[Vision2020] are you interested in having backyard chickens?

Wed Sep 30 13:13:49 PDT 2009

We travel too frequently now to keep chickens.

I, too, would hate to lose our lovely quail to chickens.

Selina Davis wrote:
> 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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> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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