Backyard Chickens
Parent Q&A
Roosters are very loud, ear-piercing. They really don't have a place in the city where people live close together. Depending on what city you live in, you may find there are limits on roosters, as in, no roosters allowed or only one rooster allowed. My friend in Berkeley had some chickens and one rooster, and she had to bring him inside every night in a cat carrier after the neighbors complained. So you might be able to talk to the city about the rooster without having to be personally involved.
Regarding barking dogs. I've had dogs all my life and there are currently 4 dogs living in my house. Most dogs don't like being left alone, and they bark. The owner isn't home, so they think the dogs are just hanging out in the backyard not bothering anyone. But I know from first-hand experience that persistent, relentless, never-ending barking is torture. I personally would be too shy to confront the dog owner face to face. If I had their email I might send them a very short polite note that their dogs are bothering me and request that they please keep their dogs inside. And then I would start complaining to the city. Check the noise ordinance in your city. Keep a log of the barking. Keep complaining. If you think the dogs are neglected or endangered, contact your city's animal control department too. The owner might pay more attention to a visit from the city than a note from a neighbor.
By the way, I don't necessarily recommend this, but there's a lady down the street who goes out onto her deck and screams expletives at the neighbor, calling her by name, when her dogs are barking! It's not very nice to hear but it's actually been very effective at stopping those particular dogs from barking. :)
I hope you can find some peace!
Archived Q&A and Reviews
- Backyard chickens that no longer lay eggs
- Neighbor's chickens are a nuisance
- Chicken sitting when we go out of town?
- All of our chickens have stopped laying
- Backyard chickens, how much work is it?
- Raising chickens sustainably
- Chickens brooding then not laying
- Thinking about getting 2-3 backyard chickens
- Where to get a chicken coop
- Backyard Chickens and Bird Flu
- Where to get real baby chicks
Backyard chickens that no longer lay eggs
Oct 2014
Hi, any thoughts on what to do with my chickens, they've stopped laying. I'd prefer not to kill them, but I'm not in the chicken retirement home business either. Amelia
I suggest you keep the chickens with the nicest personality and give the other ones to someone who will put them in the stew pot. We ran chicken heaven at our house because Someone sold us over the hill chickens on Craigslist for $10. We were suckers. But we liked those chickens and gave them a good home, And three of them laid enough eggs for two people to eat. they might just be getting better at hiding their eggs from you as their laying declines. -hope this helps
I really don't want to sound sanctimonious here, but chickens are kind of cool as pets, imo. They are cute and pretty nice, plus fun for kids to feed and take care of, etc. We have 4, one hasnt laid eggs for at least 2 years, but she is such a nice chicken. The other girls are 5 years old this year, so..probably what eggs we are getting may be tapering off a lot soon. We do feed our chickens a very varied diet, with lots of mealy worms, yogurt, cooked spaghetti, (the list goes on and on) and also make sure they get exercise and variety, which can also prolong egg production. however, even without the eggs, chickens still have some inherent value, no?
love my silly cluckers
Amelia, You didn't say how old your hens were, or what breeds you had. Chickens tend to ''slow down'' their laying in the fall as the daylight hours decline. Their laying also declines slowly after the first 2 years or so of laying, but should continue to lay throughout most of their lives. They also do not lay when they are broody or when they are molting. All is variable depending on quality, breed, bloodlines, etc.
That said, if you do not want to cull your flock yourself, you might be able to offer them on CL or on any number of local backyard chicken internet groups. They may be eaten by the recipients or not. When raising backyard chickens, it is always best to have an ''exit strategy'' for this eventuality. Good luck Yolanda B
35 years ago.. i had chickens for the eggs, i didn't want to kill them. So, I was a young hippie, my neighbor was a police detective. I told him of my dilemma. He knew a family that had moved from a Caribbean island and needed food.... so, one day that family came by and we boxed up the chickens... and off they went to feed a family. Old Chicken Farmer
This from a VERY experienced backyard Berkeley chickenist:
Alas...I think I am in the chicken retirement home business. Also most chickens stop laying or really slow down during the fall/winter months
Serious bottom line: chicken people do swap out their chickens every two years...I know people who will happily take them...they are probably going to end up as soup but it's a don't ask don't tell arrangement... Chris and the Chicken Lady
Not many people are interested in chickens that don't lay. You could try Craigslist for getting rid of your chickens, but whoever takes them may turn them into soup. Really your 3 choices are give them away (and risk them becoming soup chickens), slaughter them yourself so you know it's humane and you actually get to enjoy the soup, or provide a retirement home. We've found that few chickens live past 4 so have been able to provide a retirement home to our few long lived ladies while still having enough youngsters to enjoy the eggs. Good luck! realistic chicken keeper
http://thechickenwoman.weebly.com
-The circle of life.
I don't have an easy answer for you. I have raised chickens for many years and have had to kill them at times, mostly because of health problems. There may be a kindly soul out there who takes in geriatric hens, but the likelihood is that your only choices are to keep them or euthanize. My choice has been to let them die of natural causes. They don't eat as much when they stop laying, if that's any consolation. I have a 7 year old that still lays for part of the year; typically their laying season gets a little shorter as they age. If egg production is your priority and you have limited space / budget, maybe you can find someone else who is willing to transition the non-layers to the stew pot. I'll be interested to see whether someone else has a more creative solution.
chicken man
Neighbor's chickens are a nuisance
Jan 2014
The scene: long-time residents of Berkeley, moderate income, finally saved enough to do some landscaping in the backyard, including a small patio area which induces visions of lovely, relaxed Sunday morning coffee or leisurely meals with friends. They love it!
Next: family moves in directly behind them, so they are back-yard neighbors who share a back fence. No issues there! Until: we realize said family has brought...........farm animals with them! As soon as they moved in, we were absolutely BOMBARDED with endless squawking, screeching, honking, snorting, screaming, and whatever other assorted noises chickens and ducks can make. There goes the relaxation, right? And it's not just occasional, it's constant. Well, ok, maybe playing music can help ( though we're not always in the mood for music loud enough to drown out squabbling animals, but I digress...).
But! That's not the only problem with said farm animals who live along our fence line. The bigger problem: they STINK! We aren't sure if it's poop, old eggs, feathers, rotten food, or a combination thereof, but our lovely patio area (along with other areas of our yard) REEKS. The smell is nauseating, and honestly prevents our use of our whole backyard.
The question: what to do? Yes, we've tried speaking with them, and although they do have other options for location of the outdoor ''coop'' (or whatever it is that keeps them abutted against our fence at all times) and they did say they would ''do something'', nothing has been done
This seems really unreasonable to us. Anyone have ideas? Can stench be considered a ''public nuisance'', and if so, who do we contact? Are there no rules or guidelines for keeping farm animals in the city? Can they be kept regardless of huge negative impact on neighbors? If we were to complain, who might we be complaining to?
Anyone have ideas, or dealt with similar issues? Chicken/duck poison, anyone? J/k... We are completely frustrated and honestly can't believe this is ''ok''. If politely asking doesn't work, what might you do if you were in our place?
Thanks so much for your advice. Overwhelmed by foul odor
Sounds like a good time to brush up on your city codes and get face to face with the city officials. We had a similar situation in my city (Contra Costa - El Cerrito). Our neighbors had chickens, which brought with them, noise, stink, flies, raccoons, rats, etc. Often the chickens would get out and come into my yard. Sometimes the raccoons would kill them and drag them into my back yard blood, feathers and all. The 5 cats and large dog would lounge in my yard as there was no room at their house. Before my son could play our fenced in back yard we would have to do a ''poop'' patrol. I diligently combed through the code and permit process for livestock for my city. This information should be posted on your cities government website. I was able to find out that chickens and chicken coups cannot be located w/in 90 feet of a dwelling or a neighbors dwelling (fence and all). In addition, a yearly permit fee was required to have a chicken which was quite lucrative (read hundreds of dollars). We had approached our neighbors several times nicely about the situation with no resolution or compromise. So I had no reservations in filing a complaint at the city level after months of issues. Once the complaint was filed the city was required to come out and take a look. It was IMMEDIATELY apparent that the back yard farm was not conforming to the ordinance and also a permit was never pulled to have the chickens (and all the other animals that came along). I believe the code enforcement officer stated ''why didn't you bring this to our attention sooner''. Our neighbors were cited and elected not to pull the necessary permits. Shortly the coup was gone and the chickens were sold. While Berkeley has different codes, this might be an avenue to look into. Best of luck! enjoying our space again
There is a really down to earth urban garden guy who has kind of a mediator personality. I think he does free consultations - maybe asking for tips on how to manage your side of the fence and conversation? Halliday Dresser (Wabi Gardens). 415-494-9445. I've been maintaining a coop for 10 years, and neighbor issues are important!! Good Luck with opening up a conversation! I tend to check and re check for these exact items you are citing. An empathetic coop owner in Berkeley
Each city has specific rules re how many clucking, honking, etc creatures you are allowed to have. I suggest you go to City Hall and persist until you fnd out the exact rules in Berkeley, then document the mess and have the cops over for a visit to independently verify this.
I have backyard chickens and am very insistent on keeping the chicken yard clean. If neighbors find the smell too much, then someone's lazy about cleaning up after the chickens. Or, they have too many chickens/ other pets: San Francisco for instance only allows four of each of these types of pets. Responsible Chicken Owner.
Chicken sitting when we go out of town?
June 2013
Anyone else out there with backyard chickens who find that it's really hard to get out of town? Who's gonna let the chickens out, lock them up at night so they're safe from predators, and make sure they have food and water?
It seems a little over-the-top to have a house sitter just to take care of the hens. Anyone know of anything like City Dogshare, but for chickens? Or know of other bay area folks (as close to berkeley as possible) who have backyard hens and would like to see about exchanging chicken sitting so we can get out and go camping (or whatever else people like to do when you skip town) this summer? jsw
A friend nearby just has a buddy feed them, which can get wacky if they need to be rounded up, but they survive! I believe there is some sort of chicken listserve out there--anyone? Also, Pollinator in Oakland may have some tips--they just opened on Fruitvale. chicken pal
My husband found - on line - a door for our chicken coop that is sensitive to light and dark - it opens automatically at dawn and closes on its own at sunset. We used to do this opening and closing operation twice a day by hand and it was a total pain. Now, thanks to this battery-operated door, we no longer deal with this. We give our chickens food and water and leaving them for a weekend is not a problem for either them or for us, now that they can come and go into their little yard at will. Sorry I don't know the name of the vendor but I think my husband had an easy time both finding the item and then installing it on the existing door of our coop. love our fresh eggs in the morning
I share my chickens with my neighbor/landlord, which works really well. Do you have a neighbor who'd like to participate ? Is there a 4H club that could help ? If not, I'd go to the Biofuel Oasis and look for a bulletin board for chicken-sitting services. Or find other local chicken owners to set up such a network. I live in western SF, or I'd offer to trade with you. Happy Backyard Farmer.
We chicken-sit! My husband and I both grew up caring for small flocks of chickens. Recently we have chicken-sat (and dog-sat) for a family in Berkeley. We did this in exchange for a place to sleep while visiting our daughter and grandchildren in Albany. We watered plants, brought in mail, and otherwise made the house look ''occupied.'' And the chickens did fine. We were even successful at returning a couple ''explorers.'' Call on us if you aren't able to work out exchanges, and we shall plan our next trip to the Bay Area around your needs.
All of our chickens have stopped laying
May 2013
We live in Lamorinda, and have five egg laying hens. The first trio (old girls) have been with us two years (are nearly three years old now) and generally were quite productive, laying about an egg/day each. We have a pair of newer hens (new girls) who have been with us about nine months. Initially, we kept the new girls separate from the old girls until they got big enough and started laying eggs (and they did so at the same rate, about an egg/day each). Now the five are together in the same coop/yard. Before the integration, the old girls generally stopped laying eggs. We weren't sure why (last winter they stopped laying and we figured out it was due to less daylight, so we installed timed lighting and that fixed the problem). This year, we concluded it was because they were molting and things should get back to normal after awhile. Initially after the integration, one old girl and one new girl were laying consistently, but the other three were not (in particular two old girls who have pretty much not laid eggs in 4-5 months). Now all five have stopped laying. We don't know why - we have lighting; the old girls have grown new feathers back, and the living conditions are the same. We're wondering if the stress / tension of putting the new girls in with the old is the cause (the old girls occasionally peck at the new girls), but it seems they're well acclimated by now. Any thoughts? Hen Farmer
This is a question I'd post in the Bay Area Homestead Hookup list, http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/listing/Announcing-Bay-Area-Homestead-Hook-Up/san-francisco-ca/dd3eeeb5-f8ac-4a2d-8482-03f6fb9186d5 Feathered Friends
My daughter, who knows a lot about hens, says that it's possible that they are not getting enough protein or calcium in their feed. You might try adding oyster shells on the side, and/or adding protein into the feed in some way. We have found that her hens do better on the pellets, because they don't get to pick and choose the less nutritious parts like they can with mash, so they get a uniform amount of protein. Our hens didn't lay for the better part of a year until we changed their diet. Stress can also be a factor. They sound healthy and you will probably have to experiment. Pat
I am no expert but I could swear I read something on BPN recently that said after a while, hens stop laying eggs because they get too old.
we have a 4.5 year old hen and a 1 year old, both have been intermittent lay-ers but always lay more regularly for a month or so after switching their brand of feed. I don't recommend any specific brand just that switching around helps, and a bit of ground oyster shell seems to help as well. The newsletter ''Community Chickens'' has a lot of useful information and may have lots of other ideas to try. Chris
Backyard chickens, how much work is it?
Jan 2013
I think it would be so lovely to have a 3 or 4 laying hens in our small Richmond Annex backyard. I am thinking about buying a coop/run from Craigslist. I have never owned chickens or even been around them much and I am wondering just how much work is it? I realize that I will need to feed and water daily and clean the coop periodically, but beyong feeding what is the daily time commitment to having chickens? In addition to fresh eggs and cute chickens, I think keeping chickens could be a great experience for my 2.5 year old. Any advice about chickens and small children? Is there anything you wish you had known before starting out with chickens? Would you reccomend keeping backyard chickens or is it too much of a hassel? Any input and advice is appreciated! Jessica
We LOVED having backyard chickens (one lesson learned two weeks ago when we forgot to coop them up at night and sadly the raccoons had them for dinner...we were all so sad) but we plan on getting more chicks in spring, this time 6 instead of 4. We raised them as pets and chose two breeds that are friendly and good layers, Buff Orphingtons and Barred Rocks. The girls would follow me around the yard, come when called and let our girls and countless friends hold, fondle and play with them. I loved having my 8 year old collect eggs in the morning and make herself a scramble. I usually cleaned the coop with the kids once a month. I even traded tutoring for labor to build the coop out of recycled wood. I did research for a couple of years before committing to the birds, once I did I found it to be much easier than I anticiPated and I really enjoyed our girls. I am missing them now and sad that I wont be collecting their beautiful and delicious eggs this spring, but we are going to get new chicks in April. We purchased ours from the farm supply store in north Petaluma. They were vaccinated and 3 days old. I highly recommend this family project. So much fun!!! Chelsea
It can be very easy once all the infrastructure is in place. If the run is fully enclosed with poultry wire there is no need to shut them in at night and the feed and water can be set up so as to last at least a week. The ground can be covered with deep litter (a source of wood shavings or sawdust helps) which keeps the odor under control. If you or your neighbors like to compost, you can rake out much of the litter once or twice a year. Our coop is raised about 2 feet above the ground so that the hens can take shelter under it when it rains; the floor of the coop under the roost is made of wire so that the droppings can fall through to the ground. The feeder hangs under the nesting box part of the coop so that it stays dry and is accessible in wet weather. The water tank also hangs from the base of the coop, or you can buy a self-filling waterer. The nesting boxes are accessed through a door in the outside wall of the coop, so eggs can be gathered without entering the run. Once the hens are safe from raccoons, the only other problem can be rats, which can tunnel into the run. They can be defeated by having a concrete floor or by burying wire mesh deep under the run (I wish we had done that from the start). Feel free to contact us if you want to come by and take a look. Chris
Check out backyard chickens.com, it has a good forum. There was also a great book called Keeping Chickens at the Berkeley library. We have 4 backyard chickens. The hardest part about getting started was building the coop. If you are buying one, just be sure it is racoon-proof. We built an attached run, too. Each day we let them out into the run around 7am and close them into the coop at dusk. If you don't let them out early, they squawk quite a bit. They also do that after they lay an egg, so be sure your neighbors won't complain. Berkeley requires the coop to be 25 ft from a house, I don't know about Richmond. If you get a feeder and large waterer, you only have to fill them once a week. If you get chicks, you need to keep them warm until they grow their feathers. It can get very messy to have them in the house during this time, but you'll need a heat lamp to keep them in a garage. Good luck! Janis
Chickens are awesome! I've had hens (as few as 4, as many as 11) for 3 years and they are one of the lowest maintenance ''pets'' I've had. (Although mine are not pets, per se, and will be eaten when they've finished laying eggs). The most work involved has been building their coop and enclosure and ''brooding'' them indoors when they are chicks. My son, who is now 8, has enjoyed being a part of this experience and it has taught him a multitude of things, including responsibility, empathy, and knowledge of where food comes from. Daily time commitment is minimal (gathering eggs, replenishing food/water-10 min max). The only thing I'd advise is that chickens can be a ''gateway'' drug of sorts into the farming world. In addition to my 7 hens, I have 3 ducks, rabbits and recently 2 turkeys!
Most importantly, you need to have an ''exit strategy'' for your chickens. They only lay eggs for 3 years, more or less. Will you be willing to learn how to humanely slaughter them once they've outlived their egg laying usefulness? And then eat them? Or have the resources to find someone to do it for you? The last thing our municipalities need are more chickens crowding their animal shelters. So please have a plan in place for that before embarking on the wonders of raising chickens.
There are tons of backyard chicken owners in the east bay and some great local resources for info and actual chickens and feed are: Biofuel Oasis http://biofueloasis.com/products/baby-chicks/ The Institute of Urban Homesteading http://iuhoakland.com/animals.html and its related list-serve bahh-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net And of course the be all and end all of backyard chicken keeping Backyardchickens.com Do some research through those sources and get all your ducks in a row before taking the plunge. tina
We've had backyard chickens for about three years now. It truly isn't all that much work. We use a big feeder and flow-valve water dish, so we don't even need to change food and water every day. We go into the coop once or twice a week to scrape poop off the perches, turn the soil/compost floor, and clean out the water the dish. I do take a peek in every day to make sure everything is okay.
I have to be honest with you, I am kind of over keeping chickens. My husband and kids really wanted backyard chickens. I resisted because I knew that being the one at home, I'd be the one taking care of them. That has been the case, and like I said, it isn't a ton of work. But you do have to let them out and put them to bed every day. You'll need a kind neighbor or a pet sitter to care for them if you go anywhere.
Also, what are you going to do when they stop laying? That's our issue now. They aren't laying very much, and for some reason they all turned on one of the flock. We didn't realize what was going on until she started acting very sick. Turns out the others were bullying her (literally hen pecking) and keeping her away from the food. I'll save you the details, but efforts to separate the aggressors and then separate her and reintegrate them all didn't go well, plus it was time consuming and a pain the butt. Now we have a separate area for the one chicken, and we have to put her to bed separately in a large dog crate every night. I'm too much of an animal lover to just giver her to someone who will eat her, and chicken rescue isn't a big thing like dog and cat rescue are.
You need to ask yourself the bigger questions: Can you give the chickens away or eat them when they stop laying? (For instance, telling your daughter you will have chickens for 2 years then get new ones.) Are you willing to care for aging chickens if you plan to keep as pets once they stop laying? Are you a hearty farm type or an animal coddler? If you do get chickens, be sure to get the hearty, barnyard type. They are fairly low maintenance. We have Australorps and Sex Links. They have been great breeds, for the most part. The Australrops are the meaner ones in our flock, though. Also, be sure your coop is predator-proof.
I know plenty of people who have kept chickens for a long time and absolutely love it. You might have the patience for it, while mine is kind of wearing thin. I don't want to be downer, but I did want you to hear what could happen 3 years in. Hen Pecked
We have backyard chickens and they are really not much work at all. We have a small chicken coupe and small fenced chicken yard. We have 5 chickens and purchased the large watering container and large feeder. That way you just have to refill their supplies about once per week. The only issue would be raccoons or dogs or any other preditor. If this is a problem in your area, you may need to shut them up in their coupe each night. That adds a little more work. We also feed them all of our food scraps and use the manure for our trees and shrubs. I would run it by your neighbors and make sure they are okay with a little chicken noise. Even hens do their share of clucking throughout the day. Good Luck. -j
Raising chickens sustainably
Aug 2009
My daughter (age 12) wants to raise chickens in our backyard, and we want to do it sustainably (minimize bringing in grains grown in other states, etc). We are wondering if someone would be willing to share the benefit of your experience. Our main questions are...
1) are there ways to minimize costs by feeding them table scraps or even raising crickets or mealworms to feed them?
2) how do chickens work with cats? We have an especially aggressive hunter. We know we have to protect the chicks, but for how long?
3) when they are finished with the laying part of their lifespan...do they become pets? How many years is that likely to be?
Thanks very much for your help. carl
Please consider your neighbors. I had unfortunate roommates, years ago, who put a chicken coop in our backyard and the birds clucked all day and woke me every morning. --avian incompatible neighbor
I have held a backyard chicken class in my driveway, and at the City of El Cerrito's 4th of July celebration. You will find them more enjoyable than you ever thought possible, as will your neighbors. Please visit the BackyardChickens.com website to get any and all information, including more than you will ever need, on raising chickens. There are also local yahoo groups for chicken owners/lovers. Linda
we currently live in austin, TX and are relocating to berkeley next year and i hope to be able to have backyard chickens there. assuming there are no city codes against it, i highly recommend it.
1) yes you can feed them table scraps for sure! we feed our chickens a steady diet of kitchen scraps and supplement with chicken feed. they eat an amazing amount of bugs from the yard as well. our chickens love eating out of the compost pile. our compost isn't really happening but the chickens are happy. when they are younger i believe you'll want to stick with feed designed for chicks exclusively but don't quote me.
2) chickens are generally fine with cats. definitely protect the chicks (and speaking of protecting the chicks, you have to be Very Good about how you build your pen in order to keep raccoons and possums out.) We have several stray cats in our backyard and once the chickens are mature (about 6 months old) the cats won't bother with them because they can definitely protect themselves and are bigger than the cats. i'd monitor your cat closely at first but it should be fine.
3) How long they lay depends on the breed. And when they're done you can kill them for chicken soup or keep them as pets. Our layers are still going strong at 2 1/2 years. Keep in mind that a lot of chickens will get killed off (see above) before they reach the end of their laying years and laying is seasonal depending on the amount of light per day. Layers often stop laying completely in the winter and then will start up again in spring.
other advice: letting your chickens roam is great but be advised they will wreak havoc on any nearby vegetable gardens, including yours and your neighbors if your yard isn't fenced with a tall fence. and you'll want them to be about 6 months old so they can defend themselves before you let them out and ALWAYS put them in at night. our chickens put themselves in their coop and all we have to do is remember to close the door. Also be prepared to kill and bury a wounded bird and/or kill or find a new home for an aggressive chicken who is ruining the flock's mojo. it can be a chore for sure but its rewards are edible! sarah
Hi, I used to have a pet chicken as a child and it was a wonderful experience. As a 9 year-old I looked forward to getting her eggs every morning, petting her, and watching her grow. We were all sad when she died of natural causes. But, now that I am an adult with neighbors to consider, I would be concerned about the one on our right, as she is picky and a bit of a complainer. If your backyard is suitable to chickens clucking loudly at 6 AM, then go for it - your kids will love it! But, just keep in mind that the homey sound of a happy clucking chicken can sound like a yapping dog to a neighbor. anon
Chickens brooding then not laying
Sept 2007
Hello, I am a new chicken owner and am puzzled by the non-laying of one of my chickens. She began laying in April, then brooded in June. We put the ceramic eggs under her, and counted the 21 days until she would stop brooding. While she is acting a lot more normal, and eating and all, she had not returned to laying. I can not seem to figure out why. Any ideas? what I might be able to do to help her start laying again? thanks for any advice! wanting some eggs!
Hi -- I have to say that I never thought I would be giving out ''chicken advice'' on the BPN! Anyhow, my husband and I have raised many chickens over the years, and once in a while, came across a broody hen. We never found a solution, and after asking at a feed store in Napa, where we lived at the time, we were told that there is no solution, that like the hens who learn to peck their eggs, they must be separated from the rest of the hens or they the others learn to become broody too. We never did separate them and the other hens did not become broody, but they never did really lay well again. We'd get an occasional egg, but did not find a good solution, I'm sorry to say! Would love to hear about it if you do!Good luck ~ f
Chickens can be frustrating creatures. It can take a while for a broody chicken to begin laying again. If she's looking healthy, then there's usually no reason for worry, just patience. Also, remember that egg laying slows way down in the Fall. The dwindling light's to blame; hens need a certain amount per day to keep up production. With thirteen hens, we're only averaging about two-five eggs per day-some of this is because of varying ages of the hens; some from ''hidden'' eggs in the yard, but a lot of it's because of the lack of daylight hours. Best, -The Chicken Lady
It does seem unusual that your hen hasn't returned to laying eggs. Some breeds tend toward broodiness more than others. Now that it is fall, hens tend to lay less eggs because of the shorter days and cooler weather. I would wait till spring and at that point hopefully she's back on track. I tend to discourage my hens from going broody, by lifting them off the nest several times a day and not providing them any eggs to sit on. Although, I have to confess, once they are broody they will not lay for a couple of months. Perhaps this is an old wives tale, but I think that hens with larger redder combs are better layers. I've had chickens for 7 years. Lots of different breeds. Feel free to contact me if you like. Wilma
One of my hens went broody some time ago, and it took about two months to get over it. I had to physically remove her from the coop and lock her out on a daily basis, and did not let her brood. She eventually got over it and is laying again. I don't know what your setup is, but she may also be laying in a new secret location (mine once decided to hide in the garage at one point, which I didn't discover for a couple weeks). Anon
Thinking about getting 2-3 backyard chickens
June 2007
We are interested in keeping 2 or 3 chickens in our backyard. Who has tried this and what advice can you give us? Where do you get supplies, chicken feed, the pen/coop etc.? Do the chickens stink? What do you do if you go out of town? We have read a lot about the possibilities online, but would love to hear from anyone with actual experience. -Chicken about chickens
Try contacting the 4H Club who specialize in teaching youth about agriculture and keeping farm animals. There's an Oakland chapter that meets at the Montclair Rec Center at 6:30PM on the third Monday of each month. Contact: Marianne Depetris at 510-339-6236 gannon6 [at] aol.com Or for an Alameda contact: Contact Email: cealameda [at] ucdavis.edu Phone: 510-567-6812 Official Website http://cealameda.ucdavis.edu/Custom%5FProgram/ Good luck! Also, you should check with your local authorities about what is considered animal abuse so that you can avoid that. Ie; size of cage. FYI: I believe in Oakland, roosters are illegal. lisa
First, check out the web site www.backyardchickens.com. All kinds of advice for newbies. Where to go? Try Lucky Dog Pet Shop on San Pablo in Berkeley, across from Jack-in-the-Box. Their chicks are pretty big now (pullets - females under 1 y.o.) and they are kept out back - ask for them. They claim they are all female, and my experience confirmed that. They have all needed supplies, including chicken huts, feed, etc. Good luck! Fellow newbie of few months - doing good!
So I saw your post and while I do not have chickens I have a friend who has had chickens for many years and so I asked him for his input. Here's his response: As it happens, in THIS WEEK's East Bay Express, there's a wonderful article on raising the ''Urban Chicken.'' I read it yesterday and I was struck by the fact that there was absolutely nothing in the charming article that I could disagree with (an unusual state in my readings in the popular press.) Check it out, as it's a very good, realistic, and concise overview of the project. And, as they say, it's rare to have a family pet that pays its own rent (in eggs for the family.) I hope the article will be helpful. Cluck Cluck
I got 4 chicks last year, raised them into laying hens and lost my entire backyard. They eat EVERYTHING except mint. On the plus side, they also will eat any and all left-overs (including meat. I do not feed them anything w/ poultry in it, but chickens naturally will eat insects and small rodents/birds if given the opportunity, so I do give them some meat leftovers once infrequently). My once lush yard is now a desert waste land. They've also eaten the snails and other bugs. Of course, you don't have to let them free-range, you can have a chicken run and you must have a coop and nesting/laying box. I live in Berkeley and buy my scratch from either Lucky Dog or Animal Farm. I buy bedding straw at Rivertown Feed in Petaluma, though I'm sure there's someplace closer. Lucky Dog usually has straw, but it's often damp and/or moldy. They are relatively easy to care for (yes, the yard does smell like a barnyard, flies are an issue at times, and there's a lot of chicken poop to clean off the cement and out of the coop). I leave them in the care of a neighbor when I leave town. They are a lot of fun, a bit of work, and will destroy your yard. The eggs are delicious and I know they are healthy. There are plenty of pros AND cons; If you email me I'll go into more detail about city chickens and my experience.
We've never kept chickens ourselves but our next door neighbor did for several months. When we first moved in and we saw the chickens we were quite apprehensive. However, they turned out to be very sweet creatures and surprisingly clean. We even watched / fed the chickens a few times when the neighbors went out of town. We became quite attached to them. You will notice that I speak in the past tense. That is because one night the chickens were brutally slaughtered by a marauding raccoon. Apparently, this was not the first time this happened to our neighbors. They had tried solved the problem by installing a coop with a time release latch that would unlock early in the morning. The chickens would put themselves in the coop in the early evening every night and the owners would close the gate behind them. Then in the early morning, the gate would automatically unlatch and the chickens could roam freely. The problem on the night of the slaughter was that the owners did not get out to the coop early enough to close the gate. It still saddens us. Moral of the story - look out for the raccoons. anon
I have kept chickens for many years and recommend it. I bought my chicks from Lucky Dog and I buy my feed from Animal Farm; both are on San Pablo in Berkeley. The hardest and most expensive part is getting set up with a coop and run. There are lots of designs available, all involving a place to roost, nesting boxes, food and water, and nighttime protection from predators. I built my own, but there may be prefab coops you can order over the internet. Once established, its pretty low maintenance and it doesn't have to smell; a good supply of sawdust, wood shavings, etc. does wonders for the odor problem, though it tends to be worse when the ground is wet. Feel free to contact me for further info. or if you want to come and take a look. Chris
We've got 4 chickens in our backyard and it's easy-peasy. Lots of pet stores around here have chicken supplies and some even have chicks. Typically, the closer in stores are more expensive & the stores further from Berkeley are cheaper. Last year, Lucky Dog on San Pablo sold chicks for around $5-6 bucks, while Mike's Feed in San Leandro had chicks in the $2-3 range, I think.
I got pretty picky about no animal products in my feed, so I've been going down to Hayward to Close Feed & Supply to buy Purina's Layena pellets. I don't have to go often and it's not far from my work so I haven't looked much into the organic feeds I've seen sold in the stores around here.
We built our coop ourself - it was a fun project with my parents during one of their visits. There's loads of simple plans online, nothing fancy is required - but do heed the advice of making it easy to get in and out of for cleaning, etc.
When we go out of town our neighbors take turns collecting eggs & checking food & water. They're usually more than happy to get the fresh eggs, and it's fun for their kids as well.
Our coop smells a little when you stand right next to it, but mostly that's because we're going with the ''composting'' (aka lazy) method of bedding. From what I've read it's acceptable to either change the bedding on a regular basis, or keep adding to it to get it to build up into a lovely compost for the yard.
And, of course, you should run out and try to find a copy of this weeks East Bay Express which has a short (but good) article on just this topic, including local codes (which we unknowingly broke in building our coop).
I feel like so many folks around here have chickens, wouldn't it be great if we had a local email group to exchange tips, thoughts, ideas, even short-term equipment lending (like chick feeders) and coop tours. If anyone knows of something like this - post the website/email address! got chicks
I thought I posted a response to this, but it didn't show up; perhaps I did a PM instead. Well, I *don't* think it's so easy- peasy -- I have had 4 free range hens in what once was a tropical backyard and now is a desert waste-land. I mean I once had a lawn, where I now have DUST. Tropical plants, where I now have NOTHING. Chickens eat EVERYTHING: grass, weeds, all bugs etc. My 4 hens destroyed 50 tulip bulbs, a healthy 4 foot ginger plant, several other plants including especially impatients... EVERYTHING except the mint that springs up on it's own. Their shit is either tolerable or HORRENDOUS, and it smells like a barnyard (not bad to me... think of your neighbors, though. And there are flies. Lots of flies. And we clean up. A lot.) Once a hen goes broody, you're guaranteed an exercise in tolerance... or you get eggs for her to hatch (I've been dealing with this for three weeks now). They will come in the house if you have a cat door, or you keep your backdoor open. They will scratch up anything/seed or seedlings you set out... They can fly. They can fly out of the yard over 7 foot fences (so sometimes you have to find them in the neighborhood, if your neighbors -- or dogs/cars -- don't find them first).
The upside is: they eat leftovers -- anything you put out, except for onions and mint, they'll eat. The eggs are Fantastic! Amazing! Healthy! and not 5 bucks a dozen. The down side: broody hens stop laying... and other hens may stop when one hen is broody so you may end up with no eggs for awhile unless you buy fertile eggs for broody mcbrooderton to set upon.
There are ups and downs, for sure. They can be picky about scratch; mine will only eat mealy scratch and ignore all scratch with pellets. Mine want to commune with humans, which means they try to get in the house whenever they can. A couple of the hens are pets in a sense; they allow themselves to be pet and picked up. The other two run away from humans. I have more wisdom to impart, but please email me for more. Chickens really aren't ''easy peasy'' and I don't want you to make the same mistake I did -- I love my hens, but it takes a lot of work and attention. You become a farmer when you get laying hens, it's not an easy task. hen pecked
I don't have any chickens yet! but I am a member of a yahoo group called chickenchatcoop. Here's the description: Welcome to the California Wine Country's Chicken Chat Coop! This is a place for all the good chicken lovers of the Wine Country to come together and share stories, secrets and chickens. Feel free to share about your favorite breed, or tell us about the design of your coop, if you free range on a farm or you are a city dweller with a few chicks. Need information? Check out the Files, Links and Database here. All are welcomed to share in good chicken fun!
Not all members are from wine country. Perhaps you could get some good advice here too.. I wish for chickens!
I have been looking at this website... http://www.backyardchickens.com/ Looks like they have a lot of good info too! I want chickens!
Before putting those chickens in your back yard, don't forget to check with your city's local ordinances. It is illegal to keep chickens in Oakland. Signed, Cluck Envy in Crocker Highlands julie
Well, I have chickens too - 4 hens and I am loving it. It is not easy peesy as mentioned but not difficult either and I do have a wonderful garden. I clip my chickens wings so they can only fly up 3 feet - no harm to chickens but you have to know how to do it right so if you don't know how take your chickens to someone who does know how. As for my garden - they get a small area and I have a great 3 foot high dog fence (you can get them 4' hight) to keep them where I want to so that they will not destroy my garden. As for brooding hens - I heard from an old timer that you put the brooder in a box with good ventilation and an ice bag to keep the box very cool - he said it will stop the brooding within 24 hours - I haven't tried that yet but might next year. Mine are not laying yet but will be soon. If you want chickens that come from a farm email Debbie in Vacaville (rodahughsfam at sbcglobal.net) - I got a Maran, Americauna, Red laced Wyandotte and a Faverolle all around 6 months. I bought a rabbit hutch from craigslist and renovated it into a super coop. Anyone who is up on chickens and wants to talk chicken sometime? We should start a support group if there is enough interest. BIG BIRD
One more thought about backyard chickens. I don't know what city you live in, but you should probably check with your city re the rules for backyard chickens. I live in Albany, and when I called to inquire about this, I was told to submit an application with a $500 fee! In addition to the fee, I had to produce a scale drawing of the coop, and there were very strict requirements about how large, how far from lot lines, etc. Good luck! anon
Hi again! I'm the ''easy-peasy'' poster, and I actually want to second what ''hen pecked'' wrote. If you let your chickens free range they absolutely WILL tear apart your yard and it will not be so easy. We did this for a few weeks before I decided that I'd rather have a yard than ''real'' free range chickens. So, we added on to their coop: they now have a spacious coop and a spacious ''run'' directly attached. Both are built to be rodent & racoon proof (so far, so good!). Thus, we still have a lovely yard, we don't have to remember to put the chickens in or out, and we don't have to worry about the raccoons getting them. We also just load up the chicken feed & let them eat as much as they want whenever they want, so there's no daily feedings. (Like I said, we're lazy). If we ever get nostalgic for the free range days, we let them out for a few hours. And then we remember why we built the run.
And even with the broodiness, cracked eggs, and other miscellaneous issues that come up, I still think they're easy.
good luck! easy-peasy, but not free range
Where to get a chicken coop
Jan 2007
Our family has ended up with a beautiful red hen! My 4 yr old loves the hen. And although, we have a nice backyard, we don't have a coop. Does anyone have a usuable chicken coop they don't use or need? Or, does anyone have suggestions for where I could get an inexpensive one? I have a car and am willing to drive 50 miles outside of Oakland. I was going to build a coop, but I seem to need one now. The chicken is spending nights perched on my bike, parked in our garage and laying eggs in corners of the yard, poor thing! Thanks! Lourdes
Chicken coops seem to be hot items. I looked for one for weeks prior to just building my own (not too difficult but the lumber, roofing, fencing, etc. ended up being more expensive than I had thought). Also, you need a quick solution or some hungry raccoon is going to have a delicious dinner. My suggestion is to look on Craigslist for an extra large wooden doghouse - for four chickens you need at least 8 square feet of floor space so a 2x4 structure would be enough (especially once you add a perch, and only if they are free range during the day). Obviously, you would need to add a locking door (a simple latch won't deter a raccoon), and a perch (1 1/2 inch dowel). I think 'Sierra' makes one (which you can buy as well - but I have seen them on CL for close to free) called the 'XL economy dog house'. There are sometimes actual chicken coops on craigslist, but they go fast, if they are reasonably priced. I have directions to build a 4x4 chicken coop from a Purina chicken care pamphlet (from the feed store) which I could copy and send to you. berkomax
Backyard Chickens and Bird Flu
Jan 2006
We are thinking about getting backyard chickens, and we're wondering whether or not we should be concerned about bird flu, particularly with a young child at home. Any chicken-owners out there have any thoughts on how much of a concern this is for Bay Area chickens? And what (if anything) have you done to protect your hens? chicken for chickens
We have backyard chickens and aren't concerned at all about the bird flu. There have been no cases -- either among birds or people -- in the United States or anywhere close, with Turkey the closest location. Even if there were cases down the road, our birds don't come into contact with other chickens, ducks, etc. For more info, visit http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/bfletter.html anonymous
There is no avian (bird) flu in the US at this time. The short answer is that you are safe right now. If avian flu does make it here, any poultry, especially those outside, may be at risk. The risk for illness is greater for birds than humans at this point. But as you know, humans with close contact with birds (ie those with backyard poultry) have been infected in other countries. The human disease seems to be more fatal in children. Since one of the theories is that the virus spreads from wild birds coming from other areas, keeping birds housed indoors (in henhouses, not your house) may be protective, but not necessarily (the 2004 Canadian outbreak occurred in indoor poultry). You should observe very good hygiene (keeping anything that contacts birds out of the house or clean them thoroughly, hand hygiene, food hygiene-- CDC and the California Department of Health Services have websites with relevant information on avian flu and hygiene practices). In the event of avian flu in the US and specially in California, you will need to get rid of your birds right away. Taking medications to prevent flu is not advised. public health doc
Where to get real baby chicks
April 2003
Re Janet's message: I wonder if I'm the only person wondering where you found real baby chicks to be delivered in the mail! I've been very vaguely thinking of starting to keep chickens - would be interested in information about how to start. Janice
We ordered our chickens from McMurrayhatchery.com. HOWEVER, the minimum number of chicks sent is 25--apparently they need that many in order to stay warm. We currently have 23 (they threw in a few extra and four died on the way.) No way can we keep that many. Our plan, when they get slighly larger, is to give all but six or seven away--at the flea market? If you want some call me up!
March 2003
Re: where to see real baby chicks
My husband just decided to raise chickens. He built a coop and ordered a batch--they came in the US Mail if you can believe it. As of March 26 they were a little over a week old--still very cute. We live in North Berkeley. If you want to call right away they will still be chicks and your son is welcome to pet them--but they are growing rapidly. Janet
Hi There,
Great question!
I installed 3, 4x10 hardware cloth vents at the top of the Coop and a solar ventilation fan-typically used for marine applications- solar during day with battery for night ventilation. Works great.
Hi-
We have four hens in a coop about the height of the one you're planning, with the roost at a similar height. Most of the air flow comes from two screened openings about 8" tall by 30" wide, both at the top of the coop, one facing north and the other south. When the hens are roosting, their beaks are a couple of inches from the wire. And they are fine. They are in their fourth summer, still laying lots of eggs, and the only illness I've observed was a case of bumblefoot in the omega bird. When we were planning our coop, I looked at websites that showed chickens wandering around in Wisconsin snow, so I don't think the level of cold we get here is an issue. I'd be more worried about rain blowing through the openings.
If you want to reduce air flow at the top of the coop, you could provide openings near the bottom. You may still need some at the top.
Part of the reason for needing good ventilation is that ammonia forms rapidly in chicken manure, is quite toxic, and can injure chickens' delicate lungs. If you clean out your coop religiously every day and make sure they have good-quality, mold-resistant litter (e.g., pine shavings), you can reduce the ammonia problem.