Protein from free-range chicken eggs

Raising free-range chickens for their eggs--- a good idea in the spring that turned into a bad idea by fall..the cost of feed, electricity, landscape demolishment, and more makes the price per dozen of our eggs higher than the most expensive eggs you can find at any organic, health food store in any city, any state, anywhere. As history has it in our marriage, DH does all the work and I do all the complaining and do I ever have the complaints. There is chicken poop in every possible spot within fifty feet of our home--the deck, the garage floor, the barns, the driveway, the machinery, and walkways. Chickens have scratched-up grass, flowers, wood chips, and anything they can find. One of the female chicks ended up being a rooster who thinks it's his duty is to crow loudly, mate, and chase humans non-stop. The last straw was when walking out to the cattle pasture, I witnessed chickens pecking at cow pies; DH has tried to convince me they only consume the bugs and worms on top but I think our chickens are TOO-free-range. The idea to be the farmer's wife who gathers eggs in her apron is only for the storybooks.

Chickens are great. Between the fresh eggs, meat, and bug control.

I have raised chickens for 10 years for both eggs and meat. Mine only free range when I am home as there are too many critters looking for a free meal. My chickens do go in the horse paddock and can disperse a pile of manure in less than 40seconds. They are just looking for bugs, unprocessed grain and the such.

You could have hubby build a nice big enclosure so they are all over place. It gives them the chance to free-range, but still are in a secure pen.

If my girls are out and I call them they come a running. Funniest dam thing a chicken running with its wings spread like its going to take flight.

You sound just like my husband. He gleams with pride and accomplishment with every egg "his girls" lay. He ignores the mess, isn't mortified like I am when a neighbor puts on the car brakes stopping for a chicken acting like "king, correction, queen of the county road," is oblivious to the constant crowing and is the only human the rooster doesn't chase. Okay Ladygodiva, I do agree it's funny to watch them run, especially the one chicken who's hind quarters are dirty black from getting underneath a piece of oily farm machinery. Ending on a positive note, between the chicken poop piles and pecked-to-death pumpkins on our door step, the trick-or-treaters will be scared without us even having to try.

Your husband needs to contain them better. If they are getting into the road then yes they are too free-ranged. As for the rooster feel free to take a broom or hell even a 2x4 and show him who is boss.

I raised Black Copper Maran and Americana chickens for a few years because people loved the dark mohagany and blue/green eggs they laid and the chicks. I had three roosters at one point and one was a complete ***** He would go after everyone and everything even my horses. I was having a bad day and that asshole decided to bust my balls and tried several times to spur me. I grabbed the closest thing which was an old piece of 2x4 and swung. He went flying a good 30ft in the air and then dropped to the ground. My husband looked at him and said he was dead. I said good, then the dam thing jumped up and proceeded to come after me again. I will tell you he tasted real good that night as deep fried chicken. My husband never saw me dispatch and process a chicken so fast. I do not like mean, aggressive animals.

If he isn't already tell your husband to go on backyardchickens.com. There is a ton of great information and different ways to contain the flock better.

Who was it that said something like "You can get more with a kind word and a two-by-four than with just a kind word."

Do you mind if I just copy/paste this post and send it to my husband? He wants chickens and this is exactly why I don't. Proof that I am right!! LOL

This was funny. I understand sometimes that chickens have accidents involving an axe. I also hear they are quite tasty.

they also fly their prissy butts over into dog fences where the dogs think they are squeaky toys.

It's kinda true. They do squeak -- for a while.

totally true,but only for a VERY short time with my dogs. ð??"