Certainly not apartment dwellers.
I think we have about 15 Australorps right now. We need to start replacing them because they're 5 or 6 years old now. My husband made their coop from the same cedar we build everything else of around here. There's a local Amish sawmill where we get the boards cheap. We bought the hens when they were about old enough to start laying from a local here for a few bucks apiece. Vet bills? Nope. With the various animals we have here I only call the vet for an emergency and the annual teeth and sheath cleaning for the horses. I vaccinate and worm all our animals myself.
My husband does morning feeding for everyone, including letting chickens out of the coop, I do evenings and close the hens back in the coop. I clean the coop and re-bed with fresh wood shavings when it needs it. We have lost a few to predators, mostly raccoon's and hawks. They do have a fairly big pen because it used to be the donkeys'.
Like others have said, the old bedding that comes out of the coop--poop mixed with pine shavings is great for gardens. The added advantage is that you can use it right away. It doesn't have to be composted first like horse or goat poop.
Most neighborhoods don't mind a few hens. Its the ROOSTERS and the crowing that are the problem.
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