The more I read and learn, the more I'm turned away

[Cindy in PA]

I'll third the people that haven't had any major problems in 20 years. Never had lice, never wormed & only lost a handful to unknown causes. Never have used chemicals or wormers either. Feed them well & like others said, give them space. I started keeping chickens because of an article in Organic Gardening that told me all I really needed to know. I then picked up a chicken keeping book (there weren't many around in 1993!) & got freaked out with them talking about confinement & all the diseases etc. I decided that book was not for me as a backyard chicken keeper. I had small children when I started & while we did tell them to wash their hands, none of us probably did all the time & we never got sick. Just give it a try & you'll do just fine.

 

[bobbi-j]

I want to comment on the salmonella issue. A while back, there were egg recalls due to a salmonella outbreak in a huge egg production place. In that place, there were found dead, rotting chicken carcasses, vermin, and filth. Obviously a breeding ground for problems like that. Don't let dead, rotting birds pile up, try to keep the rats to a minimum and maybe the filth, too. I even eat raw cookie dough and have never gotten sick.

 

[EMS83]

Even though I'm not the OP, I appreciate all these answers! I'm just beginning research and nothing concrete may ever happen, or if it does, it'll be a couple of years from now. I'm curious about the small children portion of that, too, Cindy in PA. Did you find your time or energy strained? Budget? These are huge considerations for me.

Unlike the OP, I didn't even think about disease. That was a good point, OP!! My husband brought up chicken lice, but I honestly thought he was just coming up with reasons why chickens are a bad idea. (Did I mention I JUST started my research??) Now I know he had a valid concern. AND now I know what to say!

 

[centrarchid]

I was raised around all sorts of animals, domestic and otherwise. Occasionally I got sick, but no more than individuals that lived in much cleaner environments. The benefits, especially as a child, were the learning opportunities. I also got bitten many times. No scars resulted. That was made up for from riding bikes and playing sports; and the piano.

The majority here do not indulge in chickens for profit, rather it is a diversion, so look for benefits in that. The food products when realized can be plus and risk from those is minimal so long as you follow proper kitchen related protocols.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Even though I'm not the OP, I appreciate all these answers! I'm just beginning research and nothing concrete may ever happen, or if it does, it'll be a couple of years from now. I'm curious about the small children portion of that, too, Cindy in PA. Did you find your time or energy strained? Budget? These are huge considerations for me.

Unlike the OP, I didn't even think about disease. That was a good point, OP!! My husband brought up chicken lice, but I honestly thought he was just coming up with reasons why chickens are a bad idea. (Did I mention I JUST started my research??) Now I know he had a valid concern. AND now I know what to say!

I have never thought chicken raising was time consuming. Of course I went out to them everyday & collected eggs & changed their water & filled food if necessary. I have always used the deep litter method & only totally cleaned out the coop in spring & fall. In the first years, my husband had aunts that bought up my few eggs as soon as they were laid for $1 a dozen. I paid $12-16 dollars a month for 2 bags of feed & they free ranged. Never seemed to cost that much. I think it's a budget strain more now, as I don't sell eggs & feed prices are the pits, but it really isn't an expensive hobby to me. DH spends much more going hunting, than I do on my chickens and dogs! Go for it!

 

[Tacswa3]

Thank you all for the replies. I feel better about it and actually found some 12 week old pullets nearby that I brought home today after I set my new coop up. I dove right in LOL!

Now I gotta read more about this deep litter method.

 

[centrarchid]

If practical, then look into electrified poultry netting. It will not make egg costs lower than store bought but can greatly reduce your bird replacement costs, especially if raptors are not too much of a problem. It does not pose the threat I though it would to small children. My 2-year old figured out how to beat it quickly.

Also try not to push your free-range forages too hard. Too many birds requires more and better feed. Six hens on two acres here requires only supplemental scratch to keep them in lay for 6 of the 9-month laying season while a couple dozen birds require a much more expensive ration and they can make a mess of plantings.

 

[aart]

LOL...that didn't take long!

 

[Tacswa3]

LOL...that didn't take long!

Well it was in the works before hand. Had everything but the chickens lined up. Once the coop arrived I went looking for birds and found some. LOL

 

[EMS83]

Thank you! Feed doesn't sound terrible, yet. I believe our county ordinances, though, are going to make chickens impossible for us. /sigh. My husband might be relieved though. He is not at all convinced.

I can still research at least. If we ever move, I'd be prepared.