Here Be Chickens

I think egg production is related (co-varies) with the length of daylight hours.

They are so cute! Have you seen those furry-legged chickens? I can't remember the exact name of the breed, but a friend's mom raises them and they are impossibly cute and silly. I would love to have a couple laying hens, but my yard is far too small - and my cat is far too vicious. Plus they haven't passed the "backyard livestock" bill in my corner of the world yet, though it has been a hot topic as of late.

Here is a link for anyone interested: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Backyard+chickens+likely+raise+stink/2904836/story

Cochins have feathered legs. They are nice, calm, large bodied birds. When was son was a boy his white cochin rooster took a blue ribbon in open class at the MN State Fair.

If the birds are able to be out and about to get some extra protein a grain diet is fine. A solely grain diet is usually of lower protein than is needed. I really miss my chickens.

I think egg production is related (co-varies) with the length of daylight hours.

Quite true. But, one can get additional egg production by putting some light in the chicken house. I had mine on a timer.

Melissa, I was listening to a very interesting guy on CBC radio discussing that the other day. A resident of Calgary, apparently, he's going to refuse to remove his chickens. He mentioned that even in crowded places like New York and Los Angeles it's legal, so why should Calgary--with so much space--be any different? He made good points about the planetary advantages of personally making as much of our own food as we can.

Calgary just recently (within the last week, I believe) decided to prohibit the raising of backyard chickens. And yes, many people are mad, and some have decided to just keep on doing it, law be damned. They haven't decided for or against it yet in my city, Edmonton - but now that Calgary has set this precedent, I could see us following suit. Then again, we like to be different from Calgary, so maybe we'll actually allow them!

I think it's fine for people to have chickens, as long as they have proper, safe facilities and are taking good care of them. I could see how people would think it was neat to have a chicken, then realize how much work they are after a few weeks. Of course, in that case you could just make roast chicken for dinner - problem solved!

That's so great! We kept chickens on our property which is in a hilly, somewhat rural-feeling suburb of Los Angeles, for over 20 years. Lots of wonderful eggs and so much fun for our children as they were growing up. Chickens are very sociable creatures and would put up with all kinds of interactions by the children, including being dressed up in doll clothes and riding around in wagons, toy trucks, and even on the dog's back. The dogs and chickens got along amazingly well, once the dogs were trained to LEAVE THOSE CHICKENS ALONE! Every night they filed back into their coop where they were locked up for the night as protection against the coyotes, raccoons and opossums that roam the neighborhood at night. The only downside was having to wash all the brick patios daily and the occasional explosion of grief (and the ensuing funeral requirements) when one of the chickens would drop dead unexpectedly (usually from fright at seeing a strange dog outside the fence, or from extreme heat in the summer). Our last chicken lived for an astonishing 13 years.

Ines, that's hysterical! I've never heard of chickens allowing themselves to be dressed up before - too funny! You must have had the most lovely tempered birds! I can't believe your chicken lived 13 years - we were told to expect a lifespan of 2 - 5!

Celia, our last chicken, named "Wren" was so much a part of our family (long after she stopped laying eggs she spent her time following our Labrador dog, Oscar and even napping with him on the lawn), visiting with the guests when we had garden dinner parties, even coming into the house if someone left a door open. When she finally passed on, we were away on a vacation and our housekeeper Albertina was so sure we'd want to give that chicken a proper Christian burial, that she wrapped the deceased bird in plastic and put her in the freezer so we could conduct the services later. She called us in tears to report the death.

Ines, that must have been hard - it would have been like losing a member of the family!

For anyone who's interested, I posted more photos of our chooks on my blog today...


http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/06 ... en-update/

Cheers, Celia

[Jenise]

I've already talked to my husband about building a wheeled chicken gazebo so we can move a small flock around our small housing development yard. I think it could be sufficiently disguised to keep the neighbors off track.

I'm suddenly picturing something out of a Cheech and Chong movie.

Indeed