My Yard

[Scrambled Egg]

I think they may lay less and the eggs are smaller... but they're quieter, which is good for a chicken 'outlaw'.

LOL!!! Chicken outlaw!!! That is really cute!!! I too think you have plenty of space for a coop maybe in that corner, like a corner cabinet with the run extending out both sides...maybe 4 standard sized docile hens, like Barred Rocks or Orpingtons, they lay big eggs and are very pleasant. I have Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds and the Reds are quite noisy!! My BR's make some cooing noises and chatter a bit but nothing like the Reds. Buff Hooligans and some others can probably speak to the Orpingtons nature, but I have heard they are pleasant and quieter too. Good luck Chicken Outlaw!!...cool screen name if it's not already used!!

 

[SoyBean]

That would be a good screen name. Quiet is key here since I would not want to get my neighbors mad. Although, there is a family two doors down that has a dog that barks all the time. Yippy little thing.

Another item to discuss. There are some feral/outdoor cats that run around here. Not too many but we've counted at least 2. The gate to my fence was broken off by some guys coming in to do something to the gas lines. We never reported the broken gate so it hasn't been fixed yet. We also have several holes under the fence. I think the previous tenets had a dog. Is there anything I should do to secure the yard before getting chickens to make sure its predator proof?

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I also vote Bantam:

if you get caught you have a better chance with them being considered pet (large fowl chickens are live stock)

Bantams are also better to have in growing garden!

I have bantam silkies, cochins & brahmas (other bantams not laying yet)

I would say my Bantam Brahmas are the quietest
they lay pretty good, their eggs start out small but get much bigger by the time they are a year!

there are also bantams in breeds that lay better & bigger Rhode island Red, New Hampsure, Buff Orpington & Salmon Faverrolle!

 

[gardener]

Quote:
The only difference with that yippy dog is it is legal to have a dog. If the city gets a complaint on your chickens just one time you will be given notice to remove them.

I have cats in the neighborhood running around too. I have no problems I think they dont want to bother with that large of a bird. I actually dont notice the cats in the yard as much since I got chickens. I would make sure a dog couldnt break into your yard though. Make sure the coop is predator proof and close it at night.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
3 bantam eggs = 1 large standard egg

 

[milleryardchx]

Have you thought of a chicken ark http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/tractors.html thats what i have I'm getting three hens for my backyard.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I thought it was 3 bantam eggs = 2 regular eggs!

http://www.kippengrabbelton.be/engels/

go breed info
click on breed ((on right standard will come up first: under that will be bantam info you can check egg size))

 

[SoyBean]

the chicken ark would work great. We actually saw something similar used for turtles at the reptile store today and our first thought was "Could we use this as a chicken coop and run?" Its a bit smaller than those though. We could possibly cut some of the wire out and extend the run but the "coop" portion is very small. Only about 1'x1'. Well that is an estimated guess because my memory is poor, but could it be used or altered to be useful? It was only $75. The "run" was about 2 1/2 feet long.

 

[bluie]

Hey soybean! Good luck with everything. I fondly remember the ten years I lived in Richmond, on and off in college at VCU. I had some friends then that got chickens a year or two before I moved. (This was in the late 80's)They were near Carytown, and had a really big yard. As far as I know, there were no complaints. As for me, I can't find any laws against chickens where I live, except for not leaving chickens in your car!?!?!. I am going for it!

 

[blurose]

Did I read you say "tenant"? Are you a renter or do you own the place you live in? If you are a renter, please make sure you OK it with your landlord BEFORE you get chickens. I've known too many people who didn't OK it, got chickens, fell in love with them and then had to get rid of them or be evicted. I would sure hate to see it happen again. I had the forethought to have it written in my lease that I could have my chickens, even though I was actually between flocks at the time.