backyard chickens

[swantree]

If you could help the enviroment and keep some laying chix in the yard (if you have one) in SoWal, would you? I'm thinking fresh eggs and contributing to the compost (great source of nitrogen) what are the downsides in SoWal? Snakes? Foxes? Disease? angry neighbors?

[SHELLY]

If you could help the enviroment and keep some laying chix in the yard (if you have one) in SoWal, would you? I'm thinking fresh eggs and contributing to the compost (great source of nitrogen) what are the downsides in SoWal? Snakes? Foxes? Disease? angry neighbors?

......Zoning Laws?


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[ckhagen]

I have several friends who keep chickens in their yards (typical neighborhoods), but none of them live here, so I don't know what the particulars would be here. If I had a fence, I might try it, but I don't :(

[kurt]

http://www.backyardchickens.com

[TreeFrog]

Not to get too specific, for fear of drawing the wrath of the dreaded upscale property owners, but someone near me has a rooster. I hear it crow most mornings. I'm fine with that, but glad they aren't immediately next door. There's a little NIMBY in all of us, I guess.

[barefootguy]

I have friends in the heart of Destin that used to have chickens. Some neighbors didn't like it, but their main problem was protecting the chickens from hawks.

[scooterbug44]

Ha-ha! Check the laws, because sometimes if you only have a couple chickens it's even allowed within city limits!

Friend's neighbor has chickens in the middle of the city and declined to be in the backyard chicken movie because she was trying to keep it on the DL!

The biggest issue my friends had w/ chickens next door is that they are a little TOO free range (no fence) and their dog doesn't do too well when it eats chicken poo!

My last Sowal casa had chickens and a very vocal rooster as neighbors. Freaking hilarious, but still less annoying than a HOA! ;-)

[NotDeadYet]

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3478593

[ShallowsNole]

Oh lord I hope ShallowsFuzz doesn't see this question. :violin:

[greenroomsurfer]

What's Fuzz gonna do when we have all the wild pigs, emu's, peacocks, anaconda's and all the illegal introduced species here in Walton county. Oh yea, tell him he can take the cold dead chickens and bunnies out of my hands and will have a cookout.:floor::funn::biggrin: Good luck getting the Health Dept. to do anything about it or animal control. Look at the rabid raccoon thread. My wife called everyone and they all passed the buck. By the way I have been talking for years about getting a pig because ya can only have dogs at a certain time, doesn't say anything about pigs. On a different subject, did ya see Buster Posey play every position for the Noles Baseball team on Sport Center?

[Mango]

True story. About 15 years ago there was this little feed shoppe that also specialized in stuffing animals for hunters. I stopped in with my younger sister to show her a big bear that used to be in movies, that was now in the store.
They had these adorable little baby chickens, I think they were some kind of reds. The owner of the store proceeded to tell us how they have these great personalities, and follow you everywhere, and make great pets. But, the State law was that you had to buy 6 minimum because they become lonely. I only wanted one, but law was law. So I had to buy all 6, and came home and begged my husband to make me a pen. I had this whole design I wanted that looked like a little castle, names and everything picked out, collars, etc. We let them out and they were running all over, but always caught up with me like a little entourage. After a couple of days of this (no pen yet) I felt like I was being chickenstalkerotzied, and became afraid to go in my garage. Needless to say my little chicken fairy house did not materialize, and all chickens were quickly brought back to said store, where the owner was gracious enough to take them back.

[Smiling JOe]

Not to get too specific, for fear of drawing the wrath of the dreaded upscale property owners, but someone near me has a rooster. I hear it crow most mornings. I'm fine with that, but glad they aren't immediately next door. There's a little NIMBY in all of us, I guess.

You must live near Blue Mtn Beach. I know of a few roosters over there. Nothing like trying to sleep in, only to be awakened by roosters, at the crack of dawn. Sounds of lawnmowers aren't much better.

Swantree, Nitrogen might be good for soil, but the run off into the lakes, Bay and Gulf can be bad, in large amounts.

I'd love some chickens in my yard, and so would my dogs. Yum! Fresh eggs.

[Mango]

I'd love some chickens in my yard, and so would my dogs. Yum! Fresh eggs. You do know the eggs get stuck sometimes and a C (hicken) -section is needed. :lol:

We used to get the eggs fresh from the same store and there's a big difference in flavor compared to store bought. They are closed now.

[Romeosmydog]

Oh please do not put chickens anywhere near the daughettes. I have a viable fear of them. I would have to move....on second thought, YOUR chicken tractor could be MY reason to get back to Seagrove!

[sowalgayboi]

Before buying the chicken wire, coop, and feed. Go on vacation to Key West for a week. Trust me you will develop an amazing hatred of chickens.

P.S. They are afraid of inflatable dolls.

[ShallowsNole]

What's Fuzz gonna do when we have all the wild pigs, emu's, peacocks, anaconda's and all the illegal introduced species here in Walton county. Oh yea, tell him he can take the cold dead chickens and bunnies out of my hands and will have a cookout.:floor::funn::biggrin: Good luck getting the Health Dept. to do anything about it or animal control. Look at the rabid raccoon thread. My wife called everyone and they all passed the buck. By the way I have been talking for years about getting a pig because ya can only have dogs at a certain time, doesn't say anything about pigs. On a different subject, did ya see Buster Posey play every position for the Noles Baseball team on Sport Center?

No, I heard that Buster was going to do it and I got in a hurry yesterday morning and forgot to set the DVR. :bang:

Fuzz wouldn't "do" anything about it; he wants chickens too!!! :roll: And his partner at the WCSO does have a pet pig, 400 lbs at last report...:lol:

[sowalgayboi]

No, I heard that Buster was going to do it and I got in a hurry yesterday morning and forgot to set the DVR. :bang:

Fuzz wouldn't "do" anything about it; he wants chickens too!!! :roll: And his partner at the WCSO does have a pet pig, 400 lbs at last report...:lol:

That's gonna be some nasty meat. When I was growing up our neighbors had a pig that got huge. They had it slaughtered and brought some "chops" over. My dad was thrilled since we lived on a diet of humus, tofu, and veggies. My mom proceeded to fry them up. There was so much fat that at the end we had little chop nuggets and a frying pan full (almost overflowing) of pig fat.

[ShallowsNole]

That's gonna be some nasty meat. When I was growing up our neighbors had a pig that got huge. They had it slaughtered and brought some "chops" over. My dad was thrilled since we lived on a diet of humus, tofu, and veggies. My mom proceeded to fry them up. There was so much fat that at the end we had little chop nuggets and a frying pan full (almost overflowing) of pig fat.

Ugh. Thanks for TMI...

Fortunately, I don't see this pig being slaughtered. She named him Clyde. :biggrin:

[singinchicken]

That's gonna be some nasty meat. When I was growing up our neighbors had a pig that got huge. They had it slaughtered and brought some "chops" over. My dad was thrilled since we lived on a diet of humus, tofu, and veggies. My mom proceeded to fry them up. There was so much fat that at the end we had little chop nuggets and a frying pan full (almost overflowing) of pig fat.

:drool:

[aleonard]

We have some free range chicken gangs here in DeFunk. There is a certain rooster that likes to attack my purple truck when I drive down Bruce Ave.:shock:

They belong to no one but the streets http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0045.gif (http://irritable-bowel-syndrome.tumblr.com/)

[rapunzel]

We have some free range chicken gangs here in DeFunk. There is a certain rooster that likes to attack my purple truck when I drive down Bruce Ave.:shock:

They belong to no one but the streets http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0045.gif (http://irritable-bowel-syndrome.tumblr.com/)

To me, that's a sure sign of a town with character.
:clap:

[Sand Angel]

We have some free range chicken gangs here in DeFunk. There is a certain rooster that likes to attack my purple truck when I drive down Bruce Ave.:shock:

They belong to no one but the streets http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0045.gif (http://irritable-bowel-syndrome.tumblr.com/)

I've seen those chickens, but I always thought they must belong to someone in the neighborhood.

:funn:Must be the purple...never had the rooster attack while driving by (but I'm not in that area much).

[cp]

I used to have chickens,a rooster and some guineas! I'd get somemore if I still had a pen.Might have to work on that idea!
A friend of mine got some eggs last spring and hatched her own baby chickens,all the kids went over to watch them crack open so cool to watch! I'll get her pictues of it to show ya'll.:D

[NoHall]

If you could help the enviroment and keep some laying chix in the yard (if you have one) in SoWal, would you? I'm thinking fresh eggs and contributing to the compost (great source of nitrogen) what are the downsides in SoWal? Snakes? Foxes? Disease? angry neighbors?

Chiming in from the poultry capital of the world: That "great source of nitrogen" is going to be far outstripped by the really nasty smell. The only thing that smells good about a chicken is when it's coming out of a frying pan. Yuck.


http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/benzo411/GAGVpoultrysign.jpg

[sunspotbaby]

If people are allowed to tie up a goat in their yard to slaughter it here ...I don't see them doing anything about some laying hens. :idontno:

[NoHall]

If people are allowed to tie up a goat in their yard to slaughter it here ...I don't see them doing anything about some laying hens. :idontno:

:shock:

In SoWal?!?!

[Smiling JOe]

You could always say that the chickens aren't really "chickens." Just tell the Law Enforcement people that those things are your West Nile Live Detectors, just like the ones that Mosquito Control has placed around the County.

[seagrovegirl]

Had 6 white ducks in Old SRB...very stinky, nasty creatures. The eggs were great though.

At the Paxton house, a neighbor has free range chickens that visit my house in the mornings and when I am not there. They haven't found the porch yet...a good thing, can't imagine the mess. Wish they'd drop off an egg or two.

[sunspotbaby]

:shock:

In SoWal?!?!

Yes. :wave:

[Mystified]

OK we've had rabbits then every wild animal made they're homes in my backyard. In fact we had an uncontrollable rat problem where they eventually got into my attic. We were terrified all winter but once I threw rat poison in there the population diminished:clap: Then of course we had horse flies...had to keep all the windows open. we were bundled up in coats until they were gone.

Another time we got 2 baby ducks for easter. When I laid out in the backyard they're hop up on me and come right up to my face. I fell madly in love:wub: with them. I kept them in a huge dog crate on the back proch until they outgrew it. Then we made a pen for them outdoors but didn't get the top on soon enough. Sadly my neighbors cats (she swore they were strays but ummmm, if your feeding them, they're yours) After Mrs Ducky was severely attacked and several hundred $$$ later we felt it would be better to bring them out to a farm. :wave:They practically had to carry me out as I was hysterically crying. (Vistors were looking at me in horror, LOL) They were lost in a sea of ducks and I thought they would pick on Mrs ducky because she had only 1 eye. So I changed my mind and begged to get Mr & Mrs Ducky back but they were way out in the lake and we weren't able to tell who was who. :(:cry:

I learned my lesson, dogs only! I can get fresh farm eggs when I have the $$$ to burn on gas to ride out to get some. For right now we buy organic from the market.


P.S. Mango I enjoyed your stories!!!!

[Romeosmydog]

You could always say that the chickens aren't really "chickens." Just tell the Law Enforcement people that those things are your West Nile Live Detectors, just like the ones that Mosquito Control has placed around the County.
My students use to liberate those mosquito control chickens that were in the woods near Bay Middle. (After school and without my knowledge until after the fact) The kids couldn't stand to see the mosquito control guys cutting the chickens just to make them bleed so that the mosquitoes would bite them. Although I am not sure that is exactly what went on, they just convinced me that they were justified in breaking into the cages to free the chickens from the grips of animal cruelty. I am sure the liberated chickens are now part of the chicken gangs I am hearing so much about. :cool: