| To the Editor: Chickens aren't dirty, noisy, stinky |
| Written by Kristina Nelson |
| Wednesday, 15 August 2012 08:35 |
|
To the Editor: Edward Connell, you must be misinformed about raising chickens for eggs. They are not "dirty, noisy" nor "stinky." Chickens are actually clean. They take dust baths in dirt to keep their bodies clean, and free themselves of mites, fleas, lice etc. The sound of city traffic is more annoying than the sound of a hen laying an egg, or signaling she's in danger. The smell of a neighbor's outdoor grill smoke, or cigarettes wafting into an open home window, is more annoying than the smell of a chicken coop. Chickens are not dirty if their coop is cleaned properly, and on a regular basis. Chickens are only noisy if you have a rooster. I'd rather listen to a hen clucking than hear a neighbor's dog barking. We have even raised chickens for meat, and have not been bothered by noise. As for the city to allow raising chickens in the city, I think it's a great idea. As for having a license for it - ridiculous. When our family became self-sufficient, the first thing we did was raise layers. We did not want to eat eggs that came from chickens that are pumped with drugs, antibiotics, or hormones. However, to have a chicken produce a healthy egg, the hens need a healthy diet. Many table scraps can kill chickens, such as salt, some meats, raw potatoes etc. Organic chicken feed is expensive, and regular chicken feed is processed. Chickens also need access to grit. Luckily, we live where we can free-range our chickens. Chickens can also become sick, and treating them naturally takes knowledge and wisdom. Knowing how to keep them safe from predators is also a must. With the economy in a rut, the recent increase in food contaminations, food shortages, and high prices, raising chickens for eggs, is only one step to eating healthy and providing for one's family. I'd rather get up early and cook organic (home grown) vegetables with our fresh farm eggs, along with a glass of our goat's milk any day. Otherwise, I'm dependent on driving to a store to buy chemically laden foods, milk that's not even milk anymore, and high sodium processed boxed and canned foods. Everyone will have an opinion on any type of self-sufficient living, but cleanliness, and healthy animal feed, is the key to raising animals for any type of food. Self-sufficiency lifestyle is not simple either, it's hard work. Kristina Nelson Wayne |
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Comments
Can I have another "cluck-cluck"!!
They also attract other critters that eat chickens like the plague, coons especially which are known for carrying rabies and a flesh eating mite.
I also can't think of many yards round town that can support the birds to free range.
Butchering a chicken is definitely not a town attraction, blood and guts and stink.
Roosters are often mean and will attack people.
Just an fyi.
Chicken crap isn't good all over side walks and porches which is where the birds will go because that's where the people will be and very often pet food.
Won't bother (I have no concerns) me in the least if town has chickens, but a town so anal about dog crap is going to explode when the chicken crap hits.
I've had many chickens and look forward to the towns sensitivity's being ruffled. 90%+ roosters are mean, makes me laugh thinking about the whole scene, people being chased and all. Have at it.
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