lives. The difference in the flavor of a yard egg vs a stor bought egg, the peace that comes from knowing my eggs are coming from a humane source rather than an abusive industry that mistreats animals, and the sheer pleasure of seeing my chickens pecking around happily makes them well worth the trouble. Find a neighbor who will take care of them while you are out of town. Get a secure pen with good, strong wire. Start a compost bin to dump the refuse in when you clean the coop. You will never regret getting your chicks. They have never been anything other than a sheer joy to me.
Yes, chickens can be a bit of trouble just like any other responsibility. Dogs, cats, gardens, houseplants, children, all these things are responsibilities that can be a lot of trouble;however, we choose to have them anyway because of the joy they add to our lives. The difference in the flavor of a yard egg vs a stor bought egg, the peace that comes from knowing my eggs are coming from a humane source rather than an abusive industry that mistreats animals, and the sheer pleasure of seeing my chickens pecking around happily makes them well worth the trouble. Find a neighbor who will take care of them while you are out of town. Get a secure pen with good, strong wire. Start a compost bin to dump the refuse in when you clean the coop. You will never regret getting your chicks. They have never been anything other than a sheer joy to me.