I went with an ask-for-forgiveness later approach. These girls are fairly quiet (when not in the process of laying eggs) and my neighbors have not turned me in. While there is a provision that one is not allowed to have livestock or roosters, my HOA allows for a reasonable number of pets in the backyard. One could argue that a pair of hens are pets and is akin to having 2 dogs.
I like to keep it clean--scoop it daily. It takes 30 seconds to scoop it up and fling it under a tree. I've never replaced the sand because it stays clean with how dry we are. They do knock some sand out, so I imagine I'll need to add a bag or 2 each year to keep it topped off.
I've been going over your videos for a few weeks. I live in southern Surprise, near Peoria Rd. We have an acre, half an acre back yard, with a lot of plants of different varieties (40-50 trees and shrubs-some edible). I have 6 incoming bamboos incoming from Florida (Wish I hadn't covered the back with granite). Anyway, regarding your chickens, I want to mention that though the yard is surrounded with a 6 foot block wall, I have seen coyotes in the yard-can easily jump the wall. and supposedly there has been a bobcat or two seen in the neighborhood, so dogs and cats may not be the only threat. A decade or so, there were a few pumas on the west side of the White Tank Mountains....haven't heard anything more recent. Your vids are excellently informative. Thanks.
Thanks! The bamboo is going to be amazing as they mature. Very true; especially if you live right up against the mountains, mountain lions and coyotes are around and will take chickens and even small dogs. Definitely best to have your animals in a predator-safe enclosure.
" Tractor supply chicks are like a box of chocolates.....you never know what you are going to get ! ".....:) Our chickens like a wading water pan.....about 1 in of water.......My chickens kept digging up roots around our fig trees. I now have pallet like boardwalks around where they are not to dig......acts as a mini compost pile underneath boards also. Nothing like booking over a dark path and stepping in a new chicken hole.....lol I put a compost pile box in a chicken run .....they turn it over for me....:) awww.....did you give the other hen a fig also?
Very true! Thanks for sharing the boardwalk idea! Yes Poor Katherine was the smaller of the two from the beginning so she often is not quick enough to grab the goods before her sister but she definitely got her share too
Thank you for a simple and straightforward video about backyard chickens! I have a nice shady spot in my yard where I could put chickens should we decide to pull the trigger.
Glad it helps! From a financial standpoint, it's a hefty upfront investment; not for the chicks but for everything you'll need to keep them healthy and happy throughout their lives. I've now spent around $1K; it will take awhile to recoop that cost. Plus their regular feed and bedding costs wipe out any savings on buying eggs or manure/fertilizer. Also since I filmed this I gave up on free ranging and now have them in an enclosed pen due to their destruction of my young plants and also predator danger. My reason for getting hens was self-sufficiency so I did not have to depend on stores but it does come at financial and time costs. I would say that if you struggle to find free time, chickens may not be a good fit as they'll place some new demands on your time
Every HOA is different. Mine has no set rule against keeping chickens in the backyard as long as you keep to only having a reasonable number (like having a pet), their housing is not visible, area is kept clean, and they don't make unreasonable noise. At 2 hens, the noise from my yard is less than my neighbors with dogs. It's when people get roosters or a large number of hens where the neighbors could rightly be upset about noise and get the HOA involved.
I am soooo glad you’re back! Your videos are always so informational. I’ve been thinking about adding chickens too and you covered all my questions and were, as usual, honest in sharing the pros along with things to consider. Thank you! I live in Mesa and always look forward to your content.
Seeing that chicken run off with the fig, I imagine they do a good job of cleaning up fallen fruit. Seems like that would be an added benefit, keeping rodents and other pests at bay.
So far they love and will jump and try to pull off and eat pomegranate, figs, acerola and all berries from the trees. They will eat apples also but they stay away from citrus, guava, peaches, apricot, longan, and white sapote all together. Chickens will kill mice if they get the chance
Well put together and well thought out. Can see the bean counter coming out 🤭😉… how are the fishies doing? Stay safe and stay cool. Cheers
Can't wait to see you add some ducks, geese, goats, and a donkey to protect them in your back yard.
Chickens took some adjustment. While it would be something to see ducks or geese in my pool, I'll pass!
I wish my HOA allowed me to have chickens. Did you have to request approval to have chickens?
I went with an ask-for-forgiveness later approach. These girls are fairly quiet (when not in the process of laying eggs) and my neighbors have not turned me in. While there is a provision that one is not allowed to have livestock or roosters, my HOA allows for a reasonable number of pets in the backyard. One could argue that a pair of hens are pets and is akin to having 2 dogs.
How often do you scoop their poop out of the sand and how often do you just replace all the sand entirely?
I like to keep it clean--scoop it daily. It takes 30 seconds to scoop it up and fling it under a tree. I've never replaced the sand because it stays clean with how dry we are. They do knock some sand out, so I imagine I'll need to add a bag or 2 each year to keep it topped off.
what's that mister ? great idea
It's an XPOWER 3-Speed Portable Outdoor Cooling Misting Fan I got from Home Depot. Awesome fan--linked it in the description.
I like scorpions
As do my chickens!
Welcome back.
I've been going over your videos for a few weeks. I live in southern Surprise, near Peoria Rd. We have an acre, half an acre back yard, with a lot of plants of different varieties (40-50 trees and shrubs-some edible). I have 6 incoming bamboos incoming from Florida (Wish I hadn't covered the back with granite). Anyway, regarding your chickens, I want to mention that though the yard is surrounded with a 6 foot block wall, I have seen coyotes in the yard-can easily jump the wall. and supposedly there has been a bobcat or two seen in the neighborhood, so dogs and cats may not be the only threat. A decade or so, there were a few pumas on the west side of the White Tank Mountains....haven't heard anything more recent. Your vids are excellently informative. Thanks.
Thanks! The bamboo is going to be amazing as they mature. Very true; especially if you live right up against the mountains, mountain lions and coyotes are around and will take chickens and even small dogs. Definitely best to have your animals in a predator-safe enclosure.
" Tractor supply chicks are like a box of chocolates.....you never know what you are going to get ! ".....:) Our chickens like a wading water pan.....about 1 in of water.......My chickens kept digging up roots around our fig trees. I now have pallet like boardwalks around where they are not to dig......acts as a mini compost pile underneath boards also. Nothing like booking over a dark path and stepping in a new chicken hole.....lol I put a compost pile box in a chicken run .....they turn it over for me....:) awww.....did you give the other hen a fig also?
Very true! Thanks for sharing the boardwalk idea! Yes Poor Katherine was the smaller of the two from the beginning so she often is not quick enough to grab the goods before her sister but she definitely got her share too
Thank you for a simple and straightforward video about backyard chickens! I have a nice shady spot in my yard where I could put chickens should we decide to pull the trigger.
Glad it helps! From a financial standpoint, it's a hefty upfront investment; not for the chicks but for everything you'll need to keep them healthy and happy throughout their lives. I've now spent around $1K; it will take awhile to recoop that cost. Plus their regular feed and bedding costs wipe out any savings on buying eggs or manure/fertilizer. Also since I filmed this I gave up on free ranging and now have them in an enclosed pen due to their destruction of my young plants and also predator danger. My reason for getting hens was self-sufficiency so I did not have to depend on stores but it does come at financial and time costs. I would say that if you struggle to find free time, chickens may not be a good fit as they'll place some new demands on your time
Question... how did you convinced the HOA?
Every HOA is different. Mine has no set rule against keeping chickens in the backyard as long as you keep to only having a reasonable number (like having a pet), their housing is not visible, area is kept clean, and they don't make unreasonable noise. At 2 hens, the noise from my yard is less than my neighbors with dogs. It's when people get roosters or a large number of hens where the neighbors could rightly be upset about noise and get the HOA involved.
do you play clash of clan?
I do not; the yard and chickens keep me too busy for games
I'm so jealous of your coop its lovely!! Tractor Supply near me only carries teeny tiny ones for like $600!!!
And that misting fan is so cool, incredible video!!
Thanks! Prices sure have gone UP! You are right--that Petmate Superior coop is now $599 at TS and double what I paid 2 years ago
I am soooo glad you’re back! Your videos are always so informational. I’ve been thinking about adding chickens too and you covered all my questions and were, as usual, honest in sharing the pros along with things to consider. Thank you! I live in Mesa and always look forward to your content.
Seeing that chicken run off with the fig, I imagine they do a good job of cleaning up fallen fruit. Seems like that would be an added benefit, keeping rodents and other pests at bay.
So far they love and will jump and try to pull off and eat pomegranate, figs, acerola and all berries from the trees. They will eat apples also but they stay away from citrus, guava, peaches, apricot, longan, and white sapote all together. Chickens will kill mice if they get the chance
@@EnlightenmentGarden Yes, I saw that slo-mo jump attack. Very entertaining. Too bad they don't clean up more windfall.
Please do an update on your multigrafted pomegranate tree. Would be interesting to know which varieties were the best.
Great idea for a November video when they ripen. This is the first year the new grafts were allowed to hold fruit towards ripening.