- Sep 12, 2013
- 14
- 0
- 22
My neighbor has been keeping a half dozen chickens in a small (about 10X15 feet) space in her backyard for several years. Their pen is completely bald. I felt a bit sorry for them, so I offered the use of half my yard. Within days, she added two more hens to her flock (to my dismay) and then constructed a passageway and two small yards for them in my yard.
I'm concerned about the impact, over time, of having so many chickens in such a small space. At this point, the hens have 2 pens that are about 20X20 feet each in my yard and their original 10X15 utterly dead patch of dust in their owner's yard.
How long will it take for the nitrogen and phosphorus to build up to the point that the ground is no longer able to support much plant life? Is there something I can do to counter that accumulation?
(Pens in my yard are about 50% shade. The hens have removed about half the vegetation so far in just a few months.)
How much room do hens need to be unstressed and happy?
I'm trying to get up the nerve to request that she not replace ones that she executes after they stop laying until there is no more than 3-4. However I suspect my neighbor will not be receptive: She seems to greatly enjoy having lots of eggs to give away to neighbors and friends.
I can understand the pleasure of having lots of great eggs to give away. But I would rather see optimally happy, healthy hens and have a sustainable situation than have the fun of giving away eggs.
Any suggestions about how I can persuade her to agree to fewer hens?
(Her household is two people, and I live alone, so 3 hens should meet most of our needs most of the year. I love good eggs, but I will offer to forgo my share to cushion the cutback. She executes at 2 years, so although some of them have names, I don't think any are pets.)
I'm concerned about the impact, over time, of having so many chickens in such a small space. At this point, the hens have 2 pens that are about 20X20 feet each in my yard and their original 10X15 utterly dead patch of dust in their owner's yard.
How long will it take for the nitrogen and phosphorus to build up to the point that the ground is no longer able to support much plant life? Is there something I can do to counter that accumulation?
(Pens in my yard are about 50% shade. The hens have removed about half the vegetation so far in just a few months.)
How much room do hens need to be unstressed and happy?
I'm trying to get up the nerve to request that she not replace ones that she executes after they stop laying until there is no more than 3-4. However I suspect my neighbor will not be receptive: She seems to greatly enjoy having lots of eggs to give away to neighbors and friends.
I can understand the pleasure of having lots of great eggs to give away. But I would rather see optimally happy, healthy hens and have a sustainable situation than have the fun of giving away eggs.
Any suggestions about how I can persuade her to agree to fewer hens?
(Her household is two people, and I live alone, so 3 hens should meet most of our needs most of the year. I love good eggs, but I will offer to forgo my share to cushion the cutback. She executes at 2 years, so although some of them have names, I don't think any are pets.)