pross/cons of chickens?

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In my coops I use pine chips. Large chips don't have the "dust", like some do.
In the chicken "run" I use shavings and hay or straw. They like to scratch in the hay/straw. If it gets wet I add more. They mix it all up and I clean it out to put in the compost pile. I never get it all but just keep it "working". As long as it's relatively dry things are okay.

I stack the bales in the run for them to play one. When fall comes I replace all bales with new.

A wet spring, last year. Should've put boots on them.



Hay bales to climb on. Come fall they're scratched all up as the chickens looks for scratch grains I toss.



Can you see Mr. Rabbit resting under the plastic put around the the run to keep the snow out? I planted Pineapple Mint along that side. Chickens don't eat it and it smell great when the mower trims it down.



Straw/hay keeps their feet warm and dry during the winter. More is added as it gets broken down.



Because I have a bad back I repackage feed in cleaned out cat litter containers and stock it up so I don't have to lug it each day. In the winter the cold keeps it okay.



I'm a big advocate of raised bed gardening. I can pull weeds with ease. Though regular weeding keeps that to a minimum.

 
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I find that the pros outweigh the cons. They are fun little creatures and very enjoyable to watch. Also, eggs! It can be hard to find someone to look after them if you go away (on vacation for example).
 
HappyHazel said:
I find that the pros outweigh the cons. They are fun little creatures and very enjoyable to watch. Also, eggs! It can be hard to find someone to look after them if you go away (on vacation for example).
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Not if you live near me.
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As you can see from the picture I make sure there is plenty of food prepared. All they have to do is make sure the feeder is full and they get water every day. Easy peasy. Because I have runs they can let them out without worry.
When I'm home I let the out of the run to range, but when I'm away they have to stay in the chicken run.

1. Let them out in the AM.
2. Make sure they have food and water.
3. Collect any eggs.
4. Close them up in the PM.

I have 5 coops. Takes me less than half an hour to give them water, scratch, make sure they have food and let them out in the AM.
I collect eggs in the afternoon or evening and close them up at dark. Usually it's before dark.

Cleaning isn't an every day thing. I rotate one at a time, so they all get it once a month. Sometimes more. Toss it in a wheelbarrow and dump it out back. With the right tools takes about an hour or less.

You can bag it up or use it as mulch around trees and shrubs, put it in your garden or burn it in a fire pit.
 
redneckhunter14 said:
What I do in the snow is take a leaf blower and make a big spot for them
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Before I got chickens I needed to know if I could snow blow to the original coop. Now I snowblow a path and some area so the chickens can take a walk about. Only thing is black chickens show up to well and the first year I lost one to a Falcon. With the "skids" raise all the way up you can just go over the grass, easy enough. Just make sure the area you intend to snow blow is clear. First year I forgot about a bag of sand in the yard and hit it. Sand came shooting out, scary but funny too.
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