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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 16, 2016 3:19:02 GMT
i hope I havent lost my mind....
I have been considering it for a year. Didnt want to spend hundreds on a coop. One of my neighbors is moving and gave us his coop!
We have to clean up and paint the coop and get the ground area set up where we are going to put them.
Fresh eggs right?
And lots of compost.
And seriously, just entertainment.
We went to see our other neighbors chickens tonight and they are just to funny. One of them would follow us around the yard.
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Shirley U Geste
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Post by Shirley U Geste on Aug 16, 2016 3:36:33 GMT
What kind are you getting?
Chickens can be a lot of fun to have around.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 11:44:52 GMT
What fun--and nice fresh eggs. My grandfather used to keep chickens. I'd get to throw the feed in their yard and they'd come running. AND gather the eggs.
I'm glad you got a free coop and I hope you have fun. Are you going to put up chicken wire?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 15:30:33 GMT
They can be quite pet like. They used to snuggle on my grandmother's lap. And I used to know a girl who would carry her chicken around in her arms.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 15:54:28 GMT
During a weekend family reunion a few years ago, my cousin, the host, had a pig roast. She also had a small 'farm' on her property that included chickens. The following day the head of the pig was given to the chickens. They pecked that thing to oblivion in no time. It both amused and scared me. Those things were fierce! And here I thought they were herbivores , lol. Good luck with your new venture mup!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 16:20:01 GMT
Yay yay yay yay YAY! Backyard chickens are the best! I chicken-sat for a neighbor over the summer and her 6 hens (Black Australorps) were so much fun to watch and interact with. And the eggs are delicious, more flavorful and much healthier than ones you buy at the store (those are fed "vegetarian diets", but chickens ain't vegetarians!) Her birds free ranged in the backyard and spent a lot of time pecking through the compost pile. Their favorite treat was dried mealworms -- I'd shake the bag and they'd all come running! Please post photos once you get everything set up! Also, in case you haven't seen it backyardchickens.com is a terrific resource.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 17, 2016 2:23:05 GMT
Sorry I posted and ran. I have been canning pickles and making fruit syrups the last 2 days. Then we had to take apart the coop so we can clean and disinfect it before painting it tomorrow. I am leaning towards red and white, like a barn, but I am going to mull it over tonight while Pinteresting. I have been to backyard chickens several times the last few days. They are a great resource! I need all the help I can get since I know nothing about chickens. I am excited though. Just hope our HOA doesnt catch us. What we get will depend on what they have at the hatchery right now. There is only 1 in Denver that keeps them this late and it is on the other side of town. I am thinking a Barred Plymouth Rock, A Rhode Island Red and my oldest wants "a white one". They would actually like one that lays green or blue eggs but those are harder to find. Ill post photos of the coop when I get it done the next 2 days. Then I have to add fill dirt and make a run for them to keep them away from the dogs and other animals. No free range for me, though they will get free time when the dogs are inside.
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Shirley U Geste
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Post by Shirley U Geste on Aug 17, 2016 2:30:00 GMT
If you just want eggs and cute pet chickens I highly recommend getting a few Silkies in the mix. They are adorable, and they are great at getting to all the bugs. You wont be tempted to eat them at all cause the meat is black.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Aug 17, 2016 2:32:28 GMT
Where are their eyes? LOL
Those lil things are too cute to be chickens.
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Shirley U Geste
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Post by Shirley U Geste on Aug 17, 2016 2:40:50 GMT
Arent they precious? My Mom always had 2 pair in her yard when I was growing up. They got to come in the regular yard and didnt have to stay in the barn cause she liked them so much. They followed her around like dogs and would sit in her lap and 'talk' to her. They come in lots of colors too:
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Aug 17, 2016 2:45:08 GMT
I want one of the Splash ones, maybe two.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 17, 2016 3:21:41 GMT
While I am a meat eater, no way I can eat something that lived as a pet in my backyard and had a name. My husband told me he would would take care of the bird and I said I STILL cant eat something I knew. So apparenty there is a farm around here which will take the chikens to retire. I am sure that means THEY will kill them and eat them but I am going to pretend I dont know that and live in lala land.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 18, 2016 2:41:53 GMT
Before Almost done
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Shirley U Geste
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Post by Shirley U Geste on Aug 18, 2016 2:45:49 GMT
Nice coop!
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Post by RetroMonde on Aug 18, 2016 21:32:09 GMT
Nice coop Mup! We have 6 chickens, 5 Austrolorps and one mixed hen that lays green-ish eggs. I always say my chickens saved my life when I was super-depressed after my business went bust. Our hens are free range- and we didn't clip their wings so if necessary they can fly to a fence to get away from predators. We get hawks, skunk, raccoon and probably coyote but haven't seen any yet.
One thing you need to do is make sure you know all your local ordinances and keep up on them. They do change. We got our chickens in 2007 or 2008 and followed all the codes about buildings and chickens for our area. Well, someone turned us in last summer for having too many chickens AND the coop was suddenly too near the fence. After we got over the shock and stopped glaring at neighbors, we re-homed 3 chickens with to a family members farm.
The coop, a converted garden shed, was another story. Finally we left if pretty much where it already was but picked it up of the foundation, stuck lengths of wood at the ends. Everyone picked up a corner (picture Moses & co hauling the Arc of the covenant) and rotated it 90 degrees and out 2 feet so we were legal again.
Anyway, the law had changed after 8+ years and they refused to grandfather us in. So just be sure you know the 2016 rules. And enjoy them- our chickens are entertaining AND we rarely buy eggs and usually have enough to share.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2016 1:04:45 GMT
Are you going to let them out of that coop and wander the yard?
Nice job on the coop.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 19, 2016 2:10:05 GMT
I got the coop done! They will be allowed to roam free but only when the dogs are inside and I am home to keep an eye on them. They are going to have a pretty big run in addition to the coop so they wont be to deprived. City allows 2. We will get 2 or 3. Neighbor has 4!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2016 15:57:14 GMT
Love the coop, we always had chickens, rabbits, turkeys etc growing up. Didn't like the turkeys, the Toms were meaner than heck when they got big. I was little and they were bigger than me, I use to make Mom carry me when they were in the yard and they use to attack my toes lol
I agree with getting silkies they are adorable and have great personalities, if you want lovie chickens that are great egg layers get you some silkies to snuggle with, who could resist that face? We had a chicken here for about 6 years, she came down from a place up the road that has free range chickens. Guess she liked it better here, she was so funny, after about 3 years she started trying to crow, I have never had a hen try to crow, I be darned if she didn't learn how after a while. Then at 5:30 or so every morning she would start crowing just like a rooster on our deck but she was definitely a red roan hen, she made nests and laid eggs.
Around the same time she started crowing she started getting pretty mean. I always hand fed her but started racing up and flogging everytime she saw the feed bag come out, I guess trying to get the feed faster so I had to quit hand feeding her. She must have had some crazy hormones going on. She disappeared a few years ago, don't know if a coyote finally got her or what, as mean as she was by then I can't say I miss her. She was very sweet for the first few years though. First hen I ever had turn mean.
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Post by denise15601 on Aug 20, 2016 3:07:16 GMT
Can't wait to see them!
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 20, 2016 3:45:09 GMT
Tomorrow!
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Post by zoesam on Aug 20, 2016 8:20:05 GMT
How fun! Though I'm shocked the HOA allows it. I've always wanted to try a fresh egg, I'll have to give you a shout next time I'm up in your area. I hope you have fun with it & can keep the coyotes away!
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 20, 2016 22:10:48 GMT
Here they are. There is a Rhode Island Red, Golden Comet, Americuana, and Silver Back Wyandot.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 0:37:27 GMT
Awwww, they're cute.
More cities are starting to allow chickens in residential areas. Not sure about HOA's as I'm not in one. I would think if enough people in a neighborhood want chickens, then they'd have to allow it. Or get voted out next election.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Aug 21, 2016 0:51:27 GMT
Um, you didn't run it by your HOA first? The same one that had to approve the green house? Good luck, hope they don't give you a hard time!
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 21, 2016 1:08:16 GMT
The city allows unlimited number of hens, no roosters.
The HOA is a different ballgame all together. BUT there are quite a few people with chickens here already. We can fight that battle together.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 1:14:08 GMT
I could never live in an HOA.
That said - they can be a good thing if good people are involved. It doesn't have to be a nazi style of government. They do help keep property values up, and stuff like allowing chickens can make the area more desirable. Urban and suburban homesteading is becoming more popular.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 21, 2016 3:12:36 GMT
I dont mind the HOA much. I have seen some neighborhoods without them and I dont want to be living next to a pink or turquoise house full of weeds and cars everywhere.
Our HOA now isnt so bad. The lady who used to be President was horrible, but she moved 2 years ago.
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Post by SA on Aug 21, 2016 4:17:25 GMT
We live in a 15-20 year old neighborhood. It is very well kept and nearly all the people around our block takes care of their homes. Thank goodness. We specifically sought out a house with no HOA, in an established neighborhood. It narrowed our search for sure!
2 houses up, the couple has an absolutely gorgeous garden on the side of her house on a corner lot. In her garden, she has an enclosed large chicken coop. To me, it's more like a chicken mansion LOL! She did an awesome job and looks so good! Out of place, but good.
When we were searching, our house and the house next to ours were both for sale (the other house is next to the chicken lady house). Her coop is right outside of the master bedroom of the house that was for sale. It was the main reason we didn't buy (there were other reasons, but no way!).
I'd love to have a coop. Fresh eggs? YES PLEASE! But with these two dogs, there is no way. They would break in and eat the chickens in a heartbeat.
Congrats Mup! Coop looks good and those baby chicks are so cute.
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Post by mupcycledcouture on Aug 21, 2016 15:57:32 GMT
Well they made it through their first night. LOL We figured out that one of them we got is a week or more older than the others. She is wanting to roost while the others are still huddling. No biggy, I just hope she doesnt hurt any of the other ones when the pecking order gets established.
Liz: The silver laced wyandotte falls asleep on me when I pick her up. She seems very sweet. I cant wait to see their personalities develop.
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Post by denise15601 on Aug 21, 2016 18:16:01 GMT
awww-they are so cute! Don't you need a rooster though? I am so not a country gal.
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