post your chicken coop pictures here!

[FarmerPhronc]

For many of us, the terms "break even" and "chickens" should never even be spoken in the same paragraph, let alone sentence... I have ~ 8 grand invested just in coops. with ongoing costs, I will never break even...

But they're "fun" to have and they do provide me eggs.

trade offs I guess.

While I can't claim to have that much invested, the benefits, beyond the eggs and perhaps an occasional crockpot stew are overwhelming. Maybe it's because I'm retired, I sure do enjoy interacting with them each day.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Well yesterday I was coming up the highway heading home and I got to strodes mills there I know you don't know where that probably is but anyways I seen a coop in someones backyard wih about maybe 14 plus hens in it, with one chainlink dog kennel and they could barley move hot he next time I am down there I am going to see if I can get some pics from the road and report them to rescue our furry friends. And they can come and take them to get them into a better home, it's a non kill animal shelter and they take pretty much all animals. But that's if I cans get pics of them cause she won't come and take them unless she can see if they are in need of help. And if she wants to see them for her self she will go and drive by and see. So what do you think I should do report the people or just let them go I just hate to see them barely able to move. And they look Ike large fowl hens, fully grown

Unless there is a law mandating space requirements or they are violating some other law (pet laws don't generally apply to livestock) what are you going to report them for?

I understand you might not like the way they are being cared for and believe they should have more space, but that doesn't make it illegal or give a shelter any rights to intervene...

] agree. You do not know that if the hens were put out of their normal run so it could be cleaned. Perhaps the kennel is simply a makeshift arrangement.
Before you get involved in the situation investigate thoroughly or stay out of it.

Yeah, unfortunately I agree too. Not really much you can do and in fact it might be more illegal for someone to just come and take their animals...

If you're really set on helping then before I jump straight to having someone come take their animals away I would maybe try to go and talk to the owner. Find out if it's a temporary arrangement and if not then try to kindly tell him about space requirements/suggestions and mention you are concerned. See if they might make the pen bigger. They might be very willing. Or if you don't want to do that then maybe try driving by a few more times at various times of the day. It might be a temporary situation. Or maybe they free range all day and were in because it's almost dark or they're busy or something. That's likely. You should never just jump straight to reporting them and having their animals taken away...

 

[MeepBeep]

The blunt truth is that except for some local laws, the amount of space mandated under law for chicken keeping is mostly not regulated, while the 'accepted' battery cage space in the US is only 67 to 86 sq/in, to put that in perspective a sheet of 8.5" x 11" piece of paper is 93.5 sq/in...

Yes, we promote 4 sq/ft of coop an 10 sq/ft of run but, that is by far not a legal requirement in most areas (there are exceptions) even if we disagree with those that choose to stuff the birds in less space...

 

[ShrekDawg]

The blunt truth is that except for some local laws, the amount of space mandated under law for chicken keeping is mostly not regulated, while the 'accepted' battery cage space in the US is only 67 to 86 sq/in, to put that in perspective a sheet of 8.5" x 11" piece of paper is 93.5 sq/in...

Yes, we promote 4 sq/ft of coop an 10 sq/ft of run but, that is by far not a legal requirement in most areas (there are exceptions) even if we disagree with those that choose to stuff the birds in less space...

There might not be a law against it, which is why I think it's a really bad idea to have someone try and take them away, but they may be willing to try to provide a bigger space if roada or someone else just tries talking to them first instead of reporting. They may simply not know

 

[MeepBeep]

I think it's a really bad idea to have someone try and take them away

I fully agree, a very bad idea...

For example if someone came and tried to take any of my animals with no force of law because they simply disagreed with my husbandry practices they would be treated as trespassers engaged in the criminal act of theft and burglary, that is a forcible felony in my State and authorizes me to use every means including lethal force to stop them...

IMO best to leave situations like this to local law enforcement and only if you suspect or know a crime is being committed...

 

[lindsaysbaker]

Check out my coop here:
http://www.thecraftydisaster.com/the-coop-is-complete/

 

[TJordan]

Unless there is a law mandating space requirements or they are violating some other law (pet laws don't generally apply to livestock) what are you going to report them for?

I understand you might not like the way they are being cared for and believe they should have more space, but that doesn't make it illegal or give a shelter any rights to intervene...

Some times you have unexpected travesties that require a temporary housing of your birds in less than ideal enclosed areas.
I had a nice 8'x10'x6&1/2' tall coop and a run set up for them to enjoy. A coop fire destroyed my nice setup. Now I'm having to house my birds in dog kennels until the new coop is built.

Cost wise I'm only able to build an 8'x8' coop but will be adding another bigger one soon. We will be converting part of the yard into a new run as well but my babies are still not happy yet. Between rain, being sick and bills we have almost but not quite finished.

 

[gpeters3]

While I can't claim to have that much invested, the benefits, beyond the eggs and perhaps an occasional crockpot stew are overwhelming. Maybe it's because I'm retired, I sure do enjoy interacting with them each day.

I dont know if you figured it out yet but i like to kid around. I dont worry about the cost but the feed bill is getting a little heafty considering i only get 4 eggs a day now and cant eat them all and i will soon have 15 or so more layers and will be giving them away to friends and family. My wife's sister is on a protien diet and eats 2 dozen a week so she will get some of them

Anyway, i have a lot of fun helping the kids feed the flock some corn and letting them help me collect the eggs. They are from 2 to 5 years old and all get excited and start throwing the corn all over but the chickens love it. Today i collected the eggs and took a stroll by the run to see if any of the babies might be laying out there and all the birds came running out of the coop to see what i was up to. They dont let me pick them up yet but most will eat from my hand. When they mob the kids they get scared so i have to toss some corn away to get them to move away. They love it but arent farmers yet. Being only 3 feet tall and having 20 chickens pecking at your feet is a little scary

And i was thinking parakeet when my wife asked me for 'A' bird......

 

[gpeters3]

Kids

my sons first egg find is what my picture shows. Moments late he was attacked by the rooster (became dinner) and dropped it too.

Yeah, thats why i have a no rooster rule. Sadly my absolute favorite bird may turn out to be a rooster. She/he is a grey, silver, black, and white auracana (so called) but started crowing. Im hoping she just thinks the flock needs a rooster and is pretending like one of my producrion reds did when i butchered the 3 roosters i had. She has no sign of spurs so im still hopeful ill get a current pic of it tomorrow and post it, she is really pretty (i think).

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

I don't think I will ever raise chickens without a rooster they protect the hens they crow in the mornings I like to hear that in he morning and so do the neighbors they say they don't mind it. He has the perfect crow he is sweet protects the hens I couldn't ask for anything more. So I am keeping a few more roosters for breeding I think I am going to breed Cochins and i have my silkies ready for breeding so right there is three roosters agressive or not he is t going any where do anyone with young children in the family can keep there kids away.