Urban Chickens...?

[<-Steve->]

Does anyone have first-hand experience with raising a few chickens in an urban setting. It is growing in popularity in many cities, including areas of Chicago. Legally, raising them for meat is prohibited here, but I am only interested in egg production anyway. So if anybody has advice on breeds, or "housing" requirements, etc. I'd love to hear it. Thanks. <-Steve->

[Vanilla_Rat]

There are a few chicken owners here.

I love chickens and would love pet chickens (I am vegetarian).I live in a city tho and livestock are not allowed here.Not permenatly anyway.Outside the city limits where there is land,it is okay...but not in the actual city.Someday I hope to move into a smaller outport and raise up some chickens as pets.The eggs would be given to my family as I don't eat eggs either.

Anyway I am sorry I have no advice,but I wish you luck with raising up some chickens.

[tarita2004]

i dunno...but my supervisor at work has 3 chickens (you are allowed like 2 or 3 SMALL ones if you fill out the forms etc.) she has them as pets and for eating spiders. When winter comes they move out to her friends farm for a nice warm coop

[HappyDancer]

all my neighbors have chickens and roosters (I hate how loud they get early in the morning lol its the puppies alarm clock) its illegal here to but I guess noone tells on anyone here lol...their chickens are small...I am not sure what kind but I will ask...they have escaped a few times and ended up in my backyard lol

[halfwaynowhere]

I haven't had chickens in years... I miss them, I want to get some, my favorites are aracaunas (or Americaunas, depending on who you ask). They lay green eggs. We used to have them in our backyard, then when we got our first dog, we would tie her up when she went outside, and the chickens stayed away from her. Our mastiff likes to chase small animals, though, and putting him on a tie out isn't as convenient. I wish I could think of a place to keep a few hens, our feed store is getting chicks in sometime this week, I'm gonna go down and look even if I can't bring any home.

[<-Steve->]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vanilla_Rat There are a few chicken owners here. I love chickens and would love pet chickens (I am vegetarian).I live in a city tho and livestock are not allowed here.... The eggs would be given to my family as I don't eat eggs either.... Anyway I am sorry I have no advice,but I wish you luck with raising up some chickens.

Quote: Originally Posted by tarita2004 i dunno... she has them as pets and for eating spiders.

Quote: Originally Posted by HappyDancer all my neighbors have chickens and roosters (I hate how loud they get early in the morning lol its the puppies alarm clock) its illegal here to but I guess noone tells on anyone here lol...their chickens are small...I am not sure what kind but I will ask...they have escaped a few times and ended up in my backyard lol

Quote: Originally Posted by halfwaynowhere I haven't had chickens in years... I miss them, I want to get some, my favorites are aracaunas (or Americaunas, depending on who you ask). They lay green eggs. We used to have them in our backyard, then when we got our first dog, we would tie her up when she went outside, and the chickens stayed away from her. Our mastiff likes to chase small animals, though, and putting him on a tie out isn't as convenient. I wish I could think of a place to keep a few hens, our feed store is getting chicks in sometime this week, I'm gonna go down and look even if I can't bring any home.

Wow, thanks for all the responses.

OK, Vanilla first...
I was totally surprised that chickens could be kept legally in Chicago, but they can. The only stipulation is that they can't be raised for meat production. No big deal, because I'm only thinking about raising them for eggs and for the pleasure of having them roaming the garden. I've never had anything but mass produced, factory farm eggs and would like to try something more natural and wholesome for breakfast one day.

Tarita... Whoa! I thought the only major predators in Montana were Grizzlies, Mountain Lions, and Wolves. Now I've got to watch out for the wild "Spider-Eating Chickens" too!

HappyDancer, The smaller ones are known as bantams. Some of them are remarkably beautiful. Because my yard is on the small side, I would probably go with this type if I decide to take the plunge.

Halfwaynowhere, I hope you get to start keeping chickens again. It sounds like you really enjoyed having them. They're starting to become very popular. I know a lot of it has to do with people wanting to be closer to the land and more closely involved with the production of the food they are putting into their bodies. Being in an urbanized area, large vegetable gardens are mostly out of the question around here, so I think having a few chickens makes people feel a little "greener". I guess you have to take what you can get. Eventually, I plan to move somewhere where I can live a lifestyle that I'm more comfortable with... somewhere with plenty of space for gardens, clean lakes and rivers, and people that aren't so strictly "city-oriented". For now though, I'm doing the best I can with what I have to work with.

Thanks again for all the input, everyone.
<-Steve->

[dogslife]

My grandfather kept chickens most of his life. I remember these: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Black Orpingtons are a hardy breed for cold weather, Leghorns are a good breed strictly for eggs, but are also noisy, and can fly more than most others, too. He also kept some Brahma's.

Those are all good egg laying selections. I think most of those are fairly tame-able, too.

I have thought about keeping chickens for eggs, mainly because of my grandfather, but it will have to wait until I am older and have a yard and room for housing for them.

[tarita2004]

Quote: Originally Posted by <-Steve-> ....... Tarita... Whoa! I thought the only major predators in Montana were Grizzlies, Mountain Lions, and Wolves. Now I've got to watch out for the wild "Spider-Eating Chickens" too! ....... <-Steve->

[Jess]

My friend has 13 or 14 chickens. I can ask her some ?s for you if you want.

[kathydip]

My brother in law grew up with chickens. From what he told me before they can be great, loving pets. They had one old hen that used to go in the kitchen. She thought she was a dog.
One of his idiot friends picked her up by the feet one day - never do that. His entire family speaks highly of that chicken.
One day I hope to have a few. When we move to a land far,far away in the 100 acre wood.
Until then I will just have to pick up tips from Steve.

[<-Steve->]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jess My friend has 13 or 14 chickens. I can ask her some ?s for you if you want.

Quote: Originally Posted by kathydip ...One day I hope to have a few. When we move to a land far,far away in the 100 acre wood. Until then I will just have to pick up tips from Steve.

Jess, Thank You. Right now, the chickens exist only in the "hypothetical", but if I need help or info I will definitely keep you and your friend in mind. It's great having a forum where so much first hand information is available.

Hey kathydip, I don't know about picking up tips from me... I'm just a rookie when it comes to real, live chickens. And where is this far away hundred acre wood of yours? Chicago is hot, muggy, and polluted this time of year and I really need to get away. I'd like to breathe clean air, drink clean water, be able to explore the woods. I need some land for a garden and enough space for some (you guessed it) chickens and maybe (just maybe) a few rabbits, a foxhound or beagle, a Norwegian Fjord Horse, and three alpacas. Maybe it's just a dream... then again maybe not. Anyway, thanks for your input. <-Steve->

[Scarlette]

If you're doing it mainly for eggs then I wouldn't go with bantams. Their eggs are small so it would take twice as many eggs for breakfast.

I used to have a bunch of chickens when I was younger and lived with my mom on 20 acres. They pretty much roamed wherever they wanted during the day and went back into the coop on their own at night. Roaming everywhere=poop everywhere, including on the wood piles. Everytime my brother and I would haul in firewood we would get chicken poop all over our coats.

Just a funny story....one of my favorite bantam hens came up missing one spring. I was so bummed. We went into the woods to go mushroom picking and there was my favorite hen....complete with about 15-20 chicks running around her. We had to go back up to the house and get the big minnow net to catch them and bring them up to the coop. There were chicks running EVERYWHERE in the woods and it took a good 2 hours to catch them all. My mom and brother were not nearly as amused as I was.

[Scarlette]

Ok, I just realized I didn't answer your questions.

Housing requirements obviously depends on how many you plan to keep. You need a coop about the size of a refridgerator box (do they still make the wooden ones?) for about 5-6 chickens. You're going to need to have a decent sized wire pen with a top on it. Chickens can be pretty clever escape artists and are more than happy to fly over the top of a fence. They make chicken wire that you could probably find in Home Depot, Lowe's, or a Tractor Supply store.

For nesting boxes we just used milk crates and stuffed them full of straw. They're pretty easy to clean too.

My grandma still raises chickens at the ripe old age of 85. She goes out to the barn and coop twice a day. I'm not good with specific breeds but I think her favorites are the Rhode Island reds. She has a bunch of the white ones too but I can't remember what breed they are.

I do know in the winter time when there is less sunlight she leaves a light on in the coop until about 8:30 at night because less sunlight (or any type of light) means less eggs.

[<-Steve->]

Thanks f