Thinking of Getting Started!

[squeakyballs]

Quote:
Do you think 3/4 of an acre (the backyard, my garden is on the front 1/4) is enough for 4 chickens (I plan to feed them, too) or will they turn it all into (even more of) a dust bowl?

 

[Brickman House]

3/4 of an acre should be more than enough for 4 birds. As I said in a prior post, we have 15 birds on about an acre, and they don't even so much as damage the grass, let alone turn it into a dust bowl!

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Yes chickens are loud

Yes they require you to get up in the morning, feed them water them, fresh food and water every day.

Yes they will destroy the lawn in short period of time turning it in sandy dessert or muddy swamp depends of where you live.

Protect them from predators, dogs, hawks etc.

Lock them up for night.

Clean their coop regularely

Deworm them regularly keep them dry, make sure they have protection from rain and hot sun, protection from severe cold in the winter.

Summarizing and reality check:

There is no self running low maintenance convenient eggmaking system developed yet.

 

[Gonzo the Great]

Quote:
1) Check with local animal regulations. Ask local veterinary clinics or 4H clubs at local schools.
2) They will decimate most potted plants if they like them. In fact, that's why I wanted them, to clear the weeds!
3) They are safe, I think your chicks may be in more danger from the one year old!
4) They can clear the ground if they are not in a moveable coop or tractor.
5) I used to let mine out, but they would make the neighbors dogs insane. I had to get rid of them when the HOA busted me. I am thinking of restarting this year by keeping them in a tractor with a separate run. Plus, I intend to deploy a battery of wind chimes all over my yard to hide the clucking.

 

[cybercat]

You know I missed the landlord part. This will be the hardest thing to overcome. You are renting so responsiblity falls on the owner should your chickens destory the yard. This with your container garden I would say just keep buying eggs and do not worry about trying to get chickens. Most likly your landlord will say no since you are in city limits.

 

[LCSlezinger]

Thanks everyone. It seems like I am going to have to wait until we have our own house and a large yard to get chickens.

I was really getting used to the idea. Oh well.

Thanks everyone for all of your help! Your comments have been so appreciated!

 

[cmom]

Here is a great reference book, Gail Damerow's 'Storey's Guide to Chickens' is an excellent guide, as well as this web site. This site is an excellent source of information. I get an average of 5 eggs per bird per week.

Also here are some other good sites and info.
Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html
http://www.mypetchicken.com/aboutChickens.aspx
https://www.backyardchickens.com/lcenter.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[chickorama]

Get hens. We have 22... I mean three... *WINK WINK* , and nobody cares. Roosters are loud, but hens are fine for places not in the country.