https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:47:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926808 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:06:51 +0000 josina 2926808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have had chickens on/off over the years. When we free ranged them they were good about returning to the coop at night, BUT we did have some raccoons sneak in there right at dusk and run off with one, so something to be aware of. (Rats were bad also)</p> <p>I did end up not liking free ranging because they were constantly in my flower gardens or even on our deck. </p> <p>DH always goes overboard and will bring home 20 and then we get sick of paying for all the feed and eventually sell them off. If I could get him to stick to 2-4 I think they'd be fine, lol. 1 egg a day per hen is perfect for our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926802 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:38:14 +0000 bees_knees 2926802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lahela017: "his girls"! I love it!</p> <p>@Lilfarmer: 100 chickens! I'm thinking more like 6-7 hahaha. Will they not return to the coop at night without a light? In addition to being worried about fires, DH doesn't want to deal with running electric out there (which I totally get)</p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: Glad to hear the deep litter method works for you! How often do you totally clean it out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926798 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:36:50 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2926798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 4! We got 6 as day olds last may. 2 ended up being roosters so we returned them. </p> <p>We live on the lake in Canada. It’s COLD but we did the deep litter method and no issues! Going to expand their run this spring! It’s definitely something you can figure out as you go, In my experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926794 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 17:47:41 +0000 Lilfarmer 2926794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have over 100 chickens! They’re a blast, but make sure you buy pullets if you’re going someplace like TSC to get them. A straight run is usually all roosters. </p> <p>We have lights in our coop, helps the chickens return at night. If done right, it shouldn’t be a fire hazard. </p> <p>My favorites are the Brahmas, very friendly and they don’t go broody! Silver lace wyandottes are the prettiest though :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926710 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:38:05 +0000 Lahela017 2926710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have chickens, so no firsthand knowledge, but my father-in-law has 6 who he calls "his girls." He really enjoys them!! I know he ended up needing to keep them in an area with a cover because predator birds were a big issue. I had a friend that lost a chicken to a hawk and the evidence was very traumatic for her kids, so just be aware of that potential issue if you do free range. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926708 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:04:22 +0000 bees_knees 2926708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh yes the raccoons. We have a little raccoon family that lives under one of our outbuildings and comes and eats out cat food every night 😒 DH wants to …ahem…. take care of them (#farmlife) but they’re so cute I told him not to. I might be singing a different tune if they get to the chickens! The gore had to have been traumatizing for your kids! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926706 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:45:33 +0000 Lowell 2926706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No real advice…we rented a coop and some hens during first Covid spring/summer and just loved our girls!! I love the idea of pets that feed you!! The eggs were great. Sadly, the trauma of losing one to a raccoon (there was lots of gory evidence) and the raccoons constantly trying to break in made us pull the trigger on returning the survivors. If we could build a permanent coop and I was not constantly worried about them being eaten by a hawk/dog/Fox/raccoon, I would try again for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926701 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:57:09 +0000 Jessiemuller88 2926701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following this thread! I don’t have any advice, but I’m planning on getting some in the near future as well. The Kindergartners at my school just incubated and hatched baby chicks, and now I totally have chicken fever 😂 we bought a house on 2 acres a few months back, so I’d hope to do mostly free range as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/chickens#post-2926687 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:54:23 +0000 bees_knees 2926687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone here have chickens? We're planning on getting some this spring. I'm reaching out to friends to see if anyone has any older laying hens, but of course, we also *need* chicks :)</p> <p>What are your fav chicken resources? We are in MT and get hot summers and cold winters. Our coop won't have power (it freaks me out as a fire hazard!) so def doing the deep litter method. Also we live on a large property so our chickens will be (mostly) free range. </p> <p>Our kids are pumped! Tell me all the things! :) </p>