Urban Chickens

Thank you so very much! Wonderful sign of support.

Chicken-related regulations, that is. ;-)

New fan here! Hope it helps. Best to you CLUC - bok!

Thank you so much! Our group is growing! CLUC says THANK YOU!!!

I keep hearing this old saw about negligent owners being a concern. Good grief! I'll be there are more negligent dog owners than chicken owners. Journalists write articles and fill them up with stuff they know nothing about. A recent article in the Toronto "Globe and Mail" talked about two health problems that happen "not infrequently", suc has a ... See Moreprolapsed vent and an egg getting stuck inside a hen. I've been keeping chickens (6 to 12 a year) for 15 years, and I've never even HEARD of these problems, let alone have them happen to any of my birds.

Our group is taking a stand in our attempt to legalize chickens in our area...we feel that the debate should be based in fact and supporting data, not fear, gut feelings or childhood memories. I sent this to one of our council members this am that has been pushing for neighbor consent: "Just to be clear before things get too far along, we do not ... See Morefavor lot line or neighbor consent restrictions . We have provided a great deal of documentation that hens do not pose any concern for public health or peace in city neighborhoods. So far, we have not received any data from the public or the council that indicates otherwise. Therefore, we feel it is unduly prejudicial to regulate hens so much more strictly than dogs or cats...or pit bulls, pidgeons or rats for that matter. If it were that easy to get neighbor consent, we would be doing it. We would keep underground chickens and not bother the council with an ordinance change request."

I got year old hens because I did not any roosters, I wanted eggs right away, I did not want the hassle of raising stinky chicks in the house with heat lamps and chick food and yadayada.

We got our four hens from different people on craigslist and they all get along with each other and the kids just find. They all like to be held. It takes a couple weeks for the pecking order to be established when introducing a new hen...but after that it is smooth sailing. :)

Hi Again Annie! Check your yellow pages for feed stores and call around to see if anyone has chicks. I bought my first flock from a local feed store but 4 out of 10 were roosters. I got my current flock as one day old chicks online from Mcmurray hatchery but the min order is 25 chicks. I got 35 pullets(all girls) it cost a little more but was ... See Morevery worth it to not have a bunch of roosters. I kept 17 and sold the rest using the bulletin board at the feed store when they were about 8 weeks old.

Older chicks are much easier. You have to keep chicks very warm when they first hatch. There is lots of care information on mcmurrayhatchery.com

Sounds like great Christmas gifts. Will they be available by then?

Could you share the inside accommodations?

Very cool coop!

Love the design and look! What i would add is a heated waterer and a self feeder.

Wonderful! Anything that will help people get started with backyard chickens is progress. I agree about the heated waterer, especially for cold climates like Ontario! We use a small heater in front of the water pans, but I've heard of using a heated dog's water bowl. I'm not urban, I'm country, but I think urban chickens are the way of the future... See More.

Beautiful day today in southern Ontario! I closed the "girls" out in their yard, shoveled out the hen house and put down fresh wood shavings. Last time before winter. One hen was so nervous about the new shavings that she wouldn't come inside, even at dusk! I had to wait until dark and then pick her up and bring her inside. All her friends were already on the roost. Go figure!