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re: Tell me about raising chickens
Posted on 5/10/14 at 9:52 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Posted on 5/10/14 at 9:52 am to TheDrunkenTigah
Great. Thanks. Is there any kind of timeline on how long they lay? Or is that just kind of random? I mean 6 months a year?
Posted on 5/10/14 at 9:56 am to Martini
the only time mine quit laying is the dead of winter and even then it's variable
A good hen will lay for about 2 yrs then it's time for the stew pot. They don't smell but the chicken shite does
A good hen will lay for about 2 yrs then it's time for the stew pot. They don't smell but the chicken shite does
This post was edited on 5/10/14 at 9:56 am
Posted on 5/10/14 at 10:41 am to Martini
Different breeds are fine. Just take your time introducing new chickens to your flock. Chickens can be mean shits. As long as they have plenty of room they should be gtg. What you have is a chicken tractor. As long as they are moved often enough then scent should be at a minimum, but as a rule, chicken coops smell like chicken shite. Poop boards under their roost helps. Buff orpingtons are a great breed. Great personalities. My 3 year old son carries ours around like a puppy! Lol
Posted on 5/10/14 at 2:49 pm to Martini
quote:Depends upon the breed, but generally it's related to hours of daylight. 12-14 hrs per day generates maximum egg production. Need a minimum of 8 hrs for any egg production.
Is there any kind of timeline on how long they lay?
They lay in declining cycles that are interrupted by molts.
Eliminate most stressors, and a good hen will lay well for 4-5 years.
Example of Stressors: Roosters, overcrowding, any period of time without water, not feeding on a regular schedule, harassment from dogs or other predators, lack of trees or some kind of cover (they're just domesticated jungle fowl)
Feed consumption is anywhere from 2.0 to 5.5 oz per bird per day. Depends on what they get from foraging, temperature, size of bird. But don't overfeed. Feed in the morning and their feeder should be empty by the end of the day.
Feed a 50/50 mix of "layer" with "scratch" feeds. Adjust according to foraging and yolk appearance...more foraging=less scratch. Less foraging = more scratch.
Large breed birds=200 eggs/yr
Commercial layers=270 eggs/yr
They'll lay year round if you have a light in their coop with a timer. Ensure redundancy (2 lights on 2 timers for when something fails (a sudden change in light hours can induce a molt and cause egg production to cease for 2 months).
I have egg production down to a science, so just let me know if you have any questions
(my oldest son sold organic eggs from 7th-12th grade with a flock of 15-20 hens...it paid for his first 3 semesters of college.)
Posted on 5/10/14 at 9:20 pm to Martini
quote:I have some buff orpingtons and find they lay well even in the colder months.
Is there any kind of timeline on how long they lay? Or is that just kind of random? I mean 6 months a year?
I keep mine hens 8 months to a year. I raise a few at a time FOR the meat, first and foremost- though I do eat a lot of eggs too.
I have a few baby chicks in the brooder now for my next batch to lay in the fall.
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