Chook Me!

Just A Few Questions About Chickens...?

OK so i live like right on the town/country line for my town and i have a fairly big yard. I really want to get a few chickens, plymouth rocks to be exact, but my parents are saying no. My dad did not even let me say more than "hey dad can I.." and he was like"No!" before i even finished my sentence. so i am trying to get more info so i can try to convince them to let me. PLease answer the fallowing questions with their corresponding number. thanks 1) Do chickens smell really bad? 2) How much space does a small flock, like 5 hens and maybe a rooster need? 3) Can i just use a rooster from another flock and put him in with my hens if i want chicks? 4) How much does it cost to get these kinds of chickens? 5) Is this breed very friendly? 6) Is this breed very quiet? 7) Is it easy to care for chickens? 8) The best coop? 9) Where can i get these kind of chicks? 10) A good way to get my parents to accept having chickens and let me get them? 11) Any other helpful advise? OK so i also need pictures of the best coop and yard. I live in town so they would be unable to be loose in my yard. ALso how can i convince my parents to let me get even just a few hens. i want to do this in a responsible way not just going behind their backs or something. please i want them to enjoy having the chickens too. Any other helpful advice that you have learned would be awesome! thanks so much, FFA Girl Also what is good quiet breed for keeping in town? I like these ones that are kinda yellowy gold but i don't know the breed or anything about them. A calm friendly quiet breed is what i really need. Also ones that are good layers but can double as a meat breed. Also what do you do with them in the winter. I live in Wisconsin so i dont think they could stay outside. would i have to build the coop part big enough to house them in the winter full time inside? PLease try to answer the questions. I also found that the golden ones i like are called buff plymouth rocks. :) i really like those and i found a site where i can buy just 10. i will give 3 away. but i really need my parents to agree! please help me out?

Public Comments

1. Tell them that they will never have to buy eggs again :)
2. 1. Many chickens, not kept clean stink to high heavens. The small amount you want shouldn't smell. 2. Not much at all. Maybe a 6x10 ft enclosure or even smaller and let them free range during the day. 3. Yes you can borrow a rooster-but that doesn't mean your hens will set on the eggs. Best to collect them and incubate them yourself. (tractor supply-about 45 bucks) 4. Cost is dependent on type of bird, they can be shipped via the USPS. You can also look locally for chicks. (Tractor supply sometimes has them or check on line-I buy from Murray McMurray hatchery) 5/6. Most chickens are pretty friendly and quiet (except roosters and Guinea hens). Once they know you they will follow you around. 7. They are one of the easiest things I have ever taken care of. Food, water, shelter, your good. They also will eat your leftovers. (no meat) throw them your leftover salad, veggie ends, bread they will eat it all and all of the bugs in the yard. 8. As far as coops-I really can't help you, mine stay in an empty stall in my barn. It does have to be sturdy and make sure no predators can get to them at night while they sleep. 9. See # 4 10. I would say the easiest way to convince them is to tell them about their bug and garbage eating capabilities. There will be no ants, ticks, flies around. No bugs with no chemicals-can't beat that. For the winter I just make sure they have a good sturdy shelter-I'm in Northern NJ and we had weeks of single digit temperatures. They were fine as long as they could perch next to each other to conserve body heat. Good luck.
3. OK- BIG question! Maybe a long answer then... 1) How bad do you smell if you don't keep yourself clean? :) Keep the coop very clean and make sure they are fed the correct feed, check their health regularly and know your breed well so you can address any breed specific issues (feathered leg birds are more difficult to keep clean in damp conditions) and you won't have any problems with smell 2) The space depends on the breed- an average chicken requires a metre square of space including outdoor and indoor areas if the bird is going to be kept in full or regular confinement (apologies- I can't think in feet...) A large bird (like the Plymouth Rock) or an active breed is happier with more, a bantam breed can get away with half that and if you are able to let them range (which you obviously can't) you can cope with less space. A covered outdoor area is a great suggestion so that the birds can still exhibit daily behaviors such as dust bathing during extended periods of bad weather. It's not a good idea to keep a rooster permanently in with the hens, he will need his own "rooster box" and you'll also need isolation areas for ill, injured or broody hens (particularly if you are raising chicks) 3) If you are in town, chances are you won't be allowed to have a rooster, even a "borrowed" one, so check with your local town authorities first- you may also have a restriction on the number of birds you are allowed to keep, so you might not be able to breed either. For optimum fertility, the hens need at least 10 days exposure to the rooster (depending on the size of the flock). If it's allowed and your neighbors don't revolt at you having a roster around for 10 days it's not a problem. 4) The cost of a chicken varies- how long is a piece of string. If you are lucky, you may find a giveaway, if you are interested in having a future champion bird, you could be paying several hundred. A baby chick may cost only a few cents (although you would then need to buy a lot of brooding equipment as well...) 5) The Plymouth Rock is a pretty friendly bird and is generally happy to be handled if raised well, they're a good layer too and generally have few problems. The only one I would be wary of is during winter they can be prone to frost bite being a single combed bird- a good alternative is the wyandotte which has a rose comb and also comes in the buff color you like so much. Oh- and they can be prone to getting fat, so I would recommend NOT feeding them too much treats- just laying mix/mash/pellets. fat birds can get unhealthy and also don't produce fewer eggs. Both of them are duel purpose birds and kept well will provide a good number of eggs and a reasonable carcass. 6) Answered above! 7) A small number of chickens are very easy to care for- most breeds are pretty hardy and as long as you supply them with a good shelter, enough feed and hygienic conditions they'll be great. The better care you take of them, the longer their laying life and the longer they will live but they can survive on relatively little care as long as they have the basics. A LARGE number of chickens on the other hand takes a lot of time- I have nearly 200 at the moment, and my morning rounds take a minimum of an hour on a good day and to go round at least three times a day. Some breeds also need some extra special care, but a Rock or a 'Dotte are relatively carefree. 8) Go to the library and look up a book called "Chicken Coops" by Judy Pangman- it will show you a lot of different designs that other people have done, including a whole lot that are in urban areas. it will give you a lot of ideas. 9) Go to your newsagent and buy a poultry magazine- you'll find ads for everything you need in there- if you can't locate a breeder directly, try contacting the relevant poultry club. 10) Show your parents how serious you are by doing your research fully- borrow books out of the library on the topic, make it your purpose to educate your parents on chicken keeping and your chosen breed. Makes great dinner table conversation. Don't expect your parents to be very supportive if they are expected to pay for everything, or if you have had a reputation for being "faddy" about other interests. An animal is yours to look after for it's entire lifespan- you really need to show that you can be responsible for these birds and that you can look after them- that might take having to be more responsible in other areas of your life as well, maybe getting a part time job to pay for them and their care.. 11) Advice- make sure that you are LEGALLY allowed to keep the birds first and what other local restrictions and regulations there are- the penalties are not worth it. Let your neighbors know before you bring the birds home so you can address any concerns they have as well. Don't buy chicks. Buy point of lay pullets- you know they are all female already and you won't need to buy any brooding equipment. They'll also be laying very soon after you bought