Live Chickens on Boats

[lancelots]

Has anyone kept live chickens aboard their boat?

I found one story on the web of a little kid keeping three, until two turned out to be male, and she mentioned that her mother used to keep them as well.

I’m sure it would create headaches but think of the fresh eggs.

Maybe bantams?

I wonder what port problems would occur.

[gonesail]

could you have a cow too? just for milk ..

[sabray]

having worked with these beasts "the chicken" I would never have them aboard. you can take their eggs and preserve them with Vaseline. but never would want these fowl on a boat. Kinda like saying cows give us milk should I sail with one?

[Mimsy]

I take it you've never been around chickens? Chickens do not smell nice. I'd rather have to deal with the unpleasantness that is powdered eggs rather than chicken stench in a small, enclosed area.

[Blue Stocking]

Why did the chicken cross the cockpit---

[lancelots]

Perhaps jungle fowl

[lancelots]

Guinea fowl

[Maren]

We just got through prototyping a farm using chickens. I think you might consider either a very small bantam like a cochin or, better yet, a quail such as a chinese quail.

Quail would be better since you don't need any sort of specialized feed like paying pellets. Just scraps, birdseed and ground up fish bones for the calcium.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. For the amount, of feed and aggravation, you don't get that many eggs unless you go with a chicken such as an australorps, which can lay about an egg a day.

[lancelots]

Thanks Maren

[Maren]

Originally Posted by lancelots

Thanks Maren

Yeah, no worries. Glad you found it of use.

Guinea fowl. Beautiful birds but damn loud! On the plus side though, good at ridding an area of ticks. Not so much a problem on a boat but if yours gets infested with ticks, you'll know the bird to get.

[lancelots]

Originally Posted by Maren

Yeah, no worries. Glad you found it of use.

Guinea fowl. Beautiful birds but damn loud! On the plus side though, good at ridding an area of ticks. Not so much a problem on a boat but if yours gets infested with ticks, you'll know the bird to get.

Good with snakes too! In case of attack by Sea Snake, I'd be safe.

[lancelots]

The added bonus of raising quail is their pleasing voices. They are not raucous and shrill like chickens and listening to them coo and whistle to one another can be very soothing after a stressful day.

[Blue Stocking]

---however, if you could harness ducks, you would have larger eggs, and an auxiliary tow.

[serah]

How would they take to foul weather? With their coop being heeled over (gimballed perches perhaps?) What about spray? Or perhaps you would consider having them at the dock? Just see how your marina's management would take to that! We're not even allowed to keep dinghies in the water, nevermind chickens on deck!
`
I hold that chickens may be among the dumbest animals on the planet. Anything that is too stupid to move out from underneath my feet as I'm walking deserves no place on my boat.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by lancelots

Has anyone kept live chickens aboard their boat?

I found one story on the web of a little kid keeping three, until two turned out to be male, and she mentioned that her mother used to keep them as well.

I’m sure it would create headaches but think of the fresh eggs.

Maybe bantams?

I wonder what port problems would occur.

You didn't do a search did you?

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ard-37083.html

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...oard-6858.html


The upshot seems to be that the anyone who has kept chickens on land has no desire to keep them onboard............. or the reason they left land was - no chickens