is it weird to have chickens in your backyard?

Filed under: Poultry |

backyard chickens
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Question by John: is it weird to have chickens in your backyard?
So im 15 and my 12 year old brother brought home a chicken from a friend’s farm. Then, when we tried to get rid of it, he cried and since he gets whatever he wants, he made us keep them and buy 2 more because apparently they “need more friends.” I just think its really weird (i live in the city) and i feel embarassed to ask friends over now. My mom likes them only because eventually they will produce fresh eggs, but we have had them now for 4 months and no eggs. What should I do?

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6 Responses to is it weird to have chickens in your backyard?

  1. Are they female chickens because if there roosters(male chickens)then they won't lay eggs only girls will
    Anyways I live in the city and my grandma has 7 chickens,her next door neighbors have chickens and I have 2 roosters roaming around my neighborhood in the city
    The old neighbors had bunnys chickens and goats
    You shouldn't be embarrassed around the city I live in many people own chicken
    At one point my grandmas chickens got pregnant at the same time and there was many chickies roaming around there yard

    Giselle
    February 4, 2014 at 12:48 pm
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  2. The city will likely make your parents get rid of it. Livestock and poultry are not allowed in city limits. They won’t produce eggs if they are too old

    Hand_of_Chaos
    February 4, 2014 at 1:27 pm
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  3. Backyard chickens are something I want to get in the near future, for eggs and meat. I currently live in the city as well. What’s so embarrassing about having useful animals around the house that can actually put food on your plate? Get over it. It’s your brother’s animals. You don’t get a say in what happens to them. Only your parents do, and don’t seem to have a problem with them.

    Why the hens have stopped laying – that might be a problem. No eggs might be due to medical issues. It’s important to either take them to the vet, or do more research yourself to determine the cause. You don’t want to neglect sick animals, do you?

    Sapien
    February 4, 2014 at 2:02 pm
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  4. They will produce at 6 to 7 months. By now, they should be fed “layer pellets”. Those are needed to get good eggs, along with whatever veggies you can feed them, and grass that they munch on. Meanwhile, make sure you have a nice hen house for them with a roost in it. Tuck them safely away overnight. Treat them as pets. They are wonderful animals and smart.

    We had them for a while. I loved my chickens. They are allowed in many cities, provided you follow any city ordinances. Don’t feel weird about it. Feel privileged, especially when the eggs come. Depending on the breed, you will get 27 – 29 eggs per month, mostly year round.

    babyboomer1001
    February 4, 2014 at 2:34 pm
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  5. they w,ont lay eggs if there cold or less than 6or 7month old or over 5 years old

    plslei
    February 4, 2014 at 2:39 pm
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  6. I lived right outside the city limits for the first 10 years of my life. We had a small farm and had upwards of 60 chickens. When I moved away, I decided to get chickens again. We didn’t move into the city, actually we moved farther away from the city, but we lived in sort of a neighborhood. There was nothing wrong with having chickens in my front yard. I also know people that lived in the city and kept chickens in their backyard, too. Just don’t keep roosters, because when you’re living close together, they can be noisy and annoying.

    Emily
    February 4, 2014 at 3:09 pm
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