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I have been thinking about getting chickens for years, but want to be well prepared. A $1,000.00? Knowing what you know now, do you think you could have done everything for less? Or do you think that is a reasonable expectation? How many did you start out with? How many do you have now?
My neighbor had guinea hens for a while, but they kept coming over to my house. They would greet me when I got home and jump up on my fence, then my house roof and run back and forth across the roof. They were very entertaining.
I got bees this year, and that is a pretty expensive hobby too.
Sounds like you are having fun!
My neighbor had guinea hens for a while, but they kept coming over to my house. They would greet me when I got home and jump up on my fence, then my house roof and run back and forth across the roof. They were very entertaining.
I got bees this year, and that is a pretty expensive hobby too.
Sounds like you are having fun!
My neighbor has a few chickens and a rooster named "Babe", who is just gorgeous! Babe's "dad" was the original rooster named "Raymond". Well, speaking of chicken hawks, one of them got Raymond...found his feathers all over the back yard. So Babe was just a babe, but then has grown up to be a beautiful male for his 4 hens! My neighbor got several of those children's pinwheels that spin different colors and shine in the sun, and attached them in several spots in his yard. They seem to have helped in keeping the hawks away, but I don't know why. My husband loves the rooster and chickens, and whenever he sees a hawk flying overhead, gets real concerned for my neighbor's chickens and rooster. They've got a nice coop and small fenced in yard, and sometimes run under my neighbor's shed, but they're fun to watch. We just LOVE hearing the rooster crow throughout the day!!!
My brother and SIL have had chickens for several years. He thinks they have the cost per egg down to about $10 now.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
It can be done much cheaper if you build your own instead of buying everything. I think my brother built their coop for a couple hundred bucks and it's NICE.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Now that is special. That's how hobbies go. I got my snowboard for a steal of $400. Boots and bindings, advanced lessons, lift tickets, gear, lodging...on and on and on.
Thank you for sharing DJ!
Thank you for sharing DJ!
@Dongjuan wrote:
In spring I did a job at Tractor Supply. I finished quickly but a noise caught my attention. When I walked to the center of the store, I noticed they had chickens. And for only $2. I went home debated and researched...figured I can do this, I've got a backyard and a few extra bucks! Well with everything else that seems to good to be true...$2 chickens have turned into a $1000 hobby. After I realized I needed a coop when they got to big, then mutiple expansions after they kept escaping and trying to jump into neighbor's windows! Then having to find a way to cover thier area after learning there are things called chicken hawks!
If anything I'm entertainment for my neighbors who realize...there must be something wrong with this kid, he's driving around the neighborhood yelling for a chicken ...that you know isn't going to answer!
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
A friend who has chickens just criss-crossed audio or videotape (Y'know, those old cassette things, rip the tape out with your hands) over the coop and there's something about the flashing reflected light from it that scares off the hawks. Won't do anything for coyotes, like we have, though! I'm betting you love having the chickens so much you'll build 'em a nice coop out of pallets 
Kona Kathie
I had a job one time interviewing/ inspecting an attorney's office. The office was a separate building on his mini ranch. His chickens had a coup, but they were allowed to free roam around the yard - even in his office! They were as protective as a guard dog. When I got out of the car, 5-6 of them made loud chicken noises and followed me around. No sneaking up to the house with those birds around. They kinda frightened me. I kept expecting to be attacked. On the other hand, they were as cute as they could be.
You can definitely do chickens for much, much cheaper.
I joined a forum called Backyard Chickens years ago. I never have been in a place where I can have chickens, but have wanted to. But I learned a lot.
I joined a forum called Backyard Chickens years ago. I never have been in a place where I can have chickens, but have wanted to. But I learned a lot.
My friend went to buy some chicks a few years ago. He had ordered 12 chicks and the guy at the feed store that was helping him set up his supplies offered to "throw in another dozen for free". Well, he took them, and it didn't take him long to realize that he was now buying twice as much chicken feed, and the guy wasn't trying to be nice, he was making more business for himself. Lesson Learned: There's No Such Thing as a Free Chicken!!
@FrugalCat wrote:
Lesson Learned: There's No Such Thing as a Free Chicken!!
Not unless it was turned into a "free lunch"!!! haha!!
I'm too stupid to figure out how to reply to specific threads! Ugh!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2017 04:00AM by capecodannie.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2017 04:00AM by capecodannie.
I'll keep that in mind next time I'm doing a farm store shop. I have some banties, and they are a hoot!
@Dongjuan wrote:
In spring I did a job at Tractor Supply. I finished quickly but a noise caught my attention. When I walked to the center of the store, I noticed they had chickens. And for only $2. I went home debated and researched...figured I can do this, I've got a backyard and a few extra bucks! Well with everything else that seems to good to be true...$2 chickens have turned into a $1000 hobby. After I realized I needed a coop when they got to big, then mutiple expansions after they kept escaping and trying to jump into neighbor's windows! Then having to find a way to cover thier area after learning there are things called chicken hawks!
If anything I'm entertainment for my neighbors who realize...there must be something wrong with this kid, he's driving around the neighborhood yelling for a chicken ...that you know isn't going to answer!
Welcome to my world. I loved my birds. Thinking about getting a new flock.
Thanks for the heads up for the $1000. I forgot that raising 6 or a flock of 50, costs a fortune, monetarily and emotionally. Who cares about the feed? Making sure the coop is predator proof is paramount. I know for a fact that a day can suck huge, when you walk into the coop & there are a bunch of headless chickens in the morning.
I used to love skunks, then I raised chickens.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
I think I'll stick with dogs. Thanks for all the great stories; I really enjoyed them.
I housesit for a friend who has chickens. They are so much fun, make soothing noises and give you a few eggs a week. However her coop cost $5000!! Seriously, it is really cool, like a condo for chickens but I had to laugh about the $10 per egg. She got them thru the mail. A little box was delivered with 3 little babies hens inside.
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