It is with sadness that I share that we will no longer keep chickens. After raising 2 "flocks" to adulthood and building both a chicken tractor and a coop, we have decided to give up backyard chickens for a while. 
There are a myriad of reasons for this decision. First, and foremost, having 3 kids at home with countless activities, two full-time jobs and lengthy commutes, we no longer want to invest the time in keeping chickens happy. They are a relatively easy creature to get along with and care for, however, they still do take up time. There is the daily watering and feeding, letting them out, locking them up, collecting the eggs, checking for health and well-being, etc. Mind you, these activities continue in the dead of winter, trudging out to the coop, checking on the girls, tucking them in at night, constant fights to keep water thawed out… We only need to clean out their coop about 4-5 times per year, but that proves to be a challenge with the combination of three kids, poop, lots of dust, and, well, three kids.
The by-law in Menomonie, back when I read it in 2005, states that livestock shall not run at large within the city limits. Well, two of my chickens completely ignore this ordinance and free-range the entire neighborhood. They lay eggs in neighbors’ yards, roost on their cars, hide under their campers, and *ahem* fertilize their grass. This cannot go on!
I believe that animals (mostly pets, but pet chickens in this case) are meant to bring a person joy. When that no longer occurs, it is time to move on. My adult laying chickens will live on a farm in Chippewa Falls with a seasoned veteran chicken keeper, Jeff. Their new daily schedule (once they're accustomed to the place) will be spending the morning in chicken daycare (a fenced-in area covered with deer netting to keep them safe) and afternoon/evenings free-ranging on the farm. The new baby chicks will go back to the farm where they were laid as eggs to reunite with their family! In any case, we will miss their presence and their presents (eggs!) but not their poop.
We will miss you: Sandy, Raven, Cleo, Dottie, Coco, Damn-Rooster, Salt, Pepper, Buffy, Goldilocks, Bobby, Chicky-Chick, Dixie, Honey.
There are a myriad of reasons for this decision. First, and foremost, having 3 kids at home with countless activities, two full-time jobs and lengthy commutes, we no longer want to invest the time in keeping chickens happy. They are a relatively easy creature to get along with and care for, however, they still do take up time. There is the daily watering and feeding, letting them out, locking them up, collecting the eggs, checking for health and well-being, etc. Mind you, these activities continue in the dead of winter, trudging out to the coop, checking on the girls, tucking them in at night, constant fights to keep water thawed out… We only need to clean out their coop about 4-5 times per year, but that proves to be a challenge with the combination of three kids, poop, lots of dust, and, well, three kids.
The by-law in Menomonie, back when I read it in 2005, states that livestock shall not run at large within the city limits. Well, two of my chickens completely ignore this ordinance and free-range the entire neighborhood. They lay eggs in neighbors’ yards, roost on their cars, hide under their campers, and *ahem* fertilize their grass. This cannot go on!
I believe that animals (mostly pets, but pet chickens in this case) are meant to bring a person joy. When that no longer occurs, it is time to move on. My adult laying chickens will live on a farm in Chippewa Falls with a seasoned veteran chicken keeper, Jeff. Their new daily schedule (once they're accustomed to the place) will be spending the morning in chicken daycare (a fenced-in area covered with deer netting to keep them safe) and afternoon/evenings free-ranging on the farm. The new baby chicks will go back to the farm where they were laid as eggs to reunite with their family! In any case, we will miss their presence and their presents (eggs!) but not their poop.
We will miss you: Sandy, Raven, Cleo, Dottie, Coco, Damn-Rooster, Salt, Pepper, Buffy, Goldilocks, Bobby, Chicky-Chick, Dixie, Honey.
Awe u have a fam blog! ;) I can't believe
ReplyDeletethe chickens are gone ;( I'm sure you are gonna
miss those fresh eggs ;)
my cousin in the PI had like 10 chickens &
they kept roaming every where!
Did I ever mention that your chickens have the best names!
ReplyDeleteSarah, you are awesome. I love reading this. I am glad they found good a home with Jeff. I agree with Jessie, I love all the names.
ReplyDelete