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The_Dunedan · 11-21-2010, 05:17 PM

Lots of cityfolk are very uneasy when confronted with "Where Your Food Comes From." They'll routinely bitch about the smell (nonexistent) the noise (from hens, nonexistent) the alleged health hazards (with special attention paid to their paralytic horror of Avian Influenza), and any other thing they can think of. Plus with the recent passage of SB-510, you may find yourself afowl of the Feds as well. And that's not counting the snoopy animal-rights loons, busybody neighbors, and general ignoramii one encounters in cities everywhere.

Other than that, I say GO FOR IT. Food independence is a precious and fast-disappearing thing, and I -promise- you, once you taste and bake with real, hot-from-the-nest eggs (as opposed to store-bought which have been cold-stored for as much as two YEARS before sale), you will never EVER go back. Yolks as bright as road-signs, whites so think you understand why they used to make glue out of 'em, and flavour that has to be tasted to be believed. Go for it.

TheCityChicken.com is an -awesome- resource for urbanites wanting to raise their own fowl for meat or eggs: lots of great idea for chicken coops and "tractors*", articles on the legal hassles, you name it.

For one person's egg needs, 2-3 dual-purpose birds (we like Buff Orpingtons) will more than suit. Our little Banty Cochin hens have also been wonderful producers, and being only about 1/2 the size of an Orpington they eat a lot less and take up less space while still producing plenty of eggs. 3-4 Banty Cochins or a similar breed should do you just fine, plus they've got lots of personality (for a chicken, anyway). If you can let them wander, a few chickens of almost any breed will happily weed, de-bug, and fertilise your lawn (plus provide lots of entertainment being...well...bird-brained). The only downside is that their digging and scratching for bugs and worms can quickly denude a small patch of ground. If you've ever seen what a small chicken-run looks like, you'll know what I mean.

*A mobile chicken-coop with a wire mesh floor. You move it to a different location in your yard every day, which the chickens then de-bug and fertilize. You get most of the benefits of free-range chickens with few of the headaches, plus excellent protection from predators.

11-21-2010, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Lots of cityfolk are very uneasy when confronted with "Where Your Food Comes From." They'll routinely bitch about the smell (nonexistent) the noise (from hens, nonexistent) the alleged health hazards (with special attention paid to their paralytic horror of Avian Influenza), and any other thing they can think of. Plus with the recent passage of SB-510, you may find yourself afowl of the Feds as well. And that's not counting the snoopy animal-rights loons, busybody neighbors, and general ignoramii one encounters in cities everywhere. Other than that, I say GO FOR IT. Food independence is a precious and fast-disappearing thing, and I -promise- you, once you taste and bake with real, hot-from-the-nest eggs (as opposed to store-bought which have been cold-stored for as much as two YEARS before sale), you will never EVER go back. Yolks as bright as road-signs, whites so think you understand why they used to make glue out of 'em, and flavour that has to be tasted to be believed. Go for it. TheCityChicken.com is an -awesome- resource for urbanites wanting to raise their own fowl for meat or eggs: lots of great idea for chicken coops and "tractors", articles on the legal hassles, you name it. For one person's egg needs, 2-3 dual-purpose birds (we like Buff Orpingtons) will more than suit. Our little Banty Cochin hens have also been wonderful producers, and being only about 1/2 the size of an Orpington they eat a lot less and take up less space while still producing plenty of eggs. 3-4 Banty Cochins or a similar breed should do you just fine, plus they've got lots of personality (for a chicken, anyway). If you can let them wander, a few chickens of almost any breed will happily weed, de-bug, and fertilise your lawn (plus provide lots of entertainment being...well...bird-brained). The only downside is that their digging and scratching for bugs and worms can quickly denude a small patch of ground. If you've ever seen what a small chicken-run looks like, you'll know what I mean. A mobile chicken-coop with a wire mesh floor. You move it to a different location in your yard every day, which the chickens then de-bug and fertilize. You get most of the benefits of free-range chickens with few of the headaches, plus excellent protection from predators. __________________ "I personally think that America's interests would be well served if after or at the time these clowns begin their revolting little hate crime the local police come in and cart them off on some trumped up charges or other. It is necessary in my opinion that America makes an example of them to the world." --Strange Famous, advocating the use of falsified charges in order to shut people up.