Does anyone keep chickens?!!!!!

[eviletc]

what do you keep them in? are eglus any good?

do your neighbours mind?

are they a lot of hard work?

are they expensive to maintain/initially purchase?

if you have a clause in the deeds of your house saying that you can't keep hens etc, will anyone mind/tell on you?

this is all deadly serious - would love some chickens but have no idea where to start....

Another hopeful here looking for ideas and was really pleased to read through all the postings. We've already built the base for the hen house and will be building upwards this weekend hopefully. Since we have a whole acre to play with (no, we're not loaded, we live abroad where land is cheaper! ), we're thinking of enclosing quite a large area for them around the hen house to wander in. Got a few questions if there's anyone still looking at this posting... do they like apples to eat? We have loads of apple trees and there are still lots left on thr ground even now. Would be great if that was free food for them. Also, has anyone made or used something to carry/move chickens in? We thought we'd vary their grazing areas and move them from their enclosure to another bigger enclosed area down the garden. Do you think it would be difficult to get them in to it?