Keeping Chickens!

Biddyrolo

Would 2 birds be enough? According to our house deeds we are only allowed to have 2 outdoor animals (rules out bees lol)

*zippy*

After seeing chickens living naturally, scratching around all day and how friendly they are, its now difficult to eat a cheap supermarket chicken knowing what its life must have been like for a few short weeks.

Ours are all named and pets so couldn't consider eating them, but they have a lovely life and it must be very rewarding to give this to an ex battery hen. We considered it, but I read ex battery hens often only survive one winter and was concerned DD would get too attached only to be then upset.

Josiegirl

Biddy, it really depends on your family situation and how many will eat the eggs. Generally they will lay about 250 eggs per year. They go off the lay during winter. So, basically 2 chooks will give you 12-14 eggs per week for most of the year, but you could always sneak an extra one in and say you were looking after it for your mum if anyone asks;) Sweet talk the neighbours with promises of a few ultra fresh eggs!

justin138

Would they be happy with 18 cats around? And how many chicks are born of the eggs - how much would they cost to feed? We couldn't bear to eat an egg or a chicken EVER, so where's the money saving? I'd love to keep chooks as pets though (shhh, don't tell Justin, he'll go get me some cos he's like that). He hates me to "go without" anything I want, bless him.


Jo

Josiegirl

Probably not moneysaving if you just keep them as pets without using them productively, but there's nothing wrong with that- barter the eggs with friends or neighbours. You won't get any chicks from the eggs unless you have a rooster to fertilise them, hens lay an egg a day regardless.

18 cats? WOW!

doddsy

justin138 wrote:

Would they be happy with 18 cats around? And how many chicks are born of the eggs - how much would they cost to feed? We couldn't bear to eat an egg or a chicken EVER, so where's the money saving? I'd love to keep chooks as pets though (shhh, don't tell Justin, he'll go get me some cos he's like that). He hates me to "go without" anything I want, bless him.


Jo

Hi Jo,

I can understand that you wouldn't want to eat chicken, but why not the eggs? just curious:D
doddsy

Wirenth

There's loads of good advice on this thread:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=4876

I got my four hens when they were a couple of weeks old, at Easter. They didn't start laying until November and have laid continuously since then. We generally get 24-28 eggs per week from them.

Debt_Free_Chick

Biddyrolo wrote:

Would 2 birds be enough? According to our house deeds we are only allowed to have 2 outdoor animals (rules out bees lol)

Interesting .... neither are "animals" although they are subset of the "animal kingdom".

Chickens are birds (poultry). Bees are insects. If insects are limited to two, according to your deeds, then how do you keep out ... flies, wasps, butterflies, caterpillars, slugs, snails, leatherjackets, ants, ladybirds ..... ?????? :rotfl:

I rather suspect that this restriction is there to limit the number of domestic pets you can keep or to stop you starting a pig farm. Which is rather a pity as home reared natural pork is gorgeous and pigs are inquisitive, friendly and funny animals :rotfl:

beachbeth

My parents keep chickens and have just had a new lot of 6 (can't tell you what sort but they are red and beige and quite pretty looking. The first week they laid a lot of medium sized eggs and then this dropped off and and hardly laying now. Mum and dad get about 4 small eggs a day now, so I think the place they got them from must have been giving them something to make them lay which is a bit unnatural really. My mum and dad prefer to feed them healthy stuff and let them lay as nature decides.

justin138

OOOOH DEAR - I'm getting broody - I want chickens!!!!! And maybe an hippo for the pond, but I think we'll have to make the pond bigger Actually I want an elephant too, but the sofas are too small.

Seriously Doddsy, many people ask why I don't eat eggs, or am vegan, and I understand their curiosity, but it's SO difficult for me to explain WHY. There's tons of reasons why we don't wish to use any animal products - it's all to help animals, PEOPLE, AND the environment. I can only suggest you google or at least look at https://www.vegansociety.co.uk (which isn't a brilliant site to say the least). Hope you DO take the time to read, cos understanding is a long way towards being friends with me I'm lacking friends!!!! just cos I'm VEGAN (or as some people say: "you're vagrant aren't you"; or "you're vulcan aren't you!" ).
Jo