tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post5076639346379792101..comments2013-09-27T18:17:50.356-07:00Comments on Point 17: Our Backyard ChickensPoint 17http://www.blogger.com/profile/07968123931390940564noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-58974627097029542012013-06-07T05:54:56.681-07:002013-06-07T05:54:56.681-07:00Great! I look forward to reading about your chicke...Great! I look forward to reading about your chicken adventures. And yes, chickens are great composters. Wait until you see how well they break down a big pile of leaves in the fall.Point 17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07968123931390940564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-12281603363562555302013-06-06T11:44:23.878-07:002013-06-06T11:44:23.878-07:00Thanks. All very helpful, and yes, the site was m...Thanks. All very helpful, and yes, the site was mypetchicken.com. Funny. All chicken keepers seem to know about that one so that makes me feel better about using it. We don't plan to eat them, just the eggs, and I think I'd be okay with a few nonproductive members--well, they'd still be contributing to the compost pile so I suppose I should say semi-productive members. But, all good things to consider. Thank again. I appreciate your input.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-71527325427125262092013-05-31T17:03:33.787-07:002013-05-31T17:03:33.787-07:00Hi MT. Sounds like you're doing some good res...Hi MT. Sounds like you're doing some good research. That's great. And exactly the same type of questions we asked too. By any chance, is the website you referenced mypetchicken.com? If not, that is another site where you can identify breeds based on your criteria. In fact, that's where we got our birds. I know, sounds ridiculous, but we ordered chickens on the internet, and they arrived in the mail as day-old peeps. Our main criteria was docile (we have little kids) and cold hearty (presumably MD is not as cold as MT, but we didn't want to provide a heated structure). Australorps are nice cold-hearty birds. My favorites in our flock are the Silver Laced Wyandottes and the Speckled Sussex. That's because of their "personalities." And just like cats and dogs, the more you handle them as young chicks, the more comfortable they are around people. Another important consideration is why do you want chickens? Is it solely for eggs? If so, what do you plan to do with them after their egg-laying years (~5 years) are over? Will you keep them as non-egg-producing pets? Or will you process them for food? Those are important cycle-of-life type questions to discuss and decide on what you are comfortable with. I haven't eaten any of our chickens, but I did "take care" of one that was injured. That is not fun. And I don't look forward to doing it again. Ultimately, one aspect of the question comes down to having fresh eggs or violating local regulations (number of allowed chickens). Hope this helps. Point 17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07968123931390940564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-60737230973170928472013-05-31T10:39:14.521-07:002013-05-31T10:39:14.521-07:00Any thoughts on breeds? I'm asking all chicke...Any thoughts on breeds? I'm asking all chicken-keepers I know...which really, is not that many. I also found a website that allows you to search based on difference criteria (cold hearty vs. not, docile vs. not, egg color, egg production, etc. But, I'd love to hear which ladies you've found work best in your flock.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-65979771571149258382013-05-23T18:26:56.882-07:002013-05-23T18:26:56.882-07:00It's really cool to hear about more and more t...It's really cool to hear about more and more towns and cities allowing chickens and other food producing animals in places other than farms. Depending on the breeds you select, six hens could keep the two of you well stocked with eggs. Point 17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07968123931390940564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2798577948656037601.post-75719620700757289632013-05-23T11:29:36.820-07:002013-05-23T11:29:36.820-07:00:) Great post. Chickens are something I really h...:) Great post. Chickens are something I really hope to add to our life within the next year. We are acquiring the know-how about care (research) and some supplies to construct a coop at the moment. Our city just passed an ordinance last year permitting up to six hens. With just Matt and I we think that will be sufficient. On my walk home from work I pass by a chicken run and always stop to watch them scratch and peck. Chicken prime time. I love it.BLD in MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497511995276601468noreply@blogger.com