FAQ
How do I prepare for a chicken visit?
We do need to have a pesticide/herbicide/fertilizer free yard for the hens. If your yard has any of these then we would ask that you please notify us and we would be happy to reschedule anywhere from 3wks to 2 months out to assure the safety of the birds. We come with our fencing to help corral the birds. It's always helpful to water the day before so the garden is moist when the hens are there. This increases the pests they find. Please also make sure any pets are kept securely inside for the duration of the visit. If there are any fragile or high value garden treats (berries, seedlings, produce, etc) that you want to make sure the hens don't peck you can throw a sheet over the area and they won't pay it any mind. We will always come illness free and wear masks and encourage you to let us know if there is any illness in your household and we would be happy to reschedule.
Are the chickens safe?
We do everything in our power to make sure the chickens have a healthy diet both in your yard and at their home. We will always check the weather and schedule accordingly, and if a variable changes then we will reschedule at no cost to you. When being transported the chickens are constantly monitored to make sure they do not overheat and they have constant access to water. We have fencing if needed to contain them but rest assured that chickens are communal animals and do not scatter. They have been hand raised and are very used to handling so are not stressed in the least by being moved about. An attendant will always be with them to watch out for their welfare.
What happens if a chicken gets loose?
These are very tame chickens. They are easily herded back into an area and we do everything in our power to keep them out of hard to retrieve locations in the first place. They have also been trained to come back to the transport cage (with watermelon rinds) so when they see the others do this they often walk right over and follow suit.
Will I get in trouble for having chickens in my yard?
Are the chickens noisy/smelly?
Currently it is against bylaw to keep chickens inside the city limits but there is no bylaw for visiting chickens. These chickens do not spend the night inside the city. If you are worried about your neighbors we encourage you to talk to them prior to our visit to assuage any worries they may have and let them know what to expect. Our chickens are not noisy, and are quick at their work, and will not be there long enough to make your yard smelly. Most do not notice they were there (except for the lack of pests) by the next day. You can also spray down the area they were in after to wash in the droppings and dissuade flies.
Will the chickens eat my garden?
Although chickens do eat pretty much anything, they will definitely focus on bugs before produce. If you are worried about a wayward peck or have high value treats like berries that you want to keep protected then you can cover them with a sheet and the chickens will ignore them. We recommend that seedlings be around 2 inches minimum or be covered. The chickens can still scratch into the soil and do some damage so areas with freshly planted seeds should be covered also.
What pests do the chickens eat?
Mainly we have been focusing on slugs but I have seen the chickens eat centipedes, millipedes, dew worms, aphids, flea beetles, june bugs, isopods, spiders, ground beetles, and ants. We did a pilot for ants in 2020 and even though the chickens circled around the ant hill while we disturbed it and they pecked away for 30 solid minutes it didn't really seem to do much a of a dent. But that was after one visit so it's possible that repeat visits would make more of an impact.
What are you doing to prevent COVID spread?
Because this is a family business we take this seriously also. We will remain outside, and we will wear a mask whenever possible, and we encourage you to do so if you would like. We will NEVER come to an appointment with symptoms and encourage you to reschedule at no cost at ANYTIME if anyone in your family has symptoms as well. I have received my first vaccine and will get my second as it becomes available.
Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any further questions!
We do need to have a pesticide/herbicide/fertilizer free yard for the hens. If your yard has any of these then we would ask that you please notify us and we would be happy to reschedule anywhere from 3wks to 2 months out to assure the safety of the birds. We come with our fencing to help corral the birds. It's always helpful to water the day before so the garden is moist when the hens are there. This increases the pests they find. Please also make sure any pets are kept securely inside for the duration of the visit. If there are any fragile or high value garden treats (berries, seedlings, produce, etc) that you want to make sure the hens don't peck you can throw a sheet over the area and they won't pay it any mind. We will always come illness free and wear masks and encourage you to let us know if there is any illness in your household and we would be happy to reschedule.
Are the chickens safe?
We do everything in our power to make sure the chickens have a healthy diet both in your yard and at their home. We will always check the weather and schedule accordingly, and if a variable changes then we will reschedule at no cost to you. When being transported the chickens are constantly monitored to make sure they do not overheat and they have constant access to water. We have fencing if needed to contain them but rest assured that chickens are communal animals and do not scatter. They have been hand raised and are very used to handling so are not stressed in the least by being moved about. An attendant will always be with them to watch out for their welfare.
What happens if a chicken gets loose?
These are very tame chickens. They are easily herded back into an area and we do everything in our power to keep them out of hard to retrieve locations in the first place. They have also been trained to come back to the transport cage (with watermelon rinds) so when they see the others do this they often walk right over and follow suit.
Will I get in trouble for having chickens in my yard?
Are the chickens noisy/smelly?
Currently it is against bylaw to keep chickens inside the city limits but there is no bylaw for visiting chickens. These chickens do not spend the night inside the city. If you are worried about your neighbors we encourage you to talk to them prior to our visit to assuage any worries they may have and let them know what to expect. Our chickens are not noisy, and are quick at their work, and will not be there long enough to make your yard smelly. Most do not notice they were there (except for the lack of pests) by the next day. You can also spray down the area they were in after to wash in the droppings and dissuade flies.
Will the chickens eat my garden?
Although chickens do eat pretty much anything, they will definitely focus on bugs before produce. If you are worried about a wayward peck or have high value treats like berries that you want to keep protected then you can cover them with a sheet and the chickens will ignore them. We recommend that seedlings be around 2 inches minimum or be covered. The chickens can still scratch into the soil and do some damage so areas with freshly planted seeds should be covered also.
What pests do the chickens eat?
Mainly we have been focusing on slugs but I have seen the chickens eat centipedes, millipedes, dew worms, aphids, flea beetles, june bugs, isopods, spiders, ground beetles, and ants. We did a pilot for ants in 2020 and even though the chickens circled around the ant hill while we disturbed it and they pecked away for 30 solid minutes it didn't really seem to do much a of a dent. But that was after one visit so it's possible that repeat visits would make more of an impact.
What are you doing to prevent COVID spread?
Because this is a family business we take this seriously also. We will remain outside, and we will wear a mask whenever possible, and we encourage you to do so if you would like. We will NEVER come to an appointment with symptoms and encourage you to reschedule at no cost at ANYTIME if anyone in your family has symptoms as well. I have received my first vaccine and will get my second as it becomes available.
Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any further questions!