this would be good info for the future.

thanks!

Next, the choice of a breed. Well, it's not that easy. The hatcheries require that you order a minimum of 25 birds, and that's the best way to get known breeds OTOH, if you go down to your local feed store to buy a bantam, you'll find an assortment. That is, they'll all be in one drawer/layer in the brooder, and it is darned hard to differentiate one breed from another. To complicate matters, bantams aren't sexed--that is, there will be cockerels (males) and pullets (females) all mixed up in there, so there is an even chance of getting a male when you buy. That's not a problem at first, but when a cockerel starts crowing, your neighbors probably won't like it.

Third, chickens are rather indescriminate eaters. If you turn them loose in your garden to eat bugs, they are also likely to eat some plants and fruits (tomatoes, squash, etc). I prefer to hand-pick tomato horn worms and bean beatles and toss them into a bowl in the chicken run, rather than let the chickens go after them in the garden. That said, I think it is GREAT to let the chickens scratch through the garden during the fall and winter, to get out any overwintering eggs and grubs before the next season.

And finally, chickens are social animals. It would be better to get at least 2 birds, so when you aren't there to provide some company, they would have their own built in companionship. I have had 1 bird occasionally (due to deaths in my tiny flock), but that bird would then follow my cats around, or me when I was available, and was clearly lonely.

All that said, here's a description I found, "All Brahma Bantams are very hardy and have a quiet temperament that makes them an excellent choice for pets." So if you can choose a breed, that's a good one. I have also had a bantam Cochin (both Brahma and Cochin chickens have feathers on their legs and feet) and a bantam Polish (Polish have clean legs, but poofy topknots), and they were active, lively, and cleared my yard of grasshoppers. They were both cockerels, though, so as they matured I found them homes outside of the city limits. Currently though, I have 3 pullets from the feed store--1 black star (egg-laying hybrid), 1 Rhode Island Red, and 1 Buff Orpington. Choosing full-sized breeds has the advantage of them being sexed, and I get nice big (sometimes jumbo) eggs from them when they grow up.

Other than picking your bantams up at the local feed store, you can also go to the county or state fair during poultry judging, and maybe contact breeders who are showing birds. Or if you live near a large hatchery, you may be able to go directly there and pick a couple of chicks. If you know other bantam fanciers (they are popular backyard breeds), ask them about getting a couple of pullets. Or if you know a circle of people who are interested in getting into bantams, you can go together and order 25 and divide them up.

I don't mean to discourage you, just want you to know some of the realities. I love my chickens and encourage other gardeners to try them.

BTW, my chickens live in an old portable dog run (8 ft x 10 ft, 6 ft high) and dog house that I can, with some effort, drag around my yard. Google "Chicken ark" to see some other portable options for confinememt.

i definitely wanted to stay away from a cockerel and you verified that crowing issue for me! great idea on the fairs (never thought of that!) since i live in a farming community, it shouldn't be too difficult. i had read that the ones with the tall combs (proper term?) need to have wind and temperature protection more so that the other breeds.

i also have loads of crickets but can't seem to attract toads due to clipped lawns, etc.

interesting idea on the dog run and dog house. we have an old pigeon coup as a shed (that i dare say me cat uses as a house, pleaase no lynch mobs about outdoor cats). otherwise, i thought the garage might do, but i would probably fight dh on that one. back to the cat, i worry b/c he is a hefty 15 pounds, long haired so not too easy for a defensive animal to penetrate, and with an acute hunting instinct. then again, he might just be afraid of a bantam. i just don't want to find out the hard way. i almost feel that i would be irresponsible if i tried it right now.

thank you for the suggestion of two birds. i would certainly want them to be happy whenever and whatever i decide. going to check the link now. thanks again!

Bill

As far as critters go, your cat may be the least of your worries.

Wayne in the Adks.

i wil try the duck link later, thankyou! it doesn't want to load right now.

i guess this topic is tabled at my house unless we move to the country. dh and i argued about it, so for now i may just give up on the idea. he is as stubborn as i am. then again, he may get a surprise some day :)

This line always works: "Look what followed me home! Can we keep them, huh? Can we?"

Wayne in the Adks.

Marciruiz, I'm trying to remember from the chicks we raised when I was a kid, I believe you just moisten the food with water and let them eat as much as they want, make sure it's available at all times. And fresh water. We would keep them in a card board box with a heat lamp-that's important-- (the big metal ones with the clip) and maybe a blanket over the setup. I've seen chickens sexed, though I've not done it, I think at 3 weeks they are too young but I don't really know. I would call a vet on that one, or a local farm for advice.

So, I decided to get a chicken to take care of my critters, instead of using pesticides. I was disappointed to learn that my town's regulations prohibit them. BUT - my state's general statutes (and you may check this too) allow companion animals, even farm animals, as long as they aren't roaming freely. It always amused me to see how the town turns its head on pooping dogs, but would not allow me to get two chicks to raise as my biological control! So, needless to say, I got my chicks alright - two black stars from Murray McMurray. I shared my willingness to get chicks at work, and other co-workers pitched in, because you really need to buy at least 25 at a time. So, I built a hutch in my basement, and will build a closed pen to let them roam in my backyard, when I am home, predating on my Jap beetles.

Moral of the story? Well, a companion animal is one that you can't replace its loss by acquiring another one! If you can't have a large (or even small) flock, look into your state's general statutes which may allow you to work it around, and keep the absolute minimum number of chicks as companion animals, provided you follow the state's requirements. And trust me, after legislation introduced in 1998, nobody touches a companion animal! If you need some sort of note (for landlord, etc.) just ask your physician to help you keep your beloved pets. Good luck...

unfortunately, i can't get past dh on this one but hopefully many others can put this into practice. :)

I don't remember most details too much, but we didn't feed them much that I recall, mostly we just gave cornmeal to the momma chicken when she was sitting on her nest to make more chickens for us. We have 5 acres and they wandered around and found their own food. Main flaw with that plan involved cars and neighbors and occasional animal problems. We saw a neighbor going from our property to his with a chicken in his hand once.

What I remember most is that we built them a chicken coop, but something came in at night and ate one or more of them there, so they wouldn't hang out there any more. So they would roost in our apple trees near the house. In freezing rain I vividly recall climbing up into the trees and prying their frozen feet from the tree branches and handing them down to my mom. I got SO cold and wet. We would put them into brown paper bags (so they couldn't scratch us in confusion or be injured) and carry them into the garage on those nights when we thought they would freeze to death outside. We would leave the side garage door open but they never thought to go in on their own, they liked trees better. Safer I suppose, but nothing ever ate them in the garage.

I am positive that we had cats at the same time, we always had cats, who also lived outdoors, and they got along okay. Don't know that we did anything special with the chickens to make them friendly, but they were. I named them all and they would eat out of my hand if I wanted them to. I have a photo of me, about age 15, with some of the chickens. I really treasure the photo because I am very thin and attractive in the picture. :-)

Marcia