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3 Nov ’12
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I'm looking to start my flock this spring.
I have a small coop and I'm going to be building a run to attach and make it into a small tractor.
Can anyone give me some instruction on the best way to acquire chickens?
I'd like to start with three egg layers.
Is it better to order on line? I know the local Tractor Supply sells chicks for a few weeks every spring, but I dont know what the selection is as far as sex/breed of the chicks.
15 Feb ’12
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I have never ordered online, interested to hear others experiences with it
11 Mar ’12
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I'm looking to start my flock this spring.
I have a small coop and I'm going to be building a run to attach and make it into a small tractor.
Can anyone give me some instruction on the best way to acquire chickens?
I'd like to start with three egg layers.
Is it better to order on line? I know the local Tractor Supply sells chicks for a few weeks every spring, but I dont know what the selection is as far as sex/breed of the chicks.
There are good mail order fowl companies out there. They usually have a price for a mixed run, and a price for sexed. I used to be able to sex them but my brain doesn't even remember how right now.
If you get them from tractor supply, you are taking your chance as far as sex goes.
When you get peeps, the need a heat source for a while. A Rubbermaid bin with a l
Heat lamp on one side works well. They need to choose weather they need the heat or not so don't heat the whole box. It is easy to cook them!
If you get them in the mail, as soon as you take them out, you have to dip their beaks in the watered to be sure they learn how to drink. Do the same with the peep food. It is something the learn from their mamas.
Before you decide on three hens, how many eggs do you eat a week? Hens have an average of 80 eggs in their lifetime. They don't necessarily lay an egg a day. They will lay more in the summer when the days are longer. Some stop laying all together in the winter.
People use lights to prolong the days to get more eggs in the winter. I prefer mine to have that rest period.
Also be aware that chickens have a high turn over rate. Even very secure pens can get invaded.
I think it is worth getting more than you need. They are easy to take care of and you can always sell the extra eggs.
A good rooster keeps the hens happy, and you can grow your own peeps!
I LOVE CHICKENS! They are very entertaining!
Be RADICAL Grow Food
15 Feb ’12
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a run will help offset the size of the coop, I can't remember off the top of my head the recommended square footage per bird, I believe it's 3-4 square feet of space to keep them from fighting. We get our birds from our local feed store, you can order them in early may and mid june, they guarantee 99% pullets. Like Spotted said, heat has to be just right, to high and the birds all sit under the lamp, to low and they all sit as far away as possible, just right and they will kind of just be wandering all over the place
you can see in this pic the lamp is to high, they are all sitting under it trying to get warm
so we lowered it some and then they started jumping out, so we had to put some wire across the top
this was just temporary while we are building the coop, which took longer than planned so after a few days I wrapped the dogs kennel
and moved them in there
I dad put a perch in there for them, he was excited when they started using it
once the coop was done we moved the whole unit into it and packed straw around it to keep any breeze off the chicks, which is a concern
once they got big, we took them out and just kept a heat lamp in there until their feathers had all filled out
we have only lost one chicken to a skunk, they have been a pleasure to have, we currently have 4 birds and will probably be getting 24 more in the spring, these 4 we currently have will go in the freezer
Spotted Horses is a great resource for chickens, she helped me when i was having a couple issues last year, any questions just fire away
3 Nov ’12
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That's great advice, SH.
I am really looking forward to getting started with the chickens. I have a small coop that's not really fit for more than three birds. I'm hoping that the run I build on the tractor will compensate for the close quarters. We eat about a dozen eggs a week, so three hens should hopefully cover our needs. It's going to be a learning experience, but if things work out I will probably try to build a larger coop and expand the flock. Thanks again for the tips!
31 Mar ’12
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Just remember everything loves to eat chicken.
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