What are the cons?

[jenjscott]

Did any one mention they poop?

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
I hate to say this but....we all poop.


My reason to not get chickens: Sometimes they get sick. Sometimes it's curable (like impacted crop) but sometimes it isn't (like when they just fade away). Losing a friend is a sad thing.

 

[boxermom]

The only con I can think of is that my house never gets cleaned... I'm either out with the birds or on BYC! Is that a con?

 

[SoCalChick]

Quote:
THIS COMMENT IS SO TRUE!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
According to my DH - yes - around our house.

 

[gryeyes]

Having to keep two sets of shoes/boots handy for visiting the run. That is, you MUST remember to take the "chicken boots" off before entering the house. (It's that "poop" issue.)

Worrying about them.

Brooding them in the house is a real mess. I'm a messy person, but the chicks in the brooder really stretched my limits. Dust everywhere. Poop on my hands. Poop on my clothes. It didn't make me mad, it just meant I have to change apparel more often than I used to have to do. (Dogs put muddy paw prints on me, too, so can't quite blame the chickens for needing to wash work clothes after EVERY SINGLE wear.)

Never getting house work done, because I'm watching chickens.

Having to delete unwatched TV programs from the recorder because I need space to record more programs I'm not gonna watch, because I'm outside watching chickens. Weekends used to be marathon TV watching, not any more.

Worry that I'm not doing all the right things they need, because I'm so new at this.

 

[CityChook]

I'm in the city, so I only have 4 hens. They require surprisingly little maintenance and bring me great joy. And I was actually *afraid* of birds before getting the chicks. I took the leap partially to help myself get over this stupid fear and partially out of curiosity. Also, to help my kids learn that food doesn't come from cartons at the grocery store. And now look at me.... I'm the crazy city girl who wears heels to do morning chicken chores and hugs her hens every day.

For cons, I'd say:
1) Expense of building a nice coop. Yes, I know there are lots of you out there who got away with a $5 coop, but I'm not in that sorority.
2) Expense of keeping the girls warm in the wintertime. Again, I know there are those of you that don't heat your coops. See above.
3) Worry about keeping them safe. Chicken tastes good - and not just to people. They rely on me and I don't want them to pay for a stupid mistake with their lives. Doors must be shut and locked. Period.
4) Worry about health problems. I haven't had any serious problems, thank the Lord. But if something went wrong, finding help can be difficult.
5) Poo on my patio. Every spring I have to re-train them to stay out of the rose garden and off my patio furniture. If you don't free-range, this won't be an issue.

Anyways, the pros most certainly out-weigh the cons. My experience with the chickens has been so good, I now have 3 other friends who've gotten chickens too.

 

[teach1rusl]

Cons for me:
*Feeling out of my element...always wondering if I'm doing things "right" because, as others have said, their care and health issues aren't like dogs/cats, and are unfamiliar to me
*Finding care for them if/when you're out of town (in a sense they are easier to care for than dogs, but many people don't feel comfortable/confident in the chicken arena)
*Going out to the coop/run to care for them every day, rain or shine, hot or cold. I hate cold weather, and my DH swears he's already seen me outside more THIS winter than the past four winters combined. So I see it as a good thing, because it motivates me to be up and about more often.

I'm on week 19 and no eggs yet, and all the cons I named are still worth it. I've enjoyed the past five months so much, and haven't once regretted getting chickens.

 

[NYREDS]

Having to go out in the dark, in January, when it's below zero & the wind is blowing to feed them before you leave for work.
Days like that make me think that stamp collecting might make a good hobby.

 

[randomchick]

Ooh, ooh, biggest con ever. Trying to think up new and inventive excusses to give your husband on why you need more chickens. Or why and how more chickens have magically appeared on your property, in your chicken coop.