Reasons NOT to own chickens!!!

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you plan on going away, even for a weekend, you will need a pet sitter or someone responsible for taking care of your chickens.

Not necessarily. I can go away for 2-3 days with no worries at all with regards to the chickens.....I could go for longer, really, but that is my comfort zone.

 

[dpenning]

Not necessarily. I can go away for 2-3 days with no worries at all with regards to the chickens.....I could go for longer, really, but that is my comfort zone.

This is true. When I first got chickens I was only on property on the weekends. It can be done.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

If you plan on going away, even for a weekend, you will need a pet sitter or someone responsible for taking care of your chickens.

I leave my chickens unattended for 2 to 4 days from time to time... they’re in a secure coop and run, and I feed them in a large metal feeder ( easily a weeks worth of food) and a couple of large waters, as well as a roll out egg collecting nest box and a poop collection area under the roost that keeps things clean....

... my point is, if you set the coop up with this in mind leaving for weekends and holidays is not an issue...

... but yours is a good point for a new chicken owner to think about before hand.

Edit: I see others replied while I was typing... to say much the same thing

 

[BantyChooks]

The downsides depend on your past familiarity with livestock and your area. If you live in the city, their tendencies to destroy manicured lawns and poop on patios would be a negative. They can be loud, if you aren't used to it, and attract mice and flies. They can get sick or injured, and if you're a softie, the necessary decision might be too hard on you. If you have a busy schedule, having to be home every day in time to close them up and collect eggs might not be worth the hassle. Maybe you wouldn't like having to keep their coop clean. All these things might apply to different people.

In my case, none of these apply because I am thoroughly used to livestock and live in the sticks. So I personally am only going to tell you to get those chickens... and build a bigger coop than you think you'll need! Chicken math doesn't work nearly so reliably as regular math.

 

[Loopeend]

I leave my chickens unattended for 2 to 4 days from time to time... they’re in a secure coop and run, and I feed them in a large metal feeder ( easily a weeks worth of food) and a couple of large waters, as well as a roll out egg collecting nest box and a poop collection area under the roost that keeps things clean....

... my point is, if you set the coop up with this in mind leaving for weekends and holidays is not an issue...

... but yours is a good point for a new chicken owner to think about before hand.

Edit: I see others replied while I was typing... to say much the same thing

We don't have much predators here; so we can leave them outside the coop for a few days if we would like so. but I underestemated in how much stupid situations they can get (I have ducks by the way, not chickens, so this might be different). IF they fall into something, get stuck in something, or whatnot; they pannick and are often not aible to solve this themselves. Having someone around that when needed cán check up once a day gives are more safe feeling for you, and making your holliday more enjoyable. It could be handy to have inbeforehand, if needed, someone around who could do this. Maybe a kid in the neighbourhood that you give a few dollars a day or something. They are not children and don't need an actual babysitter; but someonce that checks once a day that they didn't throw their water-feed over and thus do no have water; that can be an ease of the mind.

 

[PirateGirl]

There may be sleepless nights Dealing with an ill bird.

You may get home from work exhausted after dark and have to deal with unexpected coop/care issues. Shoveling snow drifts, draining a flood, fixing a broken gate, doing an unplanned bedding change.

You will not get as many eggs as you expect. I looked at breeds and did the math and watched how many eggs our family consumed and thought I knew how many birds I needed, the reality was that I needed double that number to keep us in eggs and mid winter we still had to purchase them from the store.

 

[Loopeend]

Oh; attention.

I also underestemated how much attention they enjoy. Ducks ánd chickens. I thought they rather would just be around their own kind. Only like you when you give food. But they do actually also like your attention, just being around. If you have a bond with them they can crave you just sitting around in the garden.
They survive without it.
But I found myself getting more often in the yard because it made them happy. This could happen to you too

A bit like a cat. You know it has acces to food, water, can enjoy itsself; but if you are a bit softhearted you get those thoughts that if you can, you atleast need to show your face once a day.