[JadeD]

My neighbor has chickens and when they go on vacation I get to go watch them. They have a fenced in yard so during the day the chickens are allowed to roam that. They got 6 last spring as chicks, their dogs got one of them while they were still little.

They bought a coop for them that they sleep in at night. They will go into it themselves as it starts to get dark and you just close the door and then open it up in the morning to let them out.

Feed is cheap and they don't need any medications. They give me about a dozen eggs about twice a month in the summer (extra over what they can use) and then in the winter about a dozen every 6 weeks, again after they use what they want/need.

As far as "hiding" them they do make noise. A rooster is very loud and as said on here, you do not need a rooster to have eggs. The hens make really cute noises in my opinion but some neighbors might hear them and report you, it really depends on your neighbors. Our rules are they can't be running loose and no roosters. I think there is a limit on how many hens you can have too, but it is like 12 or something here.

Good luck if you get them. Having a fence is good so they can't go anywhere and then just put them in the coop at night for safety and let them out in the morning. Their's lay about 1 egg a day on average. I think they are cool and trying to talk my husband into letting me have chickens here. My neighbors are talking about moving and said I could have their coop and chickens if they move, so who knows, I might get some yet.