Candace Godwin: I've been raising chickens in mid-town CdA since 2008 and blog about urban chicken keeping and gardening on The Coeur d Alene Coop (dot com). Raising chickens is fun and easy, but there are a few considerations before you jump into your first flock. What's your motivation? It's far cheaper to buy organic eggs from the farmers market (believe me!). Just because you think it's a good idea, doesn't mean your neighbor will. Don't forget about urban predators -- your flock needs to be safe a secure. What about the "end-of-productivity" plan; when your chickens stop laying. Will it be stew, fry or roast? (Don't even think the Humane Society!) And, of course, the daily responsibility of caring for an animal. Read all you can about raising chickens, and really think about the commitment, before you come home with an armful of "buy 2, get 1 free!" chicks from the feed store.

Question: I haven't been a fan of chickens since I was attacked by a mother hen was I was 3 or 4 years old. I grew up on ranchers that had too many of the foul creatures. However, I was eating organic eggs before they were fashionable. What do you think of the warnings issued by Candace?