chickens
[email protected]
This message is for linda in CT..welcome to the list..
We have a managery of animals here in bergen county NJ..
and would like to add a chicken coup to the group..
the managery consists of 20 or so rabbits/5 cats/2 ducks
(more to come in the spring) 2 cocketiels/3 lizards/
1 dog/ 1 darling child not yet 3....
But the idea of chickens is interesting...actually I was
thinking of selling the eggs locally...How do they handle
the winter??What do you have them in??? I've started reading
up on them..apparently they have coups on wheels that you roll
around the yard, which adds fertility to the ground, and keeps
the smell down...??
Any suggestions would be helpful...
Eileen
We have a managery of animals here in bergen county NJ..
and would like to add a chicken coup to the group..
the managery consists of 20 or so rabbits/5 cats/2 ducks
(more to come in the spring) 2 cocketiels/3 lizards/
1 dog/ 1 darling child not yet 3....
But the idea of chickens is interesting...actually I was
thinking of selling the eggs locally...How do they handle
the winter??What do you have them in??? I've started reading
up on them..apparently they have coups on wheels that you roll
around the yard, which adds fertility to the ground, and keeps
the smell down...??
Any suggestions would be helpful...
Eileen
silvertree
Hi Eileen,
Chickens are so incredibley easy! We have some brutal cold weather and they
live outside in an enclosed small coop that dh built. It doesn't have to be
very big at all..that way they can snuggle up close together to keep warm!
We let ours out every morning to free range and then when it gets to be dusk
they just walk back to the coop and hop in on their own...simple. Because
they free-range we have no problem with smell or disease...disease usually
comes from living in close quarters. We have alot of land for them to roam
so it never gets smelly either. The problems with this are that they will
eat any tender seedlings that you plant and some flowers...so one solution
to this is to pen them in during the spring planting season. Or I guess you
could put fences around the garden. Another huge problem can be predators.
We have lost a number of out chickens to predators...mostly falcons,
coyotes. This is a terrible dilemma for us. But, we've resolved that we
would rather let them roam than pen them and hopefully they have a better
life though maybe shorter...I know not everyone agrees with this. They
follow us to the compost pile and come running to be picked up and petted.
Ours also go to the coop to lay their eggs...if they run free they could
wind up laying eggs anywhere and therefore you can't eat or sell them. We
love our chickens and to look out the window to see them running around the
yard has brought us immense pleasure, enjoyment and delight. Good luck if
you decide to get them...they are such fun.
Linda
Chickens are so incredibley easy! We have some brutal cold weather and they
live outside in an enclosed small coop that dh built. It doesn't have to be
very big at all..that way they can snuggle up close together to keep warm!
We let ours out every morning to free range and then when it gets to be dusk
they just walk back to the coop and hop in on their own...simple. Because
they free-range we have no problem with smell or disease...disease usually
comes from living in close quarters. We have alot of land for them to roam
so it never gets smelly either. The problems with this are that they will
eat any tender seedlings that you plant and some flowers...so one solution
to this is to pen them in during the spring planting season. Or I guess you
could put fences around the garden. Another huge problem can be predators.
We have lost a number of out chickens to predators...mostly falcons,
coyotes. This is a terrible dilemma for us. But, we've resolved that we
would rather let them roam than pen them and hopefully they have a better
life though maybe shorter...I know not everyone agrees with this. They
follow us to the compost pile and come running to be picked up and petted.
Ours also go to the coop to lay their eggs...if they run free they could
wind up laying eggs anywhere and therefore you can't eat or sell them. We
love our chickens and to look out the window to see them running around the
yard has brought us immense pleasure, enjoyment and delight. Good luck if
you decide to get them...they are such fun.
Linda
----- Original Message -----
> But the idea of chickens is interesting...actually I was
> thinking of selling the eggs locally...How do they handle
> the winter??What do you have them in??? I've started reading
> up on them..apparently they have coups on wheels that you roll
> around the yard, which adds fertility to the ground, and keeps
> the smell down...??
> Any suggestions would be helpful...
> Eileen
Campbell & Wyman
We
Loooonng time ago ) and we would have to get new chickens after a couple of
years and kill all the old ones who had stopped laying. This is a normal
part of having chickens ...to kill off the old, unproductive layers for
stewing hens. Needless-to-say, this is part of farming. And I have never
raised chickens since because I hated killing them.
I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
vegetarians. I am.
Brooke
brynlee@...
>love our chickens and to look out the window to see them running around theWhen do you cull the old chickens out? We had chickens when I was a girl (a
>yard has brought us immense pleasure, enjoyment and delight. Good luck if
>you decide to get them...they are such fun.
>Linda
Loooonng time ago ) and we would have to get new chickens after a couple of
years and kill all the old ones who had stopped laying. This is a normal
part of having chickens ...to kill off the old, unproductive layers for
stewing hens. Needless-to-say, this is part of farming. And I have never
raised chickens since because I hated killing them.
I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
vegetarians. I am.
Brooke
brynlee@...
Lisa Bugg
Needless-to-say, this is part of farming. And I have never
ate we would do so with reverence and a deeper understanding of life, but
that we would not be able to hide from the fact of nature that some
creatures need to eat others to stay alive.
Also, in the book Foods for Healing there is an essay by a couple who tried
to live as vegetarians for years. It began to adversely affect the
husband's health. Animal protein seems to be necessary for some
biochemistries.
My two cents today. <G>
LisaKK
> raised chickens since because I hated killing them.issue. The author came to the opposite conclusion. That if we killed what we
>
> I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
> vegetarians. I am.
>
> Oh! there is a very good essay in the Nov or Dec Utne Reader about this
ate we would do so with reverence and a deeper understanding of life, but
that we would not be able to hide from the fact of nature that some
creatures need to eat others to stay alive.
Also, in the book Foods for Healing there is an essay by a couple who tried
to live as vegetarians for years. It began to adversely affect the
husband's health. Animal protein seems to be necessary for some
biochemistries.
My two cents today. <G>
LisaKK
A. Yates
We are in NC, and are winters aren't too bad (although we are covered in ice
today). The chickens have a coop they go in in bad weather. I too let them
range in a large pasture. We did confine them in a pasture just because they
were eating all my flowers, and digging up all the mulch. We have lost a few
too predators, but are learning how to outsmart them little by little. But as
already said, this is life with animals. Really I think it is good for the
kids to learn this young. They handle death much better than I do.
I really enjoy the chickens too. They are very interesting and fun.
A
jazballard@... wrote:
today). The chickens have a coop they go in in bad weather. I too let them
range in a large pasture. We did confine them in a pasture just because they
were eating all my flowers, and digging up all the mulch. We have lost a few
too predators, but are learning how to outsmart them little by little. But as
already said, this is life with animals. Really I think it is good for the
kids to learn this young. They handle death much better than I do.
I really enjoy the chickens too. They are very interesting and fun.
A
jazballard@... wrote:
> From: jazballard@...
>
> This message is for linda in CT..welcome to the list..
> We have a managery of animals here in bergen county NJ..
> and would like to add a chicken coup to the group..
> the managery consists of 20 or so rabbits/5 cats/2 ducks
> (more to come in the spring) 2 cocketiels/3 lizards/
> 1 dog/ 1 darling child not yet 3....
> But the idea of chickens is interesting...actually I was
> thinking of selling the eggs locally...How do they handle
> the winter??What do you have them in??? I've started reading
> up on them..apparently they have coups on wheels that you roll
> around the yard, which adds fertility to the ground, and keeps
> the smell down...??
> Any suggestions would be helpful...
> Eileen
>
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[email protected]
Well, people have been killing and eating for millennia. But "let's have
hamburger" sure sounds better than "let's kill a cow and eat it"!
My kids and I talk a lot about this. There is plenty to be learned about
the food chain!
Mary Ellen
One can never have too many buttons.
Laurella Lederer
I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
vegetarians. I am.
Brooke
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hamburger" sure sounds better than "let's kill a cow and eat it"!
My kids and I talk a lot about this. There is plenty to be learned about
the food chain!
Mary Ellen
One can never have too many buttons.
Laurella Lederer
I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
vegetarians. I am.
Brooke
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
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silvertree
We are vegetarians although not vegan. We've never been faced with having
old chickens because unfortunately predators always get them first. Though
if they do grow old we'll keep them as pets and just always have only a few
layers...if it got to be too many ....more than 12 for us...we'd just quit
getting them. The chickens are really just pets to us.
Linda
-
---- Original Message -----
old chickens because unfortunately predators always get them first. Though
if they do grow old we'll keep them as pets and just always have only a few
layers...if it got to be too many ....more than 12 for us...we'd just quit
getting them. The chickens are really just pets to us.
Linda
-
---- Original Message -----
> When do you cull the old chickens out? We had chickens when I was a girl(a
> Loooonng time ago ) and we would have to get new chickens after a coupleof
> years and kill all the old ones who had stopped laying. This is a normal
> part of having chickens ...to kill off the old, unproductive layers for
> stewing hens. Needless-to-say, this is part of farming. And I have never
> raised chickens since because I hated killing them.
>
> I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
> vegetarians. I am.
>
> Brooke
> brynlee@...
silvertree
I haven't seen this issue as of yet but I'm interested in the topic. I also
have Food for Healing and think it is a thoughtful book. However, I haven't
been able to eat macrobiotically because it doesn't seem to fit for me. I
agree not everyone thrives on the same kind of diet. There is also another
book called Eat Right for Your Blood Type which talks about some of this
stuff as well. It's such a broad and complicated topic that I have never
actually felt settled with it.
Linda
have Food for Healing and think it is a thoughtful book. However, I haven't
been able to eat macrobiotically because it doesn't seem to fit for me. I
agree not everyone thrives on the same kind of diet. There is also another
book called Eat Right for Your Blood Type which talks about some of this
stuff as well. It's such a broad and complicated topic that I have never
actually felt settled with it.
Linda
----- Original Message -----
From: Lisa Bugg <LisaBugg@unschooling.>
> Oh! there is a very good essay in the Nov or Dec Utne Reader about this
> issue. The author came to the opposite conclusion. That if we killed what
we
> ate we would do so with reverence and a deeper understanding of life, but
> that we would not be able to hide from the fact of nature that some
> creatures need to eat others to stay alive.
>
> Also, in the book Foods for Healing there is an essay by a couple who
tried
> to live as vegetarians for years. It began to adversely affect the
> husband's health. Animal protein seems to be necessary for some
> biochemistries.
>
> My two cents today. <G>
>
> LisaKK
Beth Burnham
My kids think the word "hamburger" is funny because it isn't a ham is it?
They keep wanting to know why it is called a "Ham"burger and not a cowburger
perhaps you have stumbled on part of the reason! I know we do get turned off
too when we think about it. We go in and out of being veggie except my dh
who is strict except for salmon only I like cooking and get bored of just
veg meals all the time. I am anemic and find the hamburger calls my name now
and then. I guess if I eat the free range ones I still feel bad and also
grateful that such a beautiful animal gave it's life for my craving.
I would ideally just eat fresh salmon or sea food a few times a week if I
had the will power to completely stay away. Organic free range chicken eggs
are the best!
How nice to be able to have them all the time and for free.
Beth
They keep wanting to know why it is called a "Ham"burger and not a cowburger
perhaps you have stumbled on part of the reason! I know we do get turned off
too when we think about it. We go in and out of being veggie except my dh
who is strict except for salmon only I like cooking and get bored of just
veg meals all the time. I am anemic and find the hamburger calls my name now
and then. I guess if I eat the free range ones I still feel bad and also
grateful that such a beautiful animal gave it's life for my craving.
I would ideally just eat fresh salmon or sea food a few times a week if I
had the will power to completely stay away. Organic free range chicken eggs
are the best!
How nice to be able to have them all the time and for free.
Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: <megates@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2000 4:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] chickens
> From: megates@...
>
> Well, people have been killing and eating for millennia. But "let's have
> hamburger" sure sounds better than "let's kill a cow and eat it"!
> My kids and I talk a lot about this. There is plenty to be learned about
> the food chain!
>
> Mary Ellen
> One can never have too many buttons.
> Laurella Lederer
>
>
> I think if more people had to kill their own animals there would be more
> vegetarians. I am.
>
> Brooke
> ________________________________________________________________
> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
> Looking for the lowest refinance rate for your mortgage?
> GetSmart.com can help. We'll help you find the loan you
> need - quick, easy, and FREE click
> <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/GetSmartRefinance ">Click Here</a>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
Campbell & Wyman
Thanks Lisa...I will look for that issue of UTNE.
Yes...I do think that some people need meat. My husband is one of them and
my children are meat-eaters too. That doesn't bother me.
But I cannot digest meat very well and have had soem health-related
problems due to meat. Since becoming vegetarian a few years back I have
been feeling much better.
Brooke
Yes...I do think that some people need meat. My husband is one of them and
my children are meat-eaters too. That doesn't bother me.
But I cannot digest meat very well and have had soem health-related
problems due to meat. Since becoming vegetarian a few years back I have
been feeling much better.
Brooke
>> Oh! there is a very good essay in the Nov or Dec Utne Reader about thisbrynlee@...
>issue. The author came to the opposite conclusion. That if we killed what we
>ate we would do so with reverence and a deeper understanding of life, but
>that we would not be able to hide from the fact of nature that some
>creatures need to eat others to stay alive.
>
>Also, in the book Foods for Healing there is an essay by a couple who tried
>to live as vegetarians for years. It began to adversely affect the
>husband's health. Animal protein seems to be necessary for some
>biochemistries.
>
>My two cents today. <G>
>
>LisaKK
>