Comments on: Meet the Ladies

By: Leah Shofstahl

Leah Shofstahl — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:08:00 +0000

My family isn’t vegan (I was for a year but I’m back to omni now) but we have 11 hens. The amount of money we put into them is way more than what eggs from the market would cost and it’s worth every penny. They are so much more than egg producers to us, we raised them from tiny chicks to the 3 yr old hens they are now (except two older hens we adopted) and we love them all dearly. Last month we even had Joyce, one of our two Leghorns, living in a box in the extra bathroom as we nursed her back from near death from a mystery illness. She is healthy and happy in the backyard again! I never knew chickens could have such charming and unique personalities but all our girls are awesome, even the cranky ones, hahaha.

By: knixie.net

knixie.net — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:16:00 +0000

I have had a lot of pet chickens in my life. I LOVE THEM! It’s so fun to see other people enjoying them as pets and not food. I adore your pictures. xox

By: Courtney Jane Brown

Courtney Jane Brown — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:08:00 +0000

I’m dying to read more about them!

By: Nerdfins

Nerdfins — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:04:04 +0000

You chickens are so cute! I can’t wait to move somewhere where I have my own backyard so I can raise some of my own.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:06:03 +0000

Sayward wrote: “I’d love to see people adopting rescue hens and giving them homes for the same reasons that people adopt dogs and cats – because they are awesome animals and they deserve to live happy, healthy lives!”
———-
Sayward, I love this. Speaking as someone who helps with bird rescue in the SF Bay Area, there are never, ever enough homes for rescued birds, whether they’re chickens, king pigeons (raised for squab), or quail. Thanks for advocating on behalf of these guys. :)

By: Sayward

Sayward — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:19:09 +0000

@ Jshan – That makes a lot of sense! Especially since we did it for very, very little ($300 is crazy!). I guess sharing my experience of how to do it cheaply-but-efficiently could help make it seem more possible for those who want to adopt but feel like it’s a huge endeavor. Great food for thought, thanks for bringing this up. =)

By: Jshan

Jshan — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:36:49 +0000

Sayward, yes of course it makes sense, esp. coming from you, that cost is an objective of yours which falls below your ecology-oriented and compassion-based intentions . My reason for asking about costs is this: for those who want to invite hens into their lives (me included) it’s helpful to have some idea of what-all might be required. Costs are one of those basic matters that can make it a go-go or a no-go. If I knew I could afford it – I would be one step closer! Glad you’ll think about it!

By: Sayward

Sayward — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:54:09 +0000

@ Jshan – I haven’t written about the actual cost break down, but I did do this little feature about their set-up.

I’ll have to think about an article like that. The thing is, I don’t advocate people buying hens as a means of getting eggs (like I wouldn’t encourage someone to buy a dog just to act as a guard dog). I’d love to see people adopting rescue hens and giving them homes for the same reasons that people adopt dogs and cats – because they are awesome animals and they deserve to live happy, healthy lives!

It may seem like a minor distinction, but to me the framing is very important. Thinking in terms of ‘cost for eggs’ is just not the perspective that I come from. Does that make sense?

By: Jshan

Jshan — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:40:12 +0000

Sayward, have you posted yet about all the costs and labor involved in starting your flock of hens? I’ve heard people say things like ‘by the time you get everything bought and setup, the cost of your first egg is about $300 US’.

So,QUESTION: Will you tell us about all the planning gathering and labor you did to get setup, and what your total costs were?

By: Sayward

Sayward — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:42:13 +0000

@ Krisann – We feed them right back to the hens! They adore them and I figure the eggs are theirs anyways. =)