The New Coop de Ville

Answer tp Fuggy: When I had chickens, I had this big cardboard box that I would put over my rooster at night so that he would not crow until I got up and then I would take it off him. It worked with me, you might try it. PS: I would have to wait til he had gone to roost and be very easy to handle.

I use to have chickens, Rhoad Island Reds, and they were the neatest animal to have. They ate all the bugs in my garden, provided fertilizer for it and gave us the brightest orange yolks and best tasting eggs in the world. They were friendly, loved any leftovers I gave them, including cat food, and just beatiful to watch. I lived in Calif then but now, here in a small town in Montana, where I came to own chickens legally, I can't have them. So, with this article, I am hoping to change this. Thank you so much.

I would love to know how the other counties over thru the ordinances - does it involve my suing the county to be able to legally have chickens?

Thank you for running this story. I live in MA and am currently suing my town to be able to keep my laying hens. Sounds crazy I know but really this is an issue of vague rules that are enforced differently depending on who you are and who you know. The chickens are an important part of the life-cycle of our property. We eat the eggs, they eat garden and dinner scraps and their droppings feed our gardens.

It is important to note that many birds raised in a production type setting are housed indoors where exposure to bird flu is greatly minimized. To suggest that small, backyard flocks, which are allowed to roam without barriers, are less susceptible to bird flu than commercially raised birds is false. It is paramount to contact a veterinarian if you ever have a sick chicken in order to quickly diagnose what could be a very dangerous and contagious illness.

It is important to note that many birds raised in a production type setting are housed indoors where exposure to bird flu is greatly minimized. To suggest that small, backyard flocks, which are allowed to roam without barriers, are less susceptible to bird flu than commercially raised birds is false. It is paramount to contact a veterinarian if you ever have a sick chicken in order to quickly diagnose what could be a very dangerous and contagious illness.

Quite an interesting trend. And laudable as well. However, I would like to point out that urban poultry farming falls under the general category of things that human beings try to do to connect with nature, all the while living in the urban chaos. Tthe chickens need to be free range and need to cookoo, poop, shed feathers and do whatever else that's just natural for them. IMHO, tackling all this with regulation and trying to find a middle ground is somewhat convoluted and unnecessary.

We enjoy our small flock immensly. The eggs can't be beat, and people come to us to buy some for themselves. We don't keep roosters-too nasty and cause reduction in egg production. A few of the chickies get names-currently we have a Barred Rock called Special Ed. Try it, you'll love it.

Try it, you'll love it! Chickens are easy to keep, entertaining and surprisingly soothing to watch. The hens will actually lay more eggs without a rooster, and the eggs can't be beat. Three hens an supply a family of 3-4 with plenty of eggs. We've done this for years, and are hooked. Like others, we've stopped naming them, except for the occasional stand out (currently we have a Barrred Rock named Special Ed), because we have occasional predator problems.

Our local PBS station covered this recently:
http://www.pba.org/programming/programs/thisisatlanta/2762/

Our local PBS station in Atlanta covered this recently:
http://www.pba.org/programming/programs/thisisatlanta/2762/

We have raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea's, and pheasants since i was a boy. Now, after retiring from 32 years of Law Enforcement I have more breeds of poultry than ever before and I enjoy every working minute of it. One of my favorite breeds of chickens that I have is called an "Americauna Chicken Hen" which lays colored eggs. It's always exciting to find a colored egg, from greenish to bluish in thier nest, along side the usual brown and white eggs from other chicken breeds. I highly recommend raising chickens for anyone or any family that wants a hobby that gives you back something valuable...an egg !! Best Wishes, Jay in Stuart, VA www.gregorypoultry.com

We have had chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea's, and almost every other kind of poultry since I was just a boy. Now, after retiring from 32 years of law enforcement, I have more different breeds than ever before and enjoy every working minute of it. I especially enjoy my "Americauna Chicken Hens" that provide colored eggs, not just the usual brown and white ones! I highly recommend chickens to anyone or any family that wants a hobby they all can enjoy. Not only that, but they give you eggs for breakfast!! What could be better than that !! :)) Jay in Stuart, VA 24171. www.gregorypoultry.com

So it's taken global warming, and zillion dollar tanks of gasoline driving all costs up, for us to realize that Grandma and Grandpa had a good idea having their vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and coop of chickens? I have my next home, and my ultimate retirement home, all planned out, and those plans definitely include gardens, chickens, and solar and wind power.

I have many chickens and ducks and enjoy the fresh eggs from both, and if need be the meat. You do get attached, they have great personalities if you take the time to discover them.

i kept chickens when i lived in rural NM several years ago. we had six hens: miss betty, miss pearl, mrs. fortesque, miss daisy, miss dot and one gorgeous rooster, Mr. Bickels. they were great fun to watch, pet and love on and we had a steady supply of delicious eggs. we built a large coopy with a fenced (on all sides and the top) outdoor run to protect them from hawks, coyotes and neighborhood dogs. i miss them every day...