What do the neighbors think?

Jim noticed that whenever he tells people that we have a small flock of chickens in the city, the first question they ask is: "What do your neighbors think?"

We are lucky that in Roseville we do not need a permit. The city did, however, suggest we let our neighbors know. When I told our neighbor to the west, she said, "If you're getting chickens, I'm going to get a goat!"

And on the east side, our neighbors were kind enough to be our guest bloggers, even doing research:

What the Cluck?

While that’s not the response from everyone who discovers my neighbors raise chickens – a number of folks are surprised to learn we live next door to chickens – and like it!

Most of those surprised by the news have read about urban farmers in local newspapers. They assume incorrectly that urban chicken farmers are confined to “The City” where all those crazy urban trends flourish. These folks are surprised to learn you can raise chickens in Roseville.

I enjoy having chickens next door for a number of reasons. You usually don’t hear them as the noise of everyday life tends to overpower their quite clucking, but it’s always a treat to step out on the deck in the early morning with the dog and hear the chickens clucking away. It’s a quiet sort of noise, peaceful like a babbling brook.

Chickens are also fun to watch – kind of like a spectator sport. When they are let out of the pen to run around the yard they eat bugs, and pick around in the dirt taking dust baths. They seldom stray far, and are (usually) rounded-up easily.

Of course, the chickens are not always quiet. They squawk some, usually when a possible intruder is nearby. Sometimes squirrels set them off, other times it’s a raptor sitting in a nearby tree. (Watching penned-in chickens must drive raptors crazy – so close, but so far.) But when they squawk, it’s not nearly as loud as barking dogs, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or other hazards of suburban living.

And of course – there are the eggs. These eggs come from truly free range chickens. On occasion, I’ve cooked with eggs still warm from the hen. We once cracked two eggs in a bowl – one from the co-op (no slouch for producing good eggs) and one from McNeal chickens. The yolk of the McNeal egg was a much deeper yellow – almost orange – and huge. I’m told that’s because of the high protein content. These chickens really like their bugs.

We also enjoy showing off the chickens to visiting friends and relatives. They are a big hit with the under age 5 crowd.

Living next to chickens is a win-win situation as far as I’m concerned.

I’ll finish with this fun historical fact: According to the 1931 Farm Holdings map of Roseville our homes are located on the site of an old 30 acre poultry (turkey) farm – plot 206. It’s destiny that the McNeals raise chickens!

Squirt lays her first egg!

And it's green!

Feeling Bad for Roosters

I live in the city and one of the cardinal rules for city flocks is: No roosters. Nothing is going to get complaints faster and make people cranky quicker than a rooster crowing early morning. Acutally, I don't even think I could tolerate it myself.

I was just on craigslist, thinking I might surprise my husband with a Polish or a Silkie. About half the posts said "Free Chickens". Of course, if it's free, I am going to check it out. Invariably, they were free roosters.

When you order all females chicks from a hatchery, they throw in some males "for warmth". And if you're like me, you don't know you have a rooster till you hear it. Then what? Our local chicken rescue is overrun with them.

I guess there just aren't a lot of options for roosters that don't involve a stock pot.

The O' Possums are back

Last night, I saw an armadillo-shaped silhouette moving across the back yard. It was trying to run fast and looked like a cartoon. Sure enough, we went out and found this guy. I like the Eddie Haskell look he's giving us, like: Who, me?

We've called Animal Control because we think he's looking for a chicken dinner.

Rethinking

Well, turns out, giving away egg layers is a bad idea. Go figure, huh? But I really didn't enjoy taking care of the three I gave away, and I thought I was doing Red a favor by finding her a new flock. However, I now have a flock of 13 and am getting only one egg a day!

So, now to configure a new set of rules on flock management. Maybe I can keep only two nonlayers, and they have to be my favorites? Or I go above the husband-recommended number of 12 to 14 hens?

Not sure, but I am going to have to triangulate some sort of new plan.

Red, Jackie Chan, Wink and Madeline Albright

Woefully misnamed, Madeline Albright turns out to be a rooster. So do Wink and Jackie Chan. They are joining Melissa's flock, recently reduced significantly by a fox or a coyote. So Squirt is now officially the youngest, and only, chick in the flock. She will do OK, but I feel like I did when I sent my daughter off to kindergarten. ("Bye! Things will be OK! Have fun! You'll do fine!")

We sent Red to Melissa's flock as well. She had been relentlessly mean to Blanche - actually pinning her down to pick on her. I've had to squirt her with a garden hose to get her to stop. As Marcy said, "Ever since Peanut died, Red has been a jerk." I had a stronger four-letter word for her, so Marcy said it well, in a G-rated way. I hope she will be happier in a new flock. She's beautiful and I hope she finds a new Peanut.

Twelve to fourteen is the chicken-to-ground ratio my husband says works best for our run. We are now at 13 and it feels right.

Legs Goes Broody for an Hour or So

Found Legs sitting on eggs that were bigger than her.