No Nonsense, chickens are livestock, advise. Tell me like it is.

[QualityPolish]

Your own eggs ARE better than store bought, you know how yours are treated.

 

[Wile E.]

Chickens are always fun.

Chickens are sometimes work.

Chickens don't pay off right away, if ever.

Kids like chickens. And chicken. And eggs.

 

[zrossk]

I bet if you treat them right they will treat you with better eggs and more eggs. I have also heard that good feed=better eggs.

 

[navasima]

Quote:
No. A normal human being would find it hard to murder a defensless animal for sport. Killing an animal for food isn't "easy", it's just part of the process. If you don't want to process your own - don't. If you've decided to, be it chickens or any other livestock, killing the animal for processing is just something you have to do. Done correctly, this can be with great respect for that animal.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Quote:
Well said.

 

[navasima]

back to the topic at hand..... I have learned that:

There are pet chickens - there are livestock chickens - and there are lots of chickens in between. They all need fresh air, good food and fresh water. They all need protection form the elements and predators. Everything else is for us.

As long as your flock is healthy and providing you with what you need; eggs, meat, chicken TV, feathers for a pillow - whatever.... well, then you are doing it right!!

New chicken owners and long time chicken owners all have great info, but simply doing what anyone tells you is just laziness! Get as much info as you can, from all the sources that you can and draw your conclusions based on the health of your birds and your health and happiness!

(phew - okay - feel better now....)

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Do you eat meat of any kind? If so, where do you suppose it comes from?

 

[zrossk]

I do eat meat but i am just saying that for most people it is pretty hard to kill a chicken...just saying that as a tip...

 

[Darklingstorm]

1. Impulse buying often leads to trouble (from experience

)

2. Research before you buy anything.

3. Cart before the horse is a bad idea, chickens before a coop is equally as bad.

4. Have a plan before you buy
a. What is the purpose for the animals (pets, eggs, meat, show, etc.)?
b. what do I do with unwanted animals?
c. What do I do with the animals when its time to retire them (ie. hens that stop laying)?

5. Know your town laws and neighbors. If a neighbor is always after you about a dog barking, then they will likely be big trouble with chickens.

6. Know what lives in your area. Know the predators, take the precautions or take the chance of losing everything.

On an up note:

7. Chickens are a great stress relief to some.
8. Watching chickens beats any show on TV, no commercials and no reruns.
9. Chickens are great teaching tools for kids. Mine has learned lots.
10. Need a hole dug, repeatedly throw treats on the ground and presto you have a hole in no time flat

 

[toofarout]

Chickens can catch mosquitoes out of the air, as well as the mosquitoes that land on your own skin.
Chicks and young pullets can eat from your palm or take from your fingers quite nicely.
Older pullets can almost take off chunks of your palm with the food if you try to hand feed them.
Wear your work gloves when trying to do this if you value your skin.