Why All The "Junk"?

[Narragansett]

Quote:
Everyone is welcome to their opinion. Mine is that I have too much consideration for my neighbors, too much pride in the appearance of my property, and too much respect for the reputation of my hobby to allow an eyesore to represent it to the public.

You about summed up why people took such offense to the post. I believe most of us do consider the feelings of others, and have pride in our hobby, but its not always practical and sometimes completely impossible to live up to the standards of everyone. Perhaps you are only considerate about the feelings of those who live according to your standards. The topic kind of reminds me of asking someone why they joke or laugh about being fat or ugly. Think about it. Have a nice day.

I'm really not sure that I understand what you're getting at. I would no more make fun of someone who is fat or ugly than I would expect my neighbors to have to endure seeing an eyesore on my property. Both I find to be extremely insensitive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some of the coops which I see are really hard to justify as being pleasant or attractive to look at IMO. Surely my neighbors have different taste than I, and I could never hope to try to live up to anyone else's standards, but I have those of my own, and I wouldn't expect others to have to tolerate anything which doesn't live up to at least my standards. Despite difference of opinions on what constitutes acceptable standards, in many places the chicken coops which we see do not obviously live up to the community's standards, hense regulations which restrict or prohibit them.
As I wrote earlier, everyone is welcome to their own opinions. I don't have to like their's and they don't have to like mine, but mine is not wrong simply because someone else disagrees with it. Some people are "offended" by the idea of chickens living next door to them. Do they not have the right to feel that way, despite how we disagree?

 

[speckledhen]

Again, now that the OP has clarified his meaning, can we please get off this tangent and back to the original question he asked?

 

[Narragansett]

Quote:
It's too bad that you have to go to such lengths to explain yourself, just because some people misundertood the meaning of the simple words you used. My wife calls my old poultry magazines, etc, my poultry "stuff". To me it's historical records, antiques, ephemera, etc, but I don't get all bent out of shape because she used one word in a meaning other than I do. I wish that I had so few things to worry about that that would be such a big deal to me.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Quote:
I have to admit it took me to about the end of page 2 to get where you were coming from. I'm a bit surprised at some of the responses as well.

But the range of responses is itself interesting, isn't it? Sociologically, people on this site are a pretty broad sample. Some want pets, some just want decent eggs, others pine for the life Grandpa lived. I suspect most of us are some mixture of those things.

Personally, I see raising my own chickens and using repurposed materials (aka "junk") as part of the same overall approach to life. The less I have to buy from "The Man", the better. And of course, any time I scrounge something instead of buying something, it's a win for the environment.

Oddly enough, both of my chickens coops are made of mostly "bought new" materials -- but I have a woodshed and tractor barn topped with metal roofing that blew off my house in Katrina.

Checking out your page, it occurred to me that you might enjoy this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Coops-Building-Plans-Housing/dp/1580176275

Some of the coops are made from repurposed farm buildings, trailers, and even equipment (mempory is fuzzy on the last one...) It's a nice sort of coffee table book, and might give you some insight into what we're talking about here.


Okay, I just realized how badly I'm rambling here. I hope this helps in some way.

 

[Stephanie739]

Naraganset, Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I am just saying that people should keep chickens even if they are unable to build or buy a cute coop. I said I wasn't offended, but I suppose I was a bit. I'm not fat or ugly but I am poor. And it was a reasonable analogy. My dog kennel coop is loved by my chickens - absolutely no chasing to get them in, and tonight even the babies were accepted in it without ANY pecking, but it is tacky looking. Would I prefer something nicer too look at? Of course. Should I not have chickens - to help ensure I have food for my children - because my coop is ugly?

Uncle Marc, I can only speak from my opinion, but no, I doubt there is much of a historical chicken club involving the use of recycled junk to make sure the chickens are safe and healthy. Its about money for the most part and of course there are those great earth friendly people who prefer to reduce, reuse, and recycle even when the money is available. Did you really believe otherwise? If you did, please forgive my cynicism. I watched pieces of your videos and am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[StevenW.]

Sorry, but when you put "JUNK" in the title of course some members are going to be defensive.

Why shouldn't we re-cycle old stuff that can still be used?

Everything on those coops were salvaged except for the shingles and paint.

 

[Tracy the chick]

Please can someone tell me what "frugal" means. Thanks, Tracy xx

 

[Stephanie739]

Maybe you did believe otherwise! And I'm sure there ARE people who take great pride in their recycled finds for their building projects, even those who have the money to buy new! I am sorry for my cynicism. I'd probably buy new if I could, but then again, I don't know how to build either

I'm learning though. I just may have a cool construction project to highlight one day on here, then again, maybe not

Blessings

 

[CheerioLounge]

Quote:
Thanks speckledhen.

The reason I use recycled or repurposed materials is that I am living on a fixed income and cannot afford to go buy new materials. Thankfully, there have been several neighbors out this way who do have larger incomes and have been doing quite a bit of construction. I have gone to them and offered to help with anything they need done in exchange for whatever scraps I can use. Thankfully, they are all very friendly and understanding of my situation and were quite willing to accept the offer.

I certainly meant no offense Uncle Marc and really took no offense to your comments. I have a sarcastic streak and sometimes it doesn't come across in written form. I'll try to be more careful.

And to Narraganset - my partner also thinks I spend way too much time dealing with the chickens and on BYC, so I can relate to your wife's feelings. If I took everything he said personally, It'd be just me and the chickens!!!

Edited to correctly direct comment.

 

[CheerioLounge]

Quote:
fru·gal/ˈfro͞ogəl/Adjective:

1.Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
2.Simple and plain and costing little: "a frugal meal".