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Started By
Message
Backyard chickens for beginners
Posted on 3/8/22 at 4:28 pm
Posted on 3/8/22 at 4:28 pm
I'll obviously go to other sources too before actually starting, but this forum has often been helpful in the past.
Looking for tips, strategies, things that you wish you knew going in, etc.
Have my location in the yard picked out, but that's about it. Not too close to the house bc I imagine the feed and shite might attract rodents.
Live in an area with raccoons, possums, foxes, and coyotes.
Looking for tips, strategies, things that you wish you knew going in, etc.
Have my location in the yard picked out, but that's about it. Not too close to the house bc I imagine the feed and shite might attract rodents.
Live in an area with raccoons, possums, foxes, and coyotes.
19
Posted on 3/8/22 at 4:40 pm to tigahbruh
Brown leghorns are about the most predator resistant breed of chicken available. I’ve tried a lot of “flighty” breeds over the years and the brown leghorns last the longest.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 4:48 pm to tigahbruh
quote:
Live in an area with raccoons, possums, foxes, and coyotes.
then your chickens will be disposable.
dont give them names
Posted on 3/8/22 at 4:52 pm to tigahbruh
Build a chicken tractor.
backyardchickens.com
backyardchickens.com
This post was edited on 3/8/22 at 4:55 pm
Posted on 3/8/22 at 5:41 pm to lgtiger
quote:
Build a chicken tractor.
Just how many dozens of eggs can one buy for the cost of building one of those coops?
That said, I will have chickens when my wife finally retires and we can move to the country.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 5:48 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
how many dozens of eggs can one buy for the cost of building one of those coops
Don't own chickens but wouldn't be suprised to learn you never breakeven after factoring upkeep/feed etc.
Same could be said for my tomato garden but them mf'rs taste 100x better than store bought!
Posted on 3/8/22 at 5:48 pm to tigahbruh
You need to find a middle ground between spending a lot to predator- proof your enclosure and letting critters pick them off one by one. Unless it’s a mink or a fox. Then it’s wholesale slaughter.
A decent tractor doesn’t have to cost a lot. I hate for your hens to just sit there like sitting ducks all night waiting for something to get em.
How many hens do you plan to have?
A decent tractor doesn’t have to cost a lot. I hate for your hens to just sit there like sitting ducks all night waiting for something to get em.
How many hens do you plan to have?
Posted on 3/8/22 at 6:07 pm to tigahbruh
I let mine roam the yard from 3p-6p. Their asses are locked up every night
Posted on 3/8/22 at 6:50 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
Just how many dozens of eggs can one buy for the cost of building one of those coops?
It's not about cost for me, it's about quality and freshness of product. It's enjoyable to give fresh eggs to friends and family. Those are big examples of chicken tractors, size can be whatever you like.
Mine are out from noon to sunset.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 6:56 pm to lgtiger
quote:
It's not about cost for me, it's about quality and freshness of product.
I understand what you're saying. My neighbor put up a chicken coop in her yard and now has about 10 laying hens and she's getting way more eggs than she can use, so I benefit from them having so much.
The eggs are fantastic with rich yolks that are more orange in color than yellow, plus her variety of breeds with different colored eggs, some brown, some white, some a pale green.
I, in turn give her lots of my garden scraps to feed the chickens and at least once a month a big loaf of banana/nut bread fresh out the oven. Win/Win all around.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 7:39 pm to tigahbruh
quote:
Live in an area with raccoons, possums, foxes, and coyotes
Buy a big trap and use dog food as bait. We catch a possum every other week.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 7:54 pm to Flair Chops
We’ve got 6 three week olds. Our first go around. We went with the Eglu Omelette for the coop. Plan on building another framed in run as well.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 8:28 pm to tigahbruh
Godspeed. Its a labor of love.
Posted on 3/8/22 at 9:08 pm to tigahbruh
I can’t add much to this thread….pretty much everything in it is true.
Posted on 3/9/22 at 11:37 am to tigahbruh
Build a coop where the food and chickens can be locked up every night.
I'm talking full enclosed, no more than 1/2" mesh wire at minimum on the windows. This keeps not only predators out but mice and rats from having a buffet. I've had scratch marks all over the coop, but nothing has gotten inside in 5 years.
I went way over kill on the coop size and quality but I've never had to make repairs, like some of the cheap PVC type coops
I'm talking full enclosed, no more than 1/2" mesh wire at minimum on the windows. This keeps not only predators out but mice and rats from having a buffet. I've had scratch marks all over the coop, but nothing has gotten inside in 5 years.
I went way over kill on the coop size and quality but I've never had to make repairs, like some of the cheap PVC type coops
Posted on 3/9/22 at 2:03 pm to Pahnew
Thanks to all for the tips. Probably only looking at 4 or so to get started.
Definitely getting the 1/2 or less mesh. Heard stories from around the neighborhood of all kinds of shite- possums, raccoons, foxes, cats, even coyotes.
Does anyone have issues with rodents or is it fine as long as the setup is secure and not too close to the house? I haven't noticed a rat presence in the backyard as of yet but guessing that might change.
Definitely getting the 1/2 or less mesh. Heard stories from around the neighborhood of all kinds of shite- possums, raccoons, foxes, cats, even coyotes.
Does anyone have issues with rodents or is it fine as long as the setup is secure and not too close to the house? I haven't noticed a rat presence in the backyard as of yet but guessing that might change.
Posted on 3/9/22 at 2:41 pm to tigahbruh
I have always had tons of mice, comes from having the feeders full all the time. With mice come snakes, so be aware. The mice haven’t really been an issue, they will go right through anything bigger than 1/2” But if they can’t get through the wire they will find another way in. Will even tunnel under the walls. But like I said, no big deal. Not enough to try and “mouse-proof” the pen. Mainly want to just keep out the things that will harm your chickens or eat your eggs.
You can check out backyardchickens.com for some tractor ideas.
You can check out backyardchickens.com for some tractor ideas.
Posted on 3/9/22 at 2:43 pm to tigahbruh
I too live in an area with lots of varmints. I built a 15x10 run/coop. Hurricane fence around the sides and chicken wire for the roof. After a couple hiccups I haven’t lost a bird in 2+ years. I let them free range during the day when I’m home but they mostly stay in their run.
Mine have been very low maintenance. When I feed the cheap tractor supply food, the egg production slows way down.
Mine have been very low maintenance. When I feed the cheap tractor supply food, the egg production slows way down.
Posted on 3/9/22 at 3:33 pm to tigahbruh
We really haven't had that problem after a year. 6 hens are giving us 4-6 eggs a day and our priests are tired of quiche.
One thing we did learn is if you do not wash the eggs they will keep over a month without refrigeration. Once washed they need to be refrigerated. Now you know why people have raised chickens for millennia.
I am going to build a door that opens in the morning and closes at dark. The hens want to be out at run-up and want to be in by dark.
One thing we did learn is if you do not wash the eggs they will keep over a month without refrigeration. Once washed they need to be refrigerated. Now you know why people have raised chickens for millennia.
I am going to build a door that opens in the morning and closes at dark. The hens want to be out at run-up and want to be in by dark.
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