Chickens and other backyard animal ideas.

[fitz19d]

So, finally renting a house at least. Would like to buy but still not nailed down on location career wise. In the meantime finally renting a house. With that opportunity I figured you know, actually getting a dog. Problem is lease is pretty restrictive on breed outside the usual obvious ones. I also can't have reptiles period. (Because a snake in their apartment properties crawled up someones toilet...) I think I'm also restricted on like parrots. (Problem in a apartment but shouldn't be in a house.) Either way is ending up pretty limited on some of my choices for some animals/pets to keep. (Aside from my 125 and 55g Reef tanks.)

So one idea I had was perhaps Chickens. But I was looking for advice from anyone that may have these in a more small town instead of rural setting. Will be moving to miliken, and I think they are allowed. Thought I saw a house with some. I like the idea of chickens because they can be semi trained, become friendly/handleable, and bonus: Eggs for my ramen etc. Figured 1-2, possibly 3 or 4 depending on logistics.

My concerns are just the impact on the yard. Can I free range them sorta if I wing clip them. (Or will they still get over fences.) Or am I forced to do a covered run or chicken tractor. (Something that needs more land than just a backyard. The people I've seen with them are usually going more hardcore with close to a dozen chickens. I'd like to keep it very limited to limit the affect on the yard as well as keep it closer to pets than being a craigslist egg selling extravaganza.

So chicken advice or other suggestions what to do w/ my new found space?

[ray1970]

You should get a duck.

[fitz19d]

I kinda laughed at the idea of turkey. But I'd want to deep fry it. Ducks's tasty too. Wouldn't ducks maybe be too noisy? Aside from 3 hens was going to pass on a rooster since I do have neighbors.

[TheGrey]

You'll want to determine the variety and breed, depending on what you're looking to spend. Many heirloom varieties are quite hearty in the cold temps that we get in the wintertime, and you're going to want to be sure you can keep them protected from predators.

Chickens need a flock. One chicken is going to be a very lonely chicken. Three chickens create a nice little flock. Check your municipal codes as well; most of them allow for chickens.

You'll need a shelter and to prepare yourself a brooder; chickens are usually started as day-old and require heat (but not TOO much heat) and plenty of fresh water and feed.
ow much land do you have available? Chickens love to eat grass, plants, bugs (and depending on the breed, mice.) This is good for your yard and vegetable garden, but some chickens enjoy tender garden plants with the rest of the critters. A fenced-in area will also be beneficial in the event of coyotes, fox, cats, loose dogs and birds of prey.

[fitz19d]

I do have advantage another supervisor/friend at work has a mini farm going now almost out near Nunn, and now has chickens, supposedly up to like a 100? Think exaggeration but I know at least like 20. So imagine he can help me some. So many breeds but Opringtons sound good? Looking around laughed my ass off when I saw chicken diapers for indoor chickens. Since I posted did figure out I need 2-3. (Unless I pull a crazy cat lady and keep a diapered bird with me, but I don't think we'll go there.) Kinda standard middle class yard. Grass to the fence, havn't move in yet so can't remember if there was a rocky/dusty area that would be ideal for a coop. I'd love it if I could get away with a small coop I can close at night for 3 birds and have them loose in the yard during the day. (Predation an issue though.)

[TheGrey]

Orpingtons are a very good breed, and having a friend with a mini farm is terrific for providing some stock as well as advice.
The fact that you're renting means you'll have to clear it with the landlord (I'd imagine), but as long as you can reassure them you're not going to have diapered chickens roaming through the house, and you're not going to have roosters, I can't imagine what their objections would be.

Predation is a big issue; what kind of fence does the yard have?
There's a lot of chicken coop plans available online.

[fitz19d]

Standard suburban type fence, 6 or 8ft ish. Only got to see the place once before I was debating something like this. (Was thinking more dog, but I'm limited to pretty much useless yap yap's.) I've also got such a huge open unfinished basement wish I could put that good use. Insane roommate briefly considered handgun ran before I smacked him. I did see/hear of a long while back someone who had a roost built into a corner of the basement that went through the dugout/side basement window up a ladder into the yard. (Window could still open/close.)

[TheGrey]

Yap yaps definitely have their place- those little ankle biters are one of the best burglar alarms around.

The idea of a roost built into the basement with a window access makes me a little uneasy, personally. Chicken poo can be whiffy, and if a chicken can get in the house, it also stands to reason that other things may follow.

How long do you look to rent there?

[fitz19d]

At least a year, that is the other concern, so a coop would have to be transportable, or if I moved to somewhere else I couldn't have them I could turn around and sell. THat's why I had the concern for turning the yard into a dust bowl since it is a rental. (Hoping full yard access it will be ok, vs if they had a 20 foot coop/run built on the lawn obviously that area would get torn up bad. )

[TheGrey]

Let me dig around. I think I have plans for a portable chicken coop stashed somewhere that I can PM you when I find it. I've been considering doing the chicken thing, too- but I know it's going to cost some initial money, so I'm planning for 2014 or 2015.


Actually, I think I saw it in a magazine. They call them "Chicken Tractors" and this is a good site that has a lot of pictures to give you an idea.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/ch...n-coop-designs

Clearly, the people that have little houses with a porch and trim are a little more rabid about their pet chickens than others....