[Vision2020] are you interested in having backyard chickens?

Wed Sep 30 12:03:43 PDT 2009

Backyard laying hens seem to have become quite the thing the past few years - local, humane, eco-friendly, and so on.  May be questionable whether they're a cost-saver, though.  Here's a recent article about pro-hen activism in a suburban community to Seattle's north:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090615/NEWS01/706159917/0/NEWS010308

I think we'll have to pass - our cat might give the poor things a heart attack, the chickens would probably displace the quail that frolic in our backyard almost daily, and I wonder how we'd keep them warm enough during a Palouse winter.

- Selina

> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:32:41 -0700
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] are you interested in having backyard chickens?
> 
> Courtesy of the "Public Records" section of the May 13, 2009 edition of
> the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Moscow Police
> 
> Monday
> 
> 8:38 a.m. - Chickens were reported running loose on Cleveland Street.
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Courtesy of the November 5, 2005 edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
> 
> ---------------
> 
> Chickens as pets? Its definitely an idea that can take wing
> 
> Not many people keep chickens in their backyards like we did in the good
> ole days. However, once in awhile someone who wanted to have pets that are
> not run of the mill might own some chickens that arent kept for laying
> eggs or for eventually gracing the dining room table. I would like to
> answer some questions for anyone who might want a few chickens around for
> fun.
> 
> Question: What breeds of chickens are recommended for pets?
> 
> Answer: An incredible number of unusual and exotic chickens are advertised
> but if you just want a few backyard pets, finding a good source is more
> important than seeking a certain type of chicken. Your best bet is to buy
> from a poultry farm store that has a year-round supply of chickens. Avoid
> the pet store that suddenly has a hundred chickens to sell. If you have a
> choice, you might buy pygmy chickens called Bantams. They are small, cute,
> friendly and come in a variety of colors.
> 
> Question: For anyone starting from scratch, is it difficult to raise
> chickens?
> 
> Answer: No, but they must be kept warm. An 18-inch high cardboard box with
> newspapers on the bottom makes a good pen. Use a gooseneck lamp to keep
> the temperature at 85 to 90 degrees F. Lower the temperature about 5
> degrees a week until room temperature is reached. This accustoms the
> chicks to the outdoor climate when it is time to move them to a pen or
> yard. A simple shelter and a six by six foot fenced yard are adequate for
> a dozen chickens.
> 
> Question: Do hens or roosters make the best pets?
> 
> Answer: One of each is a good idea. Keeping chickens can be an education
> experience and having them produce baby chicks is part of the fun.
> Naturally both hens and a rooster are necessary if you want the pleasure
> of observing a chicken family.
> 
> Question: Will pet hens lay eggs if no rooster is around?
> 
> Answer: Yes, but no romance means no chicks. The eggs will not be fertile.
> After you discover where the is laying eggs, build a nest box, fill it
> with hay and put it in that location. Such a box is usually the hens first
> choice for egg laying. A hen will sit on her eggs till they hatch. Remove
> unfertilized eggs promptly to avoid a rotten egg problem.
> 
> Question: What is a good poultry diet?
> 
> Answer: A local feed store sells laying mash or growing mash, depending on
> the age and function of you chickens. Food and water should always be
> available in the chicken pen or house. Table scraps and weed or lawn
> clippings are good supplements. Dont worry if your hens look for bugs and
> worms in the garden. Grit is important to aid digestion and to provide
> calcium for stronger egg shells.
> 
> Question: How long will a pet chicken live?
> 
> Answer: Pet chickens are hardy and usually free from disease. They can
> live from six to 10 years. Active egg production declines when the hen is
> between three and four years old.
> 
> Question: Can one chicken be raised in the house?
> 
> Answer: A chicken in the house is usually a pretty smelly pet. Also, if
> the chicken is put with a flock at a later time, it is apt to have
> personality problems. An established group of chickens can peck a newcomer
> unmercifully.
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> 
> As for me, I like chickens . . . fried.
> 
> Seeya round twon, Moscow.
> 
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
> 
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
> 
> - Unknown
> 
> 
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