Secret Chickens?

[Dannyo]

Well I appreciate everyone's input. it sounds like I'm heading in the right direction, looking at the right breeds. When I get every thing lined out I'm sure it won't be that big of a deal when chicks follow me home one day. I'm sure that's the way it's going to happen.

My wife is wonderful to me and that's why I hesitate, I don't want to make a mess trying to force the issue, I'll get fully prepaired first then I'm sure she won't complain.

Yes whoever asked I try to do the things my wife likes, we just have offset schedules... I work evenings, she works mornings and is also a full-time student. In the fall I will be a full time student again as well. And my daughter turns 1 in may so we're pretty busy.

 

[tdgill]

I can't post without an edit! haha. Sounds like you are very respectful of her and she, you. Nothing wrong with taking someone else's feelings into consideration! Congrats! oh and btw, you can try your luck with ordering just hens or even go with sexlinks if you wanna stay away from noisy roosters. I DO LOVE seeing the rooster in the flock tho. Hope I can keep mine without too much trouble....I have an adorable buff orp rooster and two girls.

and 2 marans - very sweet also. just heard that adorable quiet squeal squeek that sounds like a belt slipping on the car. lmao. I don't know if I can ever keep them outa the house!

enjoy the browsing. sounds like you are. I still do.

 

[Dannyo]

Well we live right in the middle of town. My neighbors have chickens, they live behind me and one house down. I know they have a rooster, but their fence is 6' privacy on three sides so he doesn't sound loud to me, I just wonder how much of that is the fence. He crows day and night though

I can't hear him when I'm inside my house, and I enjoy it when I'm outside, but he does not help my cause with the wife.

I found a local breeder on Craigslist the other day selling BOs sexed for 4.00 ea. I thought for the three or four I'm going to be keeping this is most likely the way to go.

 

[silkieluver_07]

Leghorns might be a good option for eggs, but if not handled often when young, they can be very flighty birds. Try going with a sex-link of some sort. (also called golden comets or isa browns) I hope you find the ideal breed your looking for.

 

[slc]

Buff Orpington a good choice for good eggs and friendly pets. Chickens can be as clean as you want them to be because it's the owner doing the cleaning

Poop from organic feed is less stinky (no meat product in it). Coops can be decorative and functional (check out the coop pages here). Design for quick and easy cleaning so you'll do it more often. I've heard of someone using a leaf blower/vac connected to a trash can to vacuum litter from the coop. Maybe design a chicken run like a dog run and use sand that can be raked or hosed down etc. The chickens will love dust bathing in the sand and if you add diatomous earth to the sand it will help them keep free of mites etc. Crowing doesn't really come from a voice box per se, so in a sense all chickens are mutes

Sound is made in the lung passages and every chicken has lungs so I guess there is no way around it

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Here is another argument in th cost vs value arena;
Our gardener just told us that we don't need fertilizer on our lawn this year! I'll post a pic so your wife can see how gorgeous our yard is with 20+ chickens running in it, my husband has noticed that the bugs are way down too.
I don't raise BO's myself anymore, but looking at your wish list I think they are the ones for you.

 

[Dannyo]

Thanks Katylester, I'd love to see some pics of your yard I'll take all the help I can get. Do your birds free range? Do you plant a garden, Do the chickens get in it?