Raising chickens?

carmen · 06-15-2012, 12:17 PM

Does anyone here raise them? My mother in law is trying to talk us into it since we have the room but I am honestly thinking its going to be a bigger mess than anything. The other deal is I have no idea how to have them as little egg makers rather than dinner.

dinosaur · 06-16-2012, 07:13 AM

Chickens are easy but there are many things to consider. You'll need to build or buy a chicken coop. You need a nesting box in that coop for every hen. You only need one rooster but make sure he isn't an egg eater. Don't buy any "meat birds". These are bigger birds bred for their size but they have a tendency to be cannibalistic. Make sure there is a water source. If you have a large compound, buy a pair of geese. They'll keep the raptors out and the opossum which are egg stealers. The geese will also create a ruckus when a predator is close. And in the Spring you'll get goose eggs. One of those will make an omelet for three people.

My personal favorite hen is the Rhode Island Red but Buff Orphingtons and Barred Rock hens are also good. Look around your area for a place that does livestock auctions. These are generally held once a week and you can pick up hens for anywhere from 2 to 5 dollars apiece. A good hen will lay an egg a day so don't get too many unless you are planning to go into the egg business.

Chickens can make a mess but they have other benefits. They will eat every insect that comes close enough including ticks. The area of the compound will also be weed free. Unfortunately it will also be grass free. If you have a lawn, throw them the fresh grass clippings when you mow. You can also run them out onto your lawn during the day and they'll clean up some insects. Getting them back into the pen is just a matter of putting some corn in a small bucket and shaking it while walking into the pen. They'll follow you.

If you're still serious, let me know and I'll give you some tricks for cheap feeding and some other things you should and should not do.

eyebp · 06-16-2012, 06:02 PM

They're a pain in the butt and nasty. But fresh eggs are delicious. Weigh dealing with nasty and your desire to have great eggs. Whichever way the scale teeters is your answer.

Theosus · 06-16-2012, 08:39 PM

I tried....

I bought ten biddies from the hatchery. Two weeks later I bought ten more. Two weeks after that I went back to buy more and the guy asked how my chickens were doing.

I told him I was having really bad luck. I keep planting them, but not a single one has come up.

**CozInCowtown** · 06-17-2012, 10:20 AM

*HERE* is a great resoure to find more information.
We order from these folks exclusively and have never had any type of problem.
Order the paper catalog, it is free and a joy to set and read!
We run Lakenvelders and Dorkings.
>
Preditors will probably be your biggest problem, get ready to start shooting dogs, coyotes, bobcats, possums and other chicken killers.
This may **** off the neighbors so let them know before you get started what you may need to do to protect your property.
If a dog gets in your chickens on your property then shoot it. Chicken on somebody elses property then you should have kept your chicken home and your loss.
DC

jason · 06-18-2012, 11:22 AM

No chickens yet, but would like to. It may be a few years out still.

wvbreamfisherman · 06-18-2012, 02:32 PM

LOL one thing to remember- roosters crow at dawn...and mid morning...and noon...and midafternoon...and evening...and midnight....

Hopefully you'll have neighbors that tolerate it...

3ofusnow · 06-18-2012, 09:19 PM

We can't have chickens because we are too close to the city limits, but I always wanted to. Right now we are getting set up for meat rabbits, and our hutch is almost complete.

monde · 06-29-2012, 01:14 AM

We tried to raise two chickens a long time ago. I was in high school back then. It was painful for me when I heard them scream while they were slaughtered. I would never keep a pet that will be slaughtered and be eaten when it grows matured.

dinosaur · 06-29-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monde

We tried to raise two chickens a long time ago. I was in high school back then. It was painful for me when I heard them scream while they were slaughtered.

Uhhhhhh......I don't think those were chickens. When you slit a chicken's throat, it doesn't scream. It gurgles a bit but it's pretty quiet.