Chickens or Not?

[Mudshack]

There has been a debate in our house for the past few days. One of us thinks that having chickens on our little 4ac of yard/stream/woods is too much extra work. The other of us doesn't care if coyotes get a chicken from time to time, but just having them around would decrease the tick population.

Having never thought about chickens until recently, I have no clue. Are they expensive? Too expensive to not care if a coyote eats 2-5 a year? Can I leave them roam around the 3/4ac yard and they will head back to the coop at night? Are they a daily chore? Does having chickens mean no 1-2week family vacations away from home? Don't want to add a daily "project" to the list of things to do in our life. But I do like the thought of the little feather dusters eating ticks, spiders and pecking at snakes.

[Osceola]

I would go with game chickens if you want them to run loose in the woods.They would stand a better chance because they fly better.

[BvR]

get some guineas, less likely to get eaten. less work once the get older

[bm22]

if you have flowerbeds the chickens will dig them up. other than that they are are not that much work. Just build them a good spot to nest and lay eggs then put some limbs sideways for them to roost.
then plan on shooting chicken hawks and maybe owls if they start killing them.

[fishycatfish]

They're not dogs, they won't be a chore. Prolly find some in a news paper for a few bucks each. I had some while I was in high school but they were fightin (game) chickens (never fought them) but they were expensive. I had well over a $1000 worth of chickens and roosters and then got tired of them and gave em' away. I wish I would have spent it on somethin else but it took up a lot of my free time so prolly kept me out of trouble.

[LWolken]

Do not get guineas! They are the most obnoxious bird on the planet. You will have to water chickens and put them up at night.

[Osceola]

if you have flowerbeds the chickens will dig them up. other than that they are are not that much work. Just build them a good spot to nest and lay eggs then put some limbs sideways for them to roost.
Plan on chicken hawks and maybe owls killing them.Don't shoot them because it is a federal offence.

I fixed it for you.

[Landrover]

I fixed it for you.

U beat me to it!!! LMAO!!!
How bout a couple of peacocks??? I really like those and they look like they can fend for themselves based on size and aggressive nature?

[dragonsdaddy]

if you have flowerbeds the chickens will dig them up. other than that they are are not that much work. Just build them a good spot to nest and lay eggs then put some limbs sideways for them to roost.
then plan on shooting chicken hawks and maybe owls if they start killing them.

especially if you like federal game wardens as you'll likely get well acquainted with them, and less with your money if you follow this advice.

[deerslayer64d]

We have chickens on our 1/2 acer - nest boxes - roost - and water = free eggs and next to no bugs .

[Spothog78]

We have chickens on our 1/2 acer - nest boxes - roost - and water = free eggs and next to no bugs .

Chickens!

[Smart]

Chances are you will lose much more than 2-5 a year....heck I had a buddy who lost 20+ in a night to a stray feral dog that just liked killing things..

[SATX]

Chances are you will lose much more than 2-5 a year....heck I had a buddy who lost 20+ in a night to a stray feral dog that just liked killing things..

Had a bobcat do much they same thing. It got into the coop and killed three turkeys, ate half a breast on one, and killed a few chickens too.

[dbaio1]

Chickens = Live coyote bait

[Bonesplitter]

No work at all. Just leave a 1/4 of a plastic drum out filled with water and a remington feeder that slings 1 sec morn and eve with hen scratch in it. If you lose some, just replace them. Chickens are cheap.