Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

Really a very serious question. Do I need to follow-up on the Politics of the day or study the art of raising chickens? My youngest has moved back home, the chick has come home to roost.(Thank God I have two homes on my 2.5 acres) She is wanting to raise chickens. So, back to farming 101? I have raised ducks for racing, Geese for guarding, rabbits for eating, horses for riding, but never chickens. I have a garden, a fish pond and have knowledge of both....but chickens not a bit of knowledge exempt that that is where that white thing I crack open daily for breakfest comes from. So, really want some advise, as my husband only say it would be interesting, come on I need some insight....really, Interesting?????

Rufus Loc: Deep South

I only have had experience with laying hens. What I learned was to keep them safe from predators, and give them plenty of feed and lots of water and they will produce. Good luck. Shalom.

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

**********************************
Rufus, this what she plans on buying. She is going down today to get the coop. We have plenty of room for free ranging, secure perimeter, several water sources, so any other suggestions? She plans on getting the chicks early next month, which I feel is to early. What say you.

JMHO Loc: Utah

Some magazines I subscribe to that have lots of info on raising chickens, etc.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/

http://www.grit.com/

http://www.backwoodshome.com/

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

******************************
Thanks, didn't realize that there was this kinda info out there, maybe raisin' chickens won't interfer with me bothering all of YOU!!! hehehehe :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

JMHO Loc: Utah

I live on 20-acres off-grid, so I find these publications invaluable. I haven't got into raising chickens yet, but Have thought about it. Good luck with your endeavor.

Rufus Loc: Deep South

I wish I had more to offer, but truly don't. A little over 30 years ago I had 64 laying hens in Belize, Central America. We had a nice size hut. One night I was walking back from the creek after bathing and came face to face with a jaguar. Luckily he ran off. He had torn a hole in the chicken house and was just about to have the dinner of his life. I'm sure their are others on here that know a lot about raising chickens. Why don't you Google raising chickens. Probably a bunch of info available. I will say a special chicken prayer.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Shalom.

missinglink Loc: Tralfamadore

A new adventure. Coop cleaning at my grandparents was an annual event back in the 50's. I gladly did that chore for my gramps as I was the only candidate. In retrospect it was no big deal. At the time I remember after the third or fourth shovel full my gag reflex would decrease once my sense of smell had been appropriately fried.

But really. Surf the web. I am sure you could find all the knowledge required. One thing for certain and do not forget this. It's the best advice you will get. Build the coop well down wind !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun
P.S.
Do not eat your good layers. In short order you will have names for them and give them special treatment. As you should. :D :D :D

missinglink Loc: Tralfamadore

Rufus, you are a man of a thousand faces. I enjoy your revolving avatar.

Blacksheep

I raise chickens, they're easy, and easier if you give them lots of room to move rather than keep them in little cages.

First, you need a hen house. Build it on stilts or in some way that the chickens are up off the ground inside. Easiest way is to just Google up henhouse plans.
Baby chicks need to be kept warm and indoors until they're big enough to go outside. Wait until they're fully feathered, no more fuzz. They need a constant supply of fresh water, and sand or fine gravel for their craws.

To get them to use the hen house, you need to put a light inside it for 3 nights. They will go inside, attracted to the light. After 3 nights you can take the light out and they'll always go in when it gets dark after that.

For grown hens, you feed Laying Crumbles or Laying Pellets to promote egg laying. Use a feeder with round holes to access the food, otherwise they'll kick it out all over the ground with their beaks and feet, and then crap all over it.

Laying hens can get broody, meaning they'll want to sit on the eggs and hatch them. If you have a rooster and want chicks, that's fine, but you have to separate the broody hen from the others in a separate coop. Otherwise she'll try to take over every single egg. Marking the eggs she's sitting on doesn't work, the chickens will peck at the marks.

If you don't want to raise chicks, just keep taking the eggs out from under the broody hen and eventually she'll give up, but better wear a glove until she does if you have tender skin. She'll object.

In really cold climates it's a good idea to put in one of those cheap little thermostat heaters and set it to low, just enough to take the edge off the freeze. Chickens grow heavy insulation in winter but can still freeze if it's cold enough. In hot weather they need shade. I put my hen house on stilts as they go under it for the shade, and put their feeder under it as well to keep the rain off it.

When the season warms up, chickens molt, shed their feathers, and the hens will stop laying during molt. Most hens will lay for about 3 years and then slow down. Chickens can actually live for 10 or 12 years, but don't fall in love with them or you'll end up with lots of tough old birds and no eggs. If you want a steady supply of eggs, get new hen chicks every year OR get one rooster. Roosters will crow at all hours. Most will just start crowing about an hour before sunrise and then keep up the racket all day, but some will crow during the wee hours, and the way to solve that is by having chicken for dinner.

If you want a rooster, don't put the chicken coop too close to your home. The smell of that pen won't be all that sweet anyway. Downwind is good, just like a pig pen.

Chickens will eat just about anything, all your table scraps, meat, veggies, wh**ever, and thrive on it. They'll keep your lawn mowed if you have enough of them, but of course they'll also destroy it digging for bugs. One chicken can dig a big hole in a very short time.

Chickens are birds. They can fly. Especially the roosters and the young hens, before they get too fat. So it's a good idea to put chicken wire over the top of the pen. Also, if you live in an area where there's raccoons, you need to get strong, heavy wire and bury the perimeter of it well into the earth, and fasten all the sides and top together with closely spaced hog rings (hog rings and ring pliers are easily had at most hardware stores) . Raccoons have hands like ours and are very strong. Once one gets inside a pen it will k**l every single bird, it doesn't matter if you have 200 of them, they'll all be dead in the morning. Don't doubt that.

I've raised a lot of chickens and have been through all the scenarios. Any questions, PM me, I'll help if I can.

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

You might hear from Loki if he sees your post. He is well known as a chicken-sitter. :-P

Rufus Loc: Deep South

:thumbup: Thank you my friend. I enjoy having a little fun. We are living in some serious times, but we have to be able to laugh. Shalom.

Blacksheep

Ooogh.

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

And how has that 'laying hens' worked out for you? Does you wife know about your extracurricular activities? :shock: :oops:

Rufus Loc: Deep South

My wife was unfaithful, so I had her put to sleep. Shalom.