- Jun 7, 2012
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Two of my kids and I want to get chickens for our backyard. We can have up to 6 hens (only) as we live in city. We are in Auburn, ME (part of Maine's own L/A). We want them for pets and eggs. My wife wants "nothing to do with them", my son ( the eldest of 4) "hates eggs, even the smell of them", and my other daughters wants them but refuses to clean up after them or get the eggs. Oh--and I have a border collie who may or may not be OK with them (although he minds the 2 indoor cats we have very well). At worst I hope a simply tries to herd them, at least: ignore them.
I plan to give them a rather large run (~50sq. yards) on the opposite side of our property from our only neighbors, along a road and under some big pines and hardwoords. This area ia adjacent to our 2 story garage/barn, where the upstairs is street level and the downstairs is like an open basement, thought with a dirt floor and one garage door. My plan is to build the coop in a corner, using existing walls and keeping the chickens from the major area of the basement part, where it's very dank and many very old things are stored. I'll post pictures soon... I have some questions about this plan, but will ask them in the appropriate forums.
Some things I do know: I'm going with the deep litter method, we're starting with local chicks (I'm nervous about mail order), and I know there are carniverous critters around to protect them from. With regards to my dog, I hope to introduce him to them as chicks and get him used to them "early and often" to avoid future "disagreements". I also don't plan on putting a protective cover over the run as it's under trees and will be pretty big, so I'll look for breeds that will run from danger, be cold hardy, good layers, and friendly. (Suggestions?)
I will share this with my girls (Kaleigh -who is 15 and working at a vet's office as that's her aspiration: to be a veterinarian, and Keegan who is 13 and like most 13 Yo girls, likes cuddly things... So they might be on here as well. Now I just need to plan this well enough to avoid discontent in the house....
I thank everyone for their future help and enjoy reading these posts.
-Chris
I plan to give them a rather large run (~50sq. yards) on the opposite side of our property from our only neighbors, along a road and under some big pines and hardwoords. This area ia adjacent to our 2 story garage/barn, where the upstairs is street level and the downstairs is like an open basement, thought with a dirt floor and one garage door. My plan is to build the coop in a corner, using existing walls and keeping the chickens from the major area of the basement part, where it's very dank and many very old things are stored. I'll post pictures soon... I have some questions about this plan, but will ask them in the appropriate forums.
Some things I do know: I'm going with the deep litter method, we're starting with local chicks (I'm nervous about mail order), and I know there are carniverous critters around to protect them from. With regards to my dog, I hope to introduce him to them as chicks and get him used to them "early and often" to avoid future "disagreements". I also don't plan on putting a protective cover over the run as it's under trees and will be pretty big, so I'll look for breeds that will run from danger, be cold hardy, good layers, and friendly. (Suggestions?)
I will share this with my girls (Kaleigh -who is 15 and working at a vet's office as that's her aspiration: to be a veterinarian, and Keegan who is 13 and like most 13 Yo girls, likes cuddly things... So they might be on here as well. Now I just need to plan this well enough to avoid discontent in the house....
I thank everyone for their future help and enjoy reading these posts.
-Chris
from Ohio. So glad you joined. 
