Chicken ownership

[d.a.]

I just uploaded a picture of our chicks and goslings (not all are in the photo, however). We've built a sturdy coop for when they're ready to head outside, and they will have full range of the property. Because we have a small bit of land, we'll not clip their wings, and allow them to fly/roost in the cedars if they choose.

Anyone else here have chickens or geese? How are you liking them so far?

[PeakOilBoy]

My friend Tom (In this network) has Geese. He gave me two eggs the other night - no WONDER fairy tales talk about GOOSE EGGS - they are HUGE! You can make an omlet from a single good size one.

He has to herd them into a pen at night because he lives where coyotes will get them - right outside of Portland's city limits.

My other friends own chickens, and bought a nice coop for around $300. ATTENTION entrepreneurs! Thar's a BIG market in chicken coops coming online! Suggestions for good business practices:

- Use reclaimed, recycled materials instead of new wood or chicken wire (if possible)
- Offer to lease coops you build to people if they will run the chicken farm for you - and split the eggs / profits!

[Kickaha]

Our town outlawed chickens in the city limits last summer. It's too bad because eggs from chickens NOT raised in a factory are wonderful. I bought some at our farmers' market last summer and had a hard time going back to the pale insipid things from the grocery store this winter.

[d.a.]

Just found an interesting site called Urban Chickens: http://urbanchickens.org/ . It's a new site, dedicated to helping people bring chicken-raising into their sub/urban backyards.

[Stephanienie]

We just started with chickens in February/March of this year and are loving them! Our two Wyandottes are already laying regularly and all of our chickens provide fantastic backyard entertainment. Watching the chickens do their thing around the yard is as peaceful as watching a water fountain, but thankfully they are more productive and useful than a fountain. : )