Rental home and backyard poultry experiences?

[June2012]

Hi, Teila!

Wow! I am amazed. I didn't think it would be possible for chickens to NOT destroy a garden. And I do wish to have full sized chickens, so I am thinking that three chickens might suit me instead of, say, five bantams. Our backyard is also about 1000 sq ft, maybe an extra 100 but I don't know if I want the poultry accessing that area since I DO want a garden. It is mainly consisted of very thick grass and rains a lot where I am. It barely snows, thankfully! Do you think I could raise three chickens, with say, four or five ducks? I do plan to give them feed, while "free ranging" them in the backyard. Of course, if my landlord were to allow them... (Do you mind expanding on the chicken coop and how you built it, considering you are living at a rental home, although long term? And I am so sorry for going off topic. XD)

The lease allows ONE pet (that pet is my dog), and no more. But seeing as you said that chickens aren't on the lease, hooray! I guess I'll hang low a bit for about a year, see how things are, and then see if I could add some animals to my home? I don't think our landlord would give us chickens right off the bat.

And I am a little concerned about the quietness of our neighborhood. You could hear a pin drop. :[ I am looking into ducks, or whatever just seems more quiet than chickens. I love chickens for not only their laying capabilities, but their egg colors! Blue and DARK DARK brown... :3

 

[Teila]

Hey June2012

Do not quote me because I have no experience with ducks but I do believe, from reading posts in BYC, they are more destructive than chickens and possibly noisier.

Sorry that I have no experience with large fowl in a garden either; just in a large run and many, many years ago. They did turn that run to dirt but it took them a good 3-4 months I think.

I can only really share my experience with my five little gals and how we manage to have them and a nice garden also but hopefully someone else will join in on the thread and advise you with regards to ducks. That, or you could try posting on the Duck Forum, may be with a link to this thread and what we have already discussed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

A recent ‘Topic of the Week’ was ‘Gardening with Chickens’ and you might get some ideas from there also:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1141520/topic-of-the-week-gardening-with-chickens

If you are laying low for a year or so and getting in your Landlord’s good books; please update this thread if/when you do get some chickens or ducks. I would love to hear how you are doing and of course, see some pictures of them.

 

[Teila]

Hello again

I just saw your question regarding our coop. We did not go off a plan and made it up as we went along; having had the gals a couple of years at this stage in a prefab coop and knowing what we wanted.

With our climate, we knew we wanted the coop raised with a slatted timber floor which slid out for easy cleaning but provided more air flow for those hot summer nights. Here, in Aus, the girls do not spend much time in the coop, just to sleep and lay eggs.

The run is covered but small because they are only locked in at night and when we are not home [which is not often]. It allows them to have a bit of a wander in the morning before we let them out into the garden for free range.

Being sub tropical, our coop is designed for periods of torrential rain, possible flooding and extreme heat and humidity with a low predator risk. It would not be suitable for all climates and all predators.

This is the slide out floor which I can easily wash with hot soapy water and dry in the sun each weekend. Each morning I simply dust pan and brush the overnight poops and give the floor a quick wipe:



This is during construction showing the positioning of the slide out floor. When the floor is out, I can walk into the run, duck under the coop and stand up inside:










Site inspectors

The finished product:

 

[June2012]

Hey June2012

Do not quote me because I have no experience with ducks but I do believe, from reading posts in BYC, they are more destructive than chickens and possibly noisier.

Sorry that I have no experience with large fowl in a garden either; just in a large run and many, many years ago. They did turn that run to dirt but it took them a good 3-4 months I think.

I can only really share my experience with my five little gals and how we manage to have them and a nice garden also but hopefully someone else will join in on the thread and advise you with regards to ducks. That, or you could try posting on the Duck Forum, may be with a link to this thread and what we have already discussed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

A recent ‘Topic of the Week’ was ‘Gardening with Chickens’ and you might get some ideas from there also:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1141520/topic-of-the-week-gardening-with-chickens

If you are laying low for a year or so and getting in your Landlord’s good books; please update this thread if/when you do get some chickens or ducks. I would love to hear how you are doing and of course, see some pictures of them.

I have read that, but living in the Northwest... So much rain, and too many slugs once I start gardening! I do plan on raising at least two or three chickens, though. I love all animals...haha.

Thank you for the links!! And I WILL DEFINITELY update this thread. I'm thinking that 6 months or so would be better, as I'm already impatient! But a year is probably better... XD

Hello again

I just saw your question regarding our coop. We did not go off a plan and made it up as we went along; having had the gals a couple of years at this stage in a prefab coop and knowing what we wanted.

With our climate, we knew we wanted the coop raised with a slatted timber floor which slid out for easy cleaning but provided more air flow for those hot summer nights. Here, in Aus, the girls do not spend much time in the coop, just to sleep and lay eggs.

The run is covered but small because they are only locked in at night and when we are not home [which is not often]. It allows them to have a bit of a wander in the morning before we let them out into the garden for free range.

Being sub tropical, our coop is designed for periods of torrential rain, possible flooding and extreme heat and humidity with a low predator risk. It would not be suitable for all climates and all predators.

This is the slide out floor which I can easily wash with hot soapy water and dry in the sun each weekend. Each morning I simply dust pan and brush the overnight poops and give the floor a quick wipe:



This is during construction showing the positioning of the slide out floor. When the floor is out, I can walk into the run, duck under the coop and stand up inside:










Site inspectors

The finished product:

Wow! Your coop is so simple, but so practical and pretty! I hope to be able to make a coop once I get the okay for the poultry. And you have been an ENROMOUS help to me! Thank you so much! Now, only time will tell, I believe...

 

[rosemarythyme]

I actually would encourage you to put the chickens on the lease, if the landlord eventually agrees to your having them. I've had everything short of my betta fish (dogs of course, plus my rats, hamsters) listed on leases to ensure that there's no issues down the road, in case of disagreement. I'm no longer a renter but when I was, I wanted to make absolutely sure the animals would never been an issue, no matter what kind of animal.

Of course you'll also want to make sure you have a plan drawn up before talking to the landlord. Make sure you know the regulations in your county, city, neighborhood, and also where you want the coop and run, what it'll look like, how you'll manage the waste, etc.

I don't have a noise issue with my chickens. I think if you give them enough room and enough stuff to do, most chickens aren't overly noisy. They only make noise when they see me and are hoping for treats, otherwise it's mostly quiet, occasional clucking. They're so quiet most of the time that I worry they've somehow escaped or a predator got them, but they just look at me funny when I go over to make sure they're still around.

 

[jstmre]

Talk to your landlord...we moved from Ft. Drum NY to rural Allen County IN in August and brought our small group of girlies with us...only after we found a place to rent that would allow our girls. Our landlord had it put into the lease....max number of girls, housing, sanitation and guidelines for restoring the property when we end our lease here. So far, no problems! Good luck!

 

[June2012]

I actually would encourage you to put the chickens on the lease, if the landlord eventually agrees to your having them. I've had everything short of my betta fish (dogs of course, plus my rats, hamsters) listed on leases to ensure that there's no issues down the road, in case of disagreement. I'm no longer a renter but when I was, I wanted to make absolutely sure the animals would never been an issue, no matter what kind of animal.

Of course you'll also want to make sure you have a plan drawn up before talking to the landlord. Make sure you know the regulations in your county, city, neighborhood, and also where you want the coop and run, what it'll look like, how you'll manage the waste, etc.

I don't have a noise issue with my chickens. I think if you give them enough room and enough stuff to do, most chickens aren't overly noisy. They only make noise when they see me and are hoping for treats, otherwise it's mostly quiet, occasional clucking. They're so quiet most of the time that I worry they've somehow escaped or a predator got them, but they just look at me funny when I go over to make sure they're still around.

Oooooh. That's a great idea. Again, thank you!