Backyard Chickens?

Great advice thank you!! Now a location question... Here's a pic of our back yard. The red arrow is where he wants it (in the back corner, out of the way) the blue arrow is where I want it (closer to the house for convenience and near the garden to help with bugs) are there any big reasons why one would be better than another? I'm also worried for his spot since its close to the fire pit, wouldn't the smoke be bad for the hens to be in that close of a vicinity? If I don't have valid reasons why not, his spot may win out... And I may say ok just so i can get them!
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IMHO, the closer to water in the winter the better. Hens need tons of fresh clean water. I think you will find that you will want then as close to you as possible. They really are fun to watch....extreme characters is what my neighbor calls mine. She actually watches for me to let them out and then comes and sits on her deck to watch them.
 
Well, water would be coming from the kitchen at either location since we shut off the outside faucets when it starts getting cold. But my location would be closer for me to walk! In the summer, there's a faucet very close to where I want them.
 
it was a few weeks, they are only a few days old when you get them, I kept mine inside till they got their feathers (they do get a little stinky lol) and keeping them from dumping their water was a pain, but....SOOO CUTE
 
it was a few weeks, they are only a few days old when you get them, I kept mine inside till they got their feathers (they do get a little stinky lol) and keeping them from dumping their water was a pain, but....SOOO CUTE




Yep, the water was the reason I went with the dog crate, well that and owning 2 dogs with prey drive. I clamped the water to the top of the crate and let it hang down from a chain. They weren't big enough to spill it.
 
Well, water would be coming from the kitchen at either location since we shut off the outside faucets when it starts getting cold. But my location would be closer for me to walk! In the summer, there's a faucet very close to where I want them.



I figured the water would be closer in your spot. Who wants to walk farther in the snow?....not me!
 
Yes...Prey Drive...I started with 6...I now have 4....when they were a couple months old they were given free range inside the run and found a small crack to squeeze under, well you get the idea. When they were full grown I thought they would be OK and let them occasionally free range int the yard. Out of the blue here comes Spike with a full grown chicken in his mouth. I scream drop it, he does and the lifeless chicken is laying there (this is all happening in front of my 3 and 5 yr old nephews UUGGHH) I grab her up and realized she is playing dead, she had some lacerations on her chest and under one wing but she survived with some TLC and no matter what the age Spike is NOT to be trusted around them. He is not interested in them while they are inside the cage but outside that's another story.
 
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Yes...Prey Drive...I started with 6...I now have 4....when they were a couple months old they were given free range inside the run and found a small crack to squeeze under, well you get the idea. When they were full grown I thought they would be OK and let them occasionally free range int the yard. Out of the blue here comes Spike with a full grown chicken in his mouth. I scream drop it, he does and the lifeless chicken is laying there (this is all happening in front of my 3 and 5 yr old nephews UUGGHH) I grab her up and realized she is playing dead, she had some lacerations on her chest and under one wing but she survived with some TLC and no matter what the age Spike is NOT to be trusted around them. He is not interested in them while they are inside the cage but outside that's another story.


We don't even chance it. The dogs are inside when the hens are out. We dug down and put a 2 high cinder block wall under the coup edge because this would not happen at my house...
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My dogs think chickens are food, not friends.
 
Ok so another question... I got him talking about location (he decided on his own that he didn't like it back in the corner of the yard) so I'm a step closer!! :party: but he brought up insurance. I'm sure it can range state to state, but if I am only getting 2 or 3 is there anything to be concerned about with homeowners insurance? Not sure why there would be, but he brought it up, and a quick Google search showed it seems as though if you have more than x amount of chickens, or sell eggs for a profit it's considered farming and requires additional policies or the insurance company will drop you. Any insight on that? I'll call my agent tomorrow for a definitive answer but curious what experiences y'all had with that while.
 
In my city you are allowed to have up to 4 hens. You have to get a permit and they inspect your coop. You also have to get an ok from your neighbors next to you. Selling eggs is a whole other can of worms. Lots of laws and I'm sure permits as it is food. I just give the excess to my neighbors. IDK about insurance I didn't mention it to mine, then again I think owning a Dobie makes some homeowners insurance go up...also the coop has to be a certain amount of feet from the house, as well as your neighbors home.
 
Our zoning says as pets are ok as long they arent obnoxious to neighbors (im assuming roosters lol) and anything for agricultural use must be over 20 acres!! We're going to put the co-op behind the shed where no one can see it lol just in case. He said he's 60/40 but he was doing his own reading online today and asking me questions so I think he's leaning towards giving me the ok... Or at least I hope so!!
 
I'm betting that the percentage is much higher on your side. :thumbsup2:
The good news is he is doing some research...that will get him hooked.;)
he specified 60 no 40 yes... But I'm picking chicks up for my ex husband before the kids go over this weekend (they didn't have the kind he wanted up by him but they do here) so I'm planning on picking up the chicks and stopping home first so he can see them lol
 
he specified 60 no 40 yes... But I'm picking chicks up for my ex husband before the kids go over this weekend (they didn't have the kind he wanted up by him but they do here) so I'm planning on picking up the chicks and stopping home first so he can see them lol
Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky!!! I likey!!!!! :rofl:
 
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How exactly we go from the dentist to a random yes to the chickens when yesterday he was 60% no I don't know but I'm not asking questions!!!
 
LOL I wouldn't ask questions either. We need pics when you get them!
 
Battle won!!! Now it's time to build the mansion, don't forget the auto feeder and hanging water bucket with chicken nipples...LOL Oh the fun times ahead for him, he has no idea, hehehe
 

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