The Observation Deck

Tired of the relative quiet on the 'Deck lately?

Got those Cabin Fever Blues?

Wanna express yourself again?

Well, here's your opportunity!

Let's take a new look at that "Chicken in every pot" proposal for Lakewood made lately, that seems to be making the rounds. You know the one- a house can have up to 4 pet chickens and resultant eggs galore.

After all, like those big shiny new 93 gallon dumpsters coming to your home soon, there are visions of clucking chickens being planned far all those yards around you.

Both of these, following the lead of our big sister next door....Cleveland.

It's nice to have someone to look up to...big sis.

Anyway, as an old Pennsylvania native, I know a thing or two about chickens....

And blacksnakes, raccoons, foxes....and let's not forget Rattis norvegicus.

(For the unwashed- the Brown, or incorrectly named Norway Rat)

A critter up to 20 inches long nose to tail tip, and capable of 5 litters a year with up to 14 pups per litter....and they love chickens.

Used to be, and still is, they love cities too.

Where we live, they do.

Not being dumb, they generally hang out in the sewers, unless there's a good reason to come up...and they do have a bodacious sense of smell.

Here chickie chickie.....

I believe it was George Santayana who offered: "Those
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Oh well, I'm sure Chef Geoff can probably come up with delicious recipes for rat; for those so inclined.

Oh mercy me...

Did I fail to mention how much snakes love chicken eggs?

Well, we should not worry overmuch I suppose...

I'm sure that there will be henhouses.

Only...

What was that tale about the fox in the henhouse?

We may have too many of them around here already.

Gary Rice wrote:After all, like those big shiny new 93 gallon dumpsters coming to your home soon, there are visions of clucking chickens being planned far all those yards around you.

Gary - the new trash containers are 96 gallon. And they are either a dull green or grey...definately not shiny


Anyone else out there know if the City of Cleveland or other locales has had an increase in it's rat population as a result of allowing chickens?

http://www.worldchanging.com/local/chic ... 07677.html

Alderman Lane is concerned with chickens because of an increased potential for spread of the avian flu virus, chicken waste attracting rats, and the illegal slaughter of chickens on residential property. While her concerns have merit, they do not logically imply the need for a city-wide ban. Avian influenza should be a more serious concern for large industrial farms, and the proliferation of rats in Chicago, unfortunately, cannot be pinned to chickens but is a much broader problem relating to the improper disposal of waste.

http://thegardencoop.com/questions.html

You say on your website "360-degree" protection from rodents and predators. What does that mean exactly?
We were leaning towards a chicken ark/tractor style coop at first, but we couldn't get past the two R's: raccoons and rats. The predators and pests you have to deal with might vary, but let's stick with these two for now. Rats will look for any hole to crawl through to get to the chickens' food, and they can squeeze their bodies really small to do it. The Garden Coop is completely enclosed, top and sides, with 1/2-inch hardware cloth. Anything wider, like poultry netting or rabbit fencing, will not keep rats out. Anything smaller, like 1/4-inch, could be too brittle. The mesh is buried a foot or more down in the ground on all sides, making tunneling a tough prospect for even the most determined rodent. (There is also a "no-dig" method for preventing tunneling in the plan.) Raccoons will dig, pry, and even undo a latch to get into your coop. Unlike rats and mice, they don't want your chicken feed. They want your chickens. That's why it's important to staple the hardware cloth properly and to use the right kind of latch on the access door and the egg door. In many cities and suburbs, that require a permit to keep chickens, a rodent-proof design is a must.

http://successwithpoultry.blogspot.com/ ... -rats.html
[quote]Know Your Enemy : Rats Here i ... ).[/quote]

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/ho ... +%20Garden

Chickens aren't just for barnyards anymore. Back-yard coops are popping up in cities and suburbs nationwide as more urbanites decide that raising their own eggs is a good thing. But some of their neighbors aren't so sure.

field rats are also a good source of nutrition. They eat mostly the same things free range chickens eat.

they say most of a wild turkey's diet is grass. it would be funny to walk down a residential street and get chased by a large heirloom turkey.

Must hide this thread from my wife for I fear coming home from work one do to a basement full of chickens.

It seems that most people fear this legislation because they envision chickens everywhere - especially next door to their home.

Let's be honest here. How many people will actually have chickens? I bet its not too many.

Not only does keeping chickens not appeal to most people, I suspect that many interested parties will change their minds once they find out the work involved. It takes time, equipment, and money to raise chickens.

This reminds me of the fear people had when homeschooling became popular and there was a fight to either allow it or restrict it. Did anyone really think there would be a mass homeschooling movement? With mothers and fathers both working, sometimes two or more jobs? Not to mention that many parents are HAPPY to send the kids away for the day for some peace and quiet.

I highly doubt that if this legislation passes that Lakewood will look like Green Acres.

Charlie,

Yes, thank you.

I too, understand that those soon-to-be-delivered trash bins are indeed 96 gallons.

I knew that, although I have indeed seen some bright glossy models of that type. That would probably be preferable, as "glossy" might allow one to wipe away errant chicken deficant easier than "dull" or "pebbled" finishes, but what do I know here?

I'm just trying to figure out whether my 93 gallon post was a typo, or whether I was making allowance for 3 gallons extra, relating to those chickens...

Considering reports regarding an alleged increase in the feral dog population in the Metroparks, they too might enjoy our new proposed hobby. (Although I remember a story that chicken bones and doggies do not agree; but tell THEM that)

Oh well, maybe we're just all cackling in the barnyard....

Besides raccoons, rats, snakes, and Gary's mention of the dogs, what about all the stray cats in Lakewood. Now I've never owned cats and do not know much about their specific diets but I know that all cats a carnivores and seeing/hearing/smelling a chicken in someone’s back yard would probably just be too good to pass up. And I don’t know about all of Lakewood but I know in my neighborhood, and many of my friends’, there is defiantly a problem with lots of stray cats.

This is not a comment so much worrying about an influx of even more cats, more than another potential problem for those waning to keep them. I personally don't have anything against this ordinance, however I do appreciate Gary bringing forward the possible problem of rat proliferation. I hope this is something that is addressed in the committee meetings and forums when discussing this possible ordinance.

Hey, I like chickens too.

Actually, I enjoy all animals, I really do.

My only point is that every living thing occupies a biosphere. Around one living thing, others gather...

Christopher's posting about cats reminds me of when I had the great thought that a goldfish pond with a cute babbling waterfall would really look great in my Lakewood backyard.

Before long, there it was. Anyone who has ever done rudimentary landscaping knows the work involved putting in a small pond and making it look as if it's been there forever.

Well there it was, a beautiful rock-lined Asian pond, replete with natural areating waterfall and a dozen happy goldfish.

The following morning, only a few white bones remained.

The pond is gone now...

The cats are still around.

Of course, if we find ourselves repelled in any way, with the discussion of rats and cats, we could always go in the direction of avian microbiologicals...

...like mites and such...

There are reasons that farm animals have historically been relegated to farms.

Gary:

Your post reminds me that there is a German folk saying, "life is like a chicken coop ladder," meaning short and messy.

In fact there's a book by Alan Dundes, Life Is Like a Chicken Coop Ladder (New York: Columbia University Press, 1984) that examines German culture through the sensibility expressed in this folklore saying.

Maybe the prophetic cartoon of Jimmyville might fly above the LO Boat a small Bullock campaign plane trailing a banner stating "Life is Like a Chicken Coop Ladder: Vote for Tom"

Cheers,

Kenneth Warren

Let me think...how many times do you think my 2 beagles and lab will break thru the invsible fence to get at the chickens? OMG they go insane for birds...Lucy just caught one the other day and decided to bring me the leftover "gift" (ewww). Oh I can't wait for this. LOL.

Hey Everyone,

I feel inspired this evening.

Truly.

Ya'll know that I am, at the last, perpetually searching for the perfect Lakewood Kumbayah moment...

And since we've seen some unfortunate discord around here lately between some of the good people in several of Lakewood's groups...

And since complementary biospheres are, oh so trendy....

Perhaps next year's LakewoodAlive Spooky Pooch Parade could be followed up with Lakewood Observer's very own Flea Circus.

Ah the synergy.

Kumbayah at last...

Perhaps the lion might not lie down with the lamb in Lakewood...

But the doggie and the flea?

Hope springs eternal.

And Ken, you always inspire me....

From a German folk song...

Die Gedanken sind frei....Thoughts are free.

Mine are merely reasonable.