Raising chickens. Advice, comments, do's and don'ts wanted.

[ebinmaine 67,553]

4 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

. Hawk sees opportunity

Seems as though it's time for you to seriously consider an  arrangement like we have where the chickens are surrounded by a fence and roof at all times.  

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

Make barb wire coats for em 

 

sorry to hear about dolly snoop dog how old was dolly ?

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

Seems as though it's time for you to seriously consider an  arrangement like we have where the chickens are surrounded by a fence and roof at all times.  

Kinda defeats the purpose of "free range" birds though... (sigh). I did make an extremely long run that I think I posted in this thread... which I am very glad that I did. With Fall now here, the trees are getting barren... which is a definite safety issue for the birds.

 

I know that the hawk doesn't want to screw with badaz Mr. Turkey... and when Mr. Turkey is out and about I don't worry at all. Thankfully, he is behaving himself very well now, so he can be with the rest of the flock. The rooster nor the chickens are anywhere near grown... so they are targets.

 

Having said that... I think we will keep the chickens in their run until all the chickens and turkeys are up and at 'em.

 

Today should not be repeated if we can help it... (all of the chickens and turkeys are grieving...)

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

Ms. Turkey wanted to know if she got her grocery order...

 

 

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

I've got eggs coming out of my ears... literally...

 

 

Difference between turkey egg and chicken egg:

 

 

Don

[Pullstart 62,905]

Glutton for punishment?  I ordered 6 Embden geese today.  Hatch date will be 4/19/23 and they’ll ship from Idaho.  The goal is to have a sustainable brood, with ample food birds in years to come.  The first year, we’ll eat 2 or 4 of them.  The hope is with the straight run order, we’ll have a male and female or more of each…

[ebinmaine 67,553]

1 minute ago, Pullstart said:

Glutton for punishment?  I ordered 6 Embden geese today.  Hatch date will be 4/19/23 and they’ll ship from Idaho.  The goal is to have a sustainable brood, with ample food birds in years to come.  The first year, we’ll eat 2 or 4 of them.  The hope is with the straight run order, we’ll have a male and female or more of each…

 

The thought process is reasonable. 

Research (likely you already have) whether males need separation or don't mind each other's company.  

 

IIFF the males need to be alone, 

Stick with culling 2 if you get majority female. 4 if majority male.  

You can always order more.  

 

 

It'll be interesting to see your thoughts later on.  

 

 

We've thought about getting meat birds but just don't have the time... Yet.  

 

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

Apparently, they are mate birds, like swans.  One male to one female.

[Pullstart 62,905]

15 new cheepers came home from the farm store today.  Our other birds are mostly 5 years old.  A couple of them had plugged vents.  We soaked them in warm soapy dish water then massaged the poop out.  Best job ever!  They are all active and we are hoping for 1-3 roosters to expand our flock as needed.

[Pullstart 62,905]

They seem to be doing everything chickens do!  

[Pullstart 62,905]

Here’s an introduction to our new flock addition.  The oldest hens in the flock were born in spring of 2018, some time before the Big Show.  They won’t produce forever, so we are adding on.

 

 

[oliver2-44 9,756]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

 The oldest hens in the flock were born in spring of 2018, 

It time they became Chicken noodle soup

[Pullstart 62,905]

I’m sure most of it is feathers, but they already seem so big already!

 

It’s wonderous how they are created, with the smarts to dig for bugs, with instinct to find water and food.  

[Pullstart 62,905]

It’s still mind boggling to me how fast these things grow.  We got them on Sunday.  They have easily doubled in size… height length and width.  Feather growth is incredible as well!

 

I get a kick how they basically fall over for a nap too.  It’s kind of like @Achto at Symco eh @WHX???

[Pullstart 62,905]

 

[WHX?? 48,823]

11 hours ago, Pullstart said:

get a kick how they basically fall over for a nap too.  It’s kind of like @Achto at Symco eh

I took up raising these...this one is called Walter. 

[Achto 27,594]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I took up raising these

 

Now there is some good eating!!!

[Achto 27,594]

20 hours ago, Pullstart said:

It’s still mind boggling to me how fast these things grow.

 

What breed did you get? 

 

You should try some Cornish cross some time for a meat bird. Fuzz ball to table in 6 to 8 weeks.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,196]

1 minute ago, Achto said:

You should try some Cornish cross

I raised and butchered around 1000 Silver Cornish every summer during high school and college.   Peeps to fryers in 6-7 weeks.   Very heavy, hardy easy plucking bird.

The only problem I had was with thunderstorms.    They tended to stampede, pile up in a corner of the coop and would suffocate If I wasn't there to separate them.

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

41 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

What breed did you get? 

 

You should try some Cornish cross some time for a meat bird. Fuzz ball to table in 6 to 8 weeks.

 

I’d like to do meat birds some time.  These are Brahma, a dual purpose bird but we’ll mainly raise them for eggs and use the roosters to expand the flock as needed.

[Pullstart 62,905]

I tossed together a time lapse of the chickens’ life for a week.  It’s fun seeing them double in size in 7 days!

 

 

[WHX?? 48,823]

I missed it Kev what's the purpose of the chair? A Roost? 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,594]

31 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I missed it Kev what's the purpose of the chair? A Roost? 

When Mrs Pullstart gets tired of his antics, he'll have a place to sit... 

[Pullstart 62,905]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I missed it Kev what's the purpose of the chair? A Roost? 

the tote is 4’ deep.  I was born with my butt pretty close to the ground.  I need a way in and out ya know!  They tend to huddle under the chair, like it’s a pine bow.  They are a prey animal and they know it!

[Pullstart 62,905]

I’m really excited about the color patterns of these birds!  The furry feet they’ll end up with sure look silly but with short crowns, I’m looking forward to them crossing with some of the other birds we have in the coop!