Any Chicken Farmers?

[skeeter456]

First time ever raising chickens here, thought it was be a fun hobby. Went down to Tractor Supply and picked up the minimum they would let me buy. I ended up with 6 Black Sex Link pullets. Once they are bigger, they will be put in their coop and able to free roam. Any tips or tricks?

 

[AJL67]

This might help

Who Else Keeps Chickens? :: General Discussion

Ive found myself becoming a small farmer over the past year.. I was a construction worker, a sheetrock hanger to be exact, and my health started to fail me and I couldn't hang with the young bucks anymore. So I bought some baby chickens, with hopes of making a profit. Since that day last spring...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[pantsBoots]

First time ever raising chickens here, thought it was be a fun hobby. Went down to Tractor Supply and picked up the minimum they would let me buy. I ended up with 6 Black Sex Link pullets. Once they are bigger, they will be put in their coop and able to free roam. Any tips or tricks?

Water em regularly and keep the coop sound to protect against fox, possum, dogs, cats, coyote. They're great for reducing tick populations, if that's an issue. Also, if you end up with a rooster (it happens), make good friends with your neighbors. I personally find the sound of roosters relaxing, but my family does not and even my 6 year old is threatening to shoot the rooster at our neighbor's house.

 

[FurCoat]

Not sure about the area you live in but around here we have foxes, coyotes, hawks, raccoons and opossums. These will wreak havoc on chickens. My chickens have an enclosed coup and covered runners where the wire mesh is a foot below ground. I have spent a lot of time and money protecting my investment from the local wildlife. Depending on the predator population in your area "free range" will equate to a free meal. I know a folks who had free range chickens. The key word is "had".

 

[rmpeeps]

My niece is a chicken sitter.
So she says.

 

[SBC]

I had a skunk decapitating hens until I buried the wire a foot underground.
It was the weirdest thing ... the hen's body would look unscathed... just a cleanly missing head.
It happened a few times till we ran out at night and finally saw the skunk.
Burying the wire a foot solved that.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

We had chickens in the backyard for a few years (we live in the city, though in an old wooded neighborhood). We had so many eggs that we could barely give them away. I can't really tell the difference between a home-raised egg and the ones I buy in the store. Eggs is eggs to me, I suppose. They were really nice and golden once broken open and scrambled. I keep a pretty nice lawn anyway, but it was never nicer than when I had chickens. They were constantly scratching at it and pooping on it. It looked like a golf course. They also ate all the grubs and mosquitoes. Sadly, they also ate all the little green lizards that are so fun to have around. One night my oldest boy forgot to close the pen and something killed them all. I tore down the coop and closed that chapter. I have thought about getting a few more chickens though. It was kind of fun having them around.

 

[kcghost]

Be sure to lock them up in the evening or the varmints will be thanking you for the meal.

 

[mso489]

My wife grew up with chickens in rural northeast Missouri. She knows all about burying the wire fencing under the chicken coop. All I've done is tour the in-town coops in my city. We have extended family in New Jersey and often hear their brood foraging around over the phone.

We were intrigued to see "chicken saddles" advertised online, little capes that tie over the backs of chickens to keep them from getting bullied and pecked by other chickens. I know that's a problem, but I don't know how well the saddles work.

Everything will go after chickens -- infamously foxes, but also raccoons, possums, cats, etc. I hadn't heard of skunks before, but it figures.

Chickens don't seem like the most companionable animals, but many people get a lot of comfort from having them around and actually get attached to individual ones. I guess when you spend time with any creature, an understanding can develop, depending on your mindset.

I also hear chickens when calling the toll-free help lines for computers that are staffed in the Philippines. When I take my walk around the neighborhood, I often hear the coop up the hill on a back residential street.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Chickens don't seem like the most companionable animals, but many people get a lot of comfort from having them around and actually get attached to individual ones. I guess when you spend time with any creature, an understanding can develop, depending on your mindset.

Ours were like pets and would jump up in your lap, etc, when outside. My wife named them all too. It was sad when they were killed. They were eaten but just ripped to shreds for no apparent reason or purpose.

 

[skeeter456]

Thanks for the tips guys! I am hoping they take care of our tick population. I swear if there is a tick around it will find me. Maybe i should smoke some Samuel Gawith black XX to keep them at bay

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

We've got 30 now. We water glass the eggs, give em aways, use em any way we can. They've helped us in many ways - eat bugs, fertilize garden, and feed us. In return, keep them happy. Really, a happy chicken is much more likely to lay more. If it's a meat bird, I'll bet the meat would be better also. Feed them kitchen and table scraps. Nothing in our kitchen goes to waste not - literally nothing.
They're a great addition to any farm. You'll learn their personalities and come to enjoy that aspect also.

As far as tips and tricks, it's something you really learn as you go. Keep up with forums wherever you can. Facebook, reddit, etc. Somewhere you could upload a photo and ask a question about. And read about your specific breed. Those two things will really put you ahead.

Lastly, about the roaming. Ours roam free and get cooped at different times. Just know if they roam free, they will poop everywhere and on anything peft outside. They like garages and porches. Keep a good hose nearby