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re: Any of y’all raise chickens?
Posted on 9/20/21 at 7:24 pm to dyslexiateechur
Posted on 9/20/21 at 7:24 pm to dyslexiateechur
I have 7 hens, 2 Silkie roosters that I got this spring and I got a dozen Guinea keets about 3 weeks ago.
The hens are just starting to lay.
The Guineas are wild as frick. I let the hens and roosters free range when someone is home. The Guineas will eventually be free range all the time once they're big enough to fly into trees to roost.
I have 2 nice coops that we built ourselves. One for the chicks and the other for the Guineas. Big enough for me to walk around inside.
I dont do it to make money, it's a hobby I enjoy and find relaxing. I live on close to 100 acres in the county now and eventually want to add goats, and some cows and who knows what.
Chickens are easy. My wild arse dogs are more work.
The hens are just starting to lay.
The Guineas are wild as frick. I let the hens and roosters free range when someone is home. The Guineas will eventually be free range all the time once they're big enough to fly into trees to roost.
I have 2 nice coops that we built ourselves. One for the chicks and the other for the Guineas. Big enough for me to walk around inside.
I dont do it to make money, it's a hobby I enjoy and find relaxing. I live on close to 100 acres in the county now and eventually want to add goats, and some cows and who knows what.
Chickens are easy. My wild arse dogs are more work.
0
Posted on 9/20/21 at 7:35 pm to dyslexiateechur
I lived in Travis Heights in Austin for a couple of years and a lot of neighbors had coops and let them all roam around the neighborhood, not key west level, but they were out there. The neighborhood elementary school had a really nice setup for their chickens.
It never seemed to be a problem but I never got on nextdoor.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 7:40 pm to dyslexiateechur
My wife's parents did. 3 large houses. In the summer picking up the dead chickens is character building.
They're great for use as attitude realignment tools.
They're great for use as attitude realignment tools.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 8:23 pm to TigerOnTheMountain
quote:
This is why no one likes you.
Nah. There's like a million other better reasons why no one likes him.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 8:53 pm to LarryDavid
quote:
I'd free range them if you can, but again, you'll have to do all sorts of things to help protect them. It's actually worth it.
Why? Is the meat better because they can walk around? I thought the whole ‘free range’ thing was just hippies wanting happy chickens.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 9:32 pm to dyslexiateechur
Check out Urban Rescue Ranch on Youtube
Posted on 9/20/21 at 9:48 pm to dyslexiateechur
Most have fences around their pool. Do you plan on putting the coop behind the fence with the pool or in the regular part of the yard?
Posted on 9/20/21 at 9:53 pm to supadave3
quote:
I thought the whole ‘free range’ thing was just hippies wanting happy chickens.
Not exactly. Some breeds don’t do well in confined spaces. Meaning they won’t produce eggs or grow properly resulting in poor meat quality unless they can forage like they naturally would. All chickens are natural foragers, so it’s a good idea to give them an area to do this.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 9:57 pm to dyslexiateechur
We had four hens and kept them for the eggs. I enjoyed keeping them. Their personalities make them fun to watch. Mine had a fenced area to free range in during the day and went into the coop at night. Unfortunately. I went out of town, my husband forgot to close up the coop, and a coon got every last one of them. No more chickens for us.
Negatives? You cannot get lax about closing their coop at night, or predators will get them. Also, it is difficult to travel. You can leave them with plenty of food and water, but you will end up throwing out eggs when you return (wasteful). Plus, it costs more to keep them than the eggs are worth.
Positives? It is a fun hobby, and their eggs are vastly superior to anything you can get at the store.
Negatives? You cannot get lax about closing their coop at night, or predators will get them. Also, it is difficult to travel. You can leave them with plenty of food and water, but you will end up throwing out eggs when you return (wasteful). Plus, it costs more to keep them than the eggs are worth.
Positives? It is a fun hobby, and their eggs are vastly superior to anything you can get at the store.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 10:15 pm to dyslexiateechur
I got 2nd place in Jefferson parish and 8th place in the state for raising chickens for 4h. I raised them in a closest in my garage. They only need 1sq foot each. I have them 2.5. It was a fun project.
If you are keeping them outside is easier.
If you are keeping them outside is easier.
Posted on 9/20/21 at 11:58 pm to CoastLSUFan
quote:
my husband forgot to close up the coop, and a coon got every last one of them. No more chickens for us.
Sounds like you need a more attentive husband
Posted on 9/20/21 at 11:58 pm to Napoleon
You too
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:26 am to dyslexiateechur
That's just a cage with a nesting box. There is no coop and metal mesh holes are rather large. If you have a dog house that would fit inside that would work as coop. Also probably need to wrap hardwire cloth around bottom sides of that cage to keep snakes and mice out.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 9:42 am to dyslexiateechur
We have this one 2nd hand
coop
Then they added a 8-10'x4' run out the front that connects to the front of it. I put it all up on capstones and need to put something in the ground to protect from digging. I did put capstones doubled on the side to deter digging so if they do dig, it's 16" out that they have to start. Chickens are still in house (can't wait to get them out).
coop
Then they added a 8-10'x4' run out the front that connects to the front of it. I put it all up on capstones and need to put something in the ground to protect from digging. I did put capstones doubled on the side to deter digging so if they do dig, it's 16" out that they have to start. Chickens are still in house (can't wait to get them out).
Posted on 9/21/21 at 10:08 am to supadave3
quote:
Why? Is the meat better because they can walk around? I thought the whole ‘free range’ thing was just hippies wanting happy chickens.
It can cut down your feed expense by quite a bit.
Posted on 9/21/21 at 10:44 am to dyslexiateechur
My niece & her husband raise them right next door, so they are frequent visitors to my place. 
They have a fenced-in coop they go in every night, and usually free-range during the day. They don't seem to be much trouble. Coyotes have claimed a couple over the years, but other than that, there haven't been any major issues.
There was one rooster that was a bit aggressive, at one time- but I think he ended up being a coyote supper.
They started out with just buying a few chicks from Tractor Supply. The little suckers grow really fast!
They have a fenced-in coop they go in every night, and usually free-range during the day. They don't seem to be much trouble. Coyotes have claimed a couple over the years, but other than that, there haven't been any major issues.
There was one rooster that was a bit aggressive, at one time- but I think he ended up being a coyote supper.
They started out with just buying a few chicks from Tractor Supply. The little suckers grow really fast!
This post was edited on 9/21/21 at 10:45 am
Posted on 9/21/21 at 10:51 am to dyslexiateechur
That’s not really a coop. It’s just a couple nesting boxes inside of a fence. You want something that can be completely closed with nesting boxes accessible from the outside. You also want something for your chickens to be able to perch on inside of the coop. It will make your life easier if you can get one with a tray that slides out on the bottom allowing for easier cleaning.
Something like this.
LINK
Something like this.
LINK
This post was edited on 9/21/21 at 10:57 am
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