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re: Tell me about raising chickens
Posted on 5/10/14 at 4:13 pm to Sir Drinksalot
Posted on 5/10/14 at 4:13 pm to Sir Drinksalot
If you have any woodsy areas you want cleared, put them there. They cleaned the hell out of my poison oak/ivy. They're as good as goats in that regard, as well.
Posted on 5/10/14 at 4:40 pm to Martini
quote:I haven't lived in LA for many a moon. Just look up "Feed Store" in your local phone book and call to confirm.
Where would I buy chicks around Baton Rouge?
quote:That's really a personal preference.
What breeds should I look for and what breeds should I avoid?
For production, you can't beat a white leghorn or any other production-type hen. However, those things are flighty and loud as hell. No personality and stressful to have around. Not good with kids. Rhode Islands can also be aggressive with kids.
I've settled on Barred Rocks and Americaunas for reliable egg production, heat/cold tolerance, calmer demeanor and compatibility with children.
quote:Small and medium bodied birds do better in the South during summer heat. A chicken's normal body temperature ranges between 105 and 111 degrees (why they can eat old food that would make us humans sick). They must have plenty of shade and best to have access to dirt for dirt baths to cool themselves in.
Are there some that do better in the south versus say the Midwest?
quote:I have zero bedding in my coop in Texas (Houston area). They only go to their coop to eat, drink, lay eggs, and sleep at night. The rest of the time they are wandering their yard (0.5 acre for 10 birds). The floor of this coop is loose dry bank sand. I built up the area of the coop a foot above the surrounding land, this way it always stays dry.
Also what about bedding in the coop?
My chickens in Alaska have bedding in their coop, since they are in their coop more (snow, short days during winter, etc.). I use STRAW for bedding, not hay....two different things. Straw absorbs moisture from poop and stays cleaner.
quote:You got it...feed store. Also, never ever get used equipment, even if it's free. You don't want other people's chicken cooties introduced into your well-run coop.
where to buy? Feed store? Self feeders and waterers where to find them?
Posted on 5/10/14 at 4:53 pm to Sir Drinksalot
See the picture I posted. This coop is on a 16' trailer with diamond plate expanded floor so the poop drops through. But they come out and walk around. They have used an electric fence about half an acre or so and move it about every two weeks.
Posted on 5/10/14 at 5:40 pm to Martini
Tractor Supply Company carries chicken supplies and chicks too. Find the TSC nearest you on their website: www.tractorsupply.com
There's one in Denham Springs, Gonzales, and Plaquemine.
I saw the chicks at the TSC in Natchitoches.
There's one in Denham Springs, Gonzales, and Plaquemine.
I saw the chicks at the TSC in Natchitoches.
Posted on 5/10/14 at 6:45 pm to Alleman
quote:I don't know about the TSC out your direction, but the ones around me only carry Straight Run chicks....meaning they haven't been sexed. My experience is they are about 75% males.
Tractor Supply Company carries chicken supplies and chicks too. Find the TSC nearest you on their website: www.tractorsupply.com
Only buy sexed chicks...pullets only. Accuracy there is about 100%. I've only found sexed chicks/pullets at local feed stores and mail order.
Posted on 5/10/14 at 6:55 pm to CoastieGM
The TSC in Natchitoches had separate pens of unsexed chicks and pullets, actually 2 pens of each--different breeds. YMMV
Posted on 5/10/14 at 8:26 pm to Alleman
quote:Well, lah-dee-frickin'-dah. Sounds like you got a stuck-up TSC.
The TSC in Natchitoches had separate pens of unsexed chicks and pullets, actually 2 pens of each--different breeds
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.
Posted on 5/10/14 at 9:26 pm to Martini
Here is a reputable place. There are a lot of links and descriptions of different breeds they sell. Shows which are primarily for meat or eggs, and others dual purpose.
McMurray Hatchery
McMurray Hatchery
Posted on 5/10/14 at 10:06 pm to Martini
I really like the buff orpingtons. Great personalities. Sky's the limit with breeds, however. I have some red sex links right now that I like.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 1:00 am to INFIDEL
quote:
I really like the buff orpingtons. Great personalities.
This.
My only issue is that they lay slightly less than the barred rocks and Americaunas. The orpingtons also seem to be a little more sensitive to the heat.
This is where I get my mail-order poultry: LINK
They also supply most of the feed stores as well.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 3:12 am to CoastieGM
After reading this thread, I want to raise some chickens now
Posted on 5/11/14 at 8:09 am to Thurber
Water, water, water. You will be amazed at how much water chickens will drink.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 8:20 am to Martini
martini, imma farm boy,,, but I've learned a lot about chickens, chicken shite and other detailed aspects of the art of chicken raisin' the last couple days. congrats on a fine thread and thanks to all these chicken mofos in here that have helped make my life complete..
Posted on 5/11/14 at 9:42 am to INFIDEL
Had chickens for a couple years, extremely easy and low maintenance. Only thing that was a pain in the arse was the cleanup, those damn things were bound and determined to shite on the patio. We did everything possible to keep them off and they would always figure out a way.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 4:13 pm to Ole Geauxt
quote:
Ole Geauxt Tell me about raising chickens martini, imma farm boy,,, but I've learned a lot about chickens, chicken shite and other detailed aspects of the art of chicken raisin' the last couple days. congrats on a fine thread and thanks to all these chicken mofos in here that have helped make my life complete..
It has been a fine thread and I am shamelessly bumping it in hopes of continued discussion. I've got 3 pages of notes and will continue if we have more responses. Should I succeed I'll invite everyone for an omelet. Should I fail, I'll invite everyone for a friccassee.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 5:05 pm to Martini
Pic from several years ago.
Americauna on the right is now 9 years old and only stopped laying this last year. Was a fantastic producer. Now is a pet up in Alaska.
Americauna on the right is now 9 years old and only stopped laying this last year. Was a fantastic producer. Now is a pet up in Alaska.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 6:06 pm to CoastieGM
If you can get some lighting in their coop, they'll produce more/longer into the winter.
Posted on 5/11/14 at 6:53 pm to CoastieGM
They both look like fairly large chickens.
So why no rooster?
And do they stop completely in winter? Or just not as frequent?
So why no rooster?
And do they stop completely in winter? Or just not as frequent?
This post was edited on 5/11/14 at 6:54 pm
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