Hello-
I am not sure which specific forum to post in since my questions cover many topics.. hope its ok here!
My daughter and I would love to raise laying hens for fun and to feed the family. We live in a tight suburban neighborhood in South Portland Maine. We have many questions, hope someone might be able to help us here!
1- Feasibility--- Our zoning laws prohibit livestock, but we think we'd like to try anyway (have heard that several folks in nearby towns with same laws have been doing it for years.) Our lot is only 100 x 50, very tight neighborhood. We'll of course offer eggs to immediate neighbors. But I definitely want to minimize smell as much as possible. We are thinking that the "tractor" type of coop, made with a small coop and attached run, portable, which we could move about the backyard, might minimize the smell issue by not collecting poop in one place. Is this feasible? We have an area about 40x 35 that we could move it around on, mostly grass with some bare dirt and flower beds. Is that enough space to move the coop around on and expect the manure to get scratched into the grass enough not to smell? And not to be icky to walk on when the coop is moved? If not, and a stationary coop with a fenced run is preferable, what is the preferred method of dealing with manure in an urban setting? Our compost bins are pretty low-efficiency since they are shaded by trees, definitely wouldn't be able to get any good hot, fast composting action going there. What do other city folks do with the poop to keep the smell down?
2- What's really involved?--- My 10-year old daughter would like to do this and she'll have most of the responsibility caring for them. What's really involved so that we can evaluate it before comitting.... how many times a day, for how long, will she be caring for the hens?
3- Where to get the chicks---- does any one know any places in Maine or New Hampshire (or MA) that sell single, sexed heritage breed chicks? I did find Ideal on line and they will sell singles. I assume we'll be OK raising the chicks in the house in a box or fishtank or something with a regular light for heat... and that we don't need fancy equipment for this... correct?
4- Maine weather---- I understand that we should choose cold-hardy breeds and also that we will need to provide some heat in the winter, as well as artificial light if we want them to lay more (we do!)... can this be accomplished simply by fixing light bulbs (special kind? red?) inside the coop portion of the little portable coop/run described above? And just tarp the run part to keep snow out? Or would it be better to move the whole thing into the unheated garage as well?
5- Breed recommendations--- Assuming that it's actually feasible (I hope so!) does anyone have breed recommendations as far as:
Cold-hardiness
Winter laying success
Prolific layers
Whew! That's all for now, I think. I sure appreciate any advice anyone can give us!
THANK YOU!
Stacey, Neil and Olivia
South Portland Maine
Sweet personalities
I am not sure which specific forum to post in since my questions cover many topics.. hope its ok here!
My daughter and I would love to raise laying hens for fun and to feed the family. We live in a tight suburban neighborhood in South Portland Maine. We have many questions, hope someone might be able to help us here!
1- Feasibility--- Our zoning laws prohibit livestock, but we think we'd like to try anyway (have heard that several folks in nearby towns with same laws have been doing it for years.) Our lot is only 100 x 50, very tight neighborhood. We'll of course offer eggs to immediate neighbors. But I definitely want to minimize smell as much as possible. We are thinking that the "tractor" type of coop, made with a small coop and attached run, portable, which we could move about the backyard, might minimize the smell issue by not collecting poop in one place. Is this feasible? We have an area about 40x 35 that we could move it around on, mostly grass with some bare dirt and flower beds. Is that enough space to move the coop around on and expect the manure to get scratched into the grass enough not to smell? And not to be icky to walk on when the coop is moved? If not, and a stationary coop with a fenced run is preferable, what is the preferred method of dealing with manure in an urban setting? Our compost bins are pretty low-efficiency since they are shaded by trees, definitely wouldn't be able to get any good hot, fast composting action going there. What do other city folks do with the poop to keep the smell down?
2- What's really involved?--- My 10-year old daughter would like to do this and she'll have most of the responsibility caring for them. What's really involved so that we can evaluate it before comitting.... how many times a day, for how long, will she be caring for the hens?
3- Where to get the chicks---- does any one know any places in Maine or New Hampshire (or MA) that sell single, sexed heritage breed chicks? I did find Ideal on line and they will sell singles. I assume we'll be OK raising the chicks in the house in a box or fishtank or something with a regular light for heat... and that we don't need fancy equipment for this... correct?
4- Maine weather---- I understand that we should choose cold-hardy breeds and also that we will need to provide some heat in the winter, as well as artificial light if we want them to lay more (we do!)... can this be accomplished simply by fixing light bulbs (special kind? red?) inside the coop portion of the little portable coop/run described above? And just tarp the run part to keep snow out? Or would it be better to move the whole thing into the unheated garage as well?
5- Breed recommendations--- Assuming that it's actually feasible (I hope so!) does anyone have breed recommendations as far as:
Cold-hardiness
Winter laying success
Prolific layers
Whew! That's all for now, I think. I sure appreciate any advice anyone can give us!
THANK YOU!
Stacey, Neil and Olivia
South Portland Maine
Sweet personalities
