Backyard Chickens?
- Thread starter Dragonborn
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You should be able to pick it up at a local feed store.
We don't to use antibiotics unless totally necessary and knock on wood so far we have had a very healthy flock. We use essential oils to clean the coop and also to keep the flock healthy. We also use pine straw to keep mites and other little critters at bay. Those little boogers can weaken the birds to the point they get sick with everything.
Here's a link to give you some idea of what I'm talking about Top 7 Essential Oils for Chicken Care & How to Use - The Miracle of Essential Oils
So does anyone grow fodder for their hens? I think this was the third winter we have done it and our most successful thus far. I refined it to the point it is so easy and only takes up about a 6x6 inch space. My girls just love it and get so excited when they see I have some with me.
I have had great success with wheat and barley. I have tried oats but not with any success. It seems to take too long to sprout, therefore I was having trouble with mold. I'll probably stick with the easy stuff. Lucky for me barley is supposed to be the most nutritious.
Because it's so easy we will continue to do it especially since it makes the girls so happy. Cause we all know happy hens lay more eggs.
I have had great success with wheat and barley. I have tried oats but not with any success. It seems to take too long to sprout, therefore I was having trouble with mold. I'll probably stick with the easy stuff. Lucky for me barley is supposed to be the most nutritious.
Because it's so easy we will continue to do it especially since it makes the girls so happy. Cause we all know happy hens lay more eggs.
So likely anyone in this thread understands chicken math lol... We were down to just Martha, so I was given the ok to get chicks this year. I got 6 (buff orp, barred rocks and Easter Eggers). Ended up with 4 more the next day. Was added to a chicken group on facebook (chicken butts and crazy clucks if anyone is interested) and learned about other breeds... That was trouble lol. Lost a chick (got trampled in the brooder) so got the ok to get a blue silkie. Actually got 2- a blue and a black! Mentioned at tractor supply how the chick died, they ended up replacing it free. Came home with 2 more (he still doesn't know about them lol) bought a speckled Sussex chick from Craigslist as well. So, now my 6 chicks equals 13. Lost another Orpington chick because martha is an asshole. So I actually have 12. All are back inside again because it's back in the 30s overnight every night! Oh, then I adopted a polish rooster a few days ago too... I think I have a chicken problem lol... Still not sure what the replacement chicks are though. They were labeled golden laced Wyandotte but they definitely are NOT.
You're going to have an egg problem. I have 6 hens and supply the neighborhood with eggs with more than enough for us. Start stocking up on egg cartons, you'll need them!
blacknrust
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GOD'S GRACE
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If Martha was at my house...."Martha would sleep with the fishes"!.....
Shes the only one left from our original flock... And is a real people chicken lol... She's lucky she was always my favorite!
WiglWerm
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@MischasMomma I got my first chickens when we moved to FL. Got hubby to build me a huge walk in coop with an even bigger enclosed run. When we left I think we had between 35 and 45 chickens...they can be very addictive in stages. Stage one get a few from the feed store...stage two learn about different breeds and get some of those...stage 4 buy/ make an incubator cause it would be awesome for the kids to witness...scrap that cause it's a pain in the arse and let the chickens do the work (might as well cause you "accidentally" went to a chicken auction and bought a grown hen that turned out to be a rooster with no tail. ooops....stage 5 well you have the 12 different varieties of chickens you like...hmmm lets add some DUCKS (cause my neighbor was giving them away and I like FREE stuff). Yes, they are addictive. 
@MischasMomma I got my first chickens when we moved to FL. Got hubby to build me a huge walk in coop with an even bigger enclosed run. When we left I think we had between 35 and 45 chickens...they can be very addictive in stages. Stage one get a few from the feed store...stage two learn about different breeds and get some of those...stage 4 buy/ make an incubator cause it would be awesome for the kids to witness...scrap that cause it's a pain in the arse and let the chickens do the work (might as well cause you "accidentally" went to a chicken auction and bought a grown hen that turned out to be a rooster with no tail. ooops....stage 5 well you have the 12 different varieties of chickens you like...hmmm lets add some DUCKS (cause my neighbor was giving them away and I like FREE stuff). Yes, they are addictive.
I'm in stage 2... Wait you skipped stage 3 haha! But I'm also at stage 5... I want ducks!! Hubby says no because the neighbors have a pond and they'll just wanted next door, and hes not paying for ducklings just to move next door anyway lol
WiglWerm
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Truthfully ducks are a serious pain...VERY messy. I remember they used to always dirty the drinking water about 60 seconds after I gave it to them. Mine had a kiddy pool, another pain trying to keep that clean for them! Stage 3 is actively hunting down that elusive exotic chicken (Black Showgirl and pay $15.00 for a chick) 
and you MUST get a nakedneck
and can't forget the Frizzles
CAUTION: Stage 3 CAN and WILL get EXPENSIVE!!! LOL
and you MUST get a nakedneck
Brioddy
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I love my ducks! However if I didn't have a stream for them to frolic in I don't think I'd have them, they ARE messy when they're restricted to a little kiddie pool. My female Pekin lays an egg every day! I'm beginning to experience duck math... I started off with my Pekin pair because I had an unused pen in my barn and the stream, and they were free so why not? Fast forward to tractor supply (dangerous place in the spring) getting their first shipment of chicks/ducklings and I happened to have to go in there. Well against my better judgement I left with two Rouen ducklings. Now that the messy stinky things are finally outside, I was perusing the poultry forum where a lady had a single duck whose buddy died and her husband doesn't want anymore ducks, and she doesn't want the remaining one to be lonely. WELL she just so happens to live an hour away from me so guess what I'm doing Monday afternoon?
I was walking by the chicks and ducklings at our fleet store yesterday and the employee by them was trying to push them. He told me that he's just putting up a "buy one get one free" sign to try to entice me. Chicken pusher... 
If we didn't have the fox and weasels I'd definitely consider it seriously.
If we didn't have the fox and weasels I'd definitely consider it seriously.
) a cochin, a tolbunt polish and a frizzle! Not particularly rare breeds, but specific ones I would like!!
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I like Purdue Chicken
So because we have had great success I thought I would share what I do. My first 3 hens are 6 years old now and still doing pretty well. I get about 4-5 eggs a week from them. That's pretty good considering their age. My other 3 are younger, one is 3 and the other 2 are 2 years old. With 6 hens I supply our neighborhood with eggs.
My girls eat very little feed. What they do eat is organic with no antibiotics. They do get lots of stuff from my kitchen. We often eat salad and never put dressing on beforehand. We add it as we eat it. That way leftovers can go to the hens.
I also grow herbs for them. Very nutritious and leaving some in the coop help with other things like keeping lice and mites at bay.
This link will show you the various herbs and what they do. https://timbercreekfarmer.com/wp-co.../Sage-Internal-Parasites-General-Health-1.pdf
In the back of one of my flower beds I have a weed garden. Yes might sound crazy but certain weeds are very beneficial to hens. And yes I do go cut weeds to feed them when I go to collect eggs.
This link has the weed info. 10 Wild Herbs for Chicken Health - Timber Creek Farm
(Sorry about all the links. I know it can be a pain. Just trying to keep the post as short as possible)
I use pine straw and shavings for bedding and litter. The smell helps keep pesky parasites at bay. My girls also have a dust bath to help with that also. Putting some sand in there is key. Here's a link with info about why a dust bath is so important. Why Do Chickens Dust Bathe?
I also keep the coop very clean with a natural cleaner I make. I also sprinkle diatomaceous earth everywhere including on their food.
There are some good chicken forums and facebook groups. I tend to lean on the advice of homesteader sites and forums. They tend to have have sound, easy advice.
Just like a doberman, hens need to be entertained to be happy. I am always looking for things to keep them busy and out of trouble. I always verify the safety of anything before introducing it. Interesting snacks and toys are pretty easy and lead to happy hens. Happy hens lay more eggs.
I also grow fodder for the girls in the winter. I change up the seeds to keep things interesting. We are lucky to be able to have the coop close enough to the house to have electricity. Very helpful to keep hens laying because we can supplement light.
I probably missed a few tips. So if anyone things of something I didn't cover, just ask.
If you are thinking about adding some hens, just like any animal you need to do your research. There is some time eaten up with their care. They are also very rewarding and entertaining. Nothing like having a pet that lays breakfast for you.
My girls eat very little feed. What they do eat is organic with no antibiotics. They do get lots of stuff from my kitchen. We often eat salad and never put dressing on beforehand. We add it as we eat it. That way leftovers can go to the hens.
I also grow herbs for them. Very nutritious and leaving some in the coop help with other things like keeping lice and mites at bay.
This link will show you the various herbs and what they do. https://timbercreekfarmer.com/wp-co.../Sage-Internal-Parasites-General-Health-1.pdf
In the back of one of my flower beds I have a weed garden. Yes might sound crazy but certain weeds are very beneficial to hens. And yes I do go cut weeds to feed them when I go to collect eggs.
This link has the weed info. 10 Wild Herbs for Chicken Health - Timber Creek Farm
(Sorry about all the links. I know it can be a pain. Just trying to keep the post as short as possible)
I use pine straw and shavings for bedding and litter. The smell helps keep pesky parasites at bay. My girls also have a dust bath to help with that also. Putting some sand in there is key. Here's a link with info about why a dust bath is so important. Why Do Chickens Dust Bathe?
I also keep the coop very clean with a natural cleaner I make. I also sprinkle diatomaceous earth everywhere including on their food.
There are some good chicken forums and facebook groups. I tend to lean on the advice of homesteader sites and forums. They tend to have have sound, easy advice.
Just like a doberman, hens need to be entertained to be happy. I am always looking for things to keep them busy and out of trouble. I always verify the safety of anything before introducing it. Interesting snacks and toys are pretty easy and lead to happy hens. Happy hens lay more eggs.
I also grow fodder for the girls in the winter. I change up the seeds to keep things interesting. We are lucky to be able to have the coop close enough to the house to have electricity. Very helpful to keep hens laying because we can supplement light.
I probably missed a few tips. So if anyone things of something I didn't cover, just ask.
If you are thinking about adding some hens, just like any animal you need to do your research. There is some time eaten up with their care. They are also very rewarding and entertaining. Nothing like having a pet that lays breakfast for you.
GOD'S GRACE
Notable member
Tell me about it. I have 2 sometimes 3 dobies. What animal isn't a lot of work? Just thought it was important for people to know what they are getting into beforehand.
Rits
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Well, sometime between next Thurs-Sat we will have 13, day old, black australorps! I'm super excited to get our peeps! I've been wanting chickens probably for as long as I've wanted a doberman so about 10 years of research and envy, lol!
We are going to build our own coop...hubby offered and is excited to (score). Picked this breed because they are dual purpose and are known to be docile. Aren't going to raise for raw food just yet...I'm pretty sure we will need way more than 13 to be able to keep up. So we are going to just start out with something small while we get the hang of it. Collect eggs for a bit and maybe have some meat for the humans.
We also got a rooster or 2. Plan to free range them during the day on the pasture. 2 roosters just in case something happens to one. 10 hens and one bonus chicken the hatchery offered. They have a one free chick per order thing going on with the goal of you raising it then offering the eggs or meat to a local family or charity. I love that idea so we are gonna do it!
We are going to build our own coop...hubby offered and is excited to (score). Picked this breed because they are dual purpose and are known to be docile. Aren't going to raise for raw food just yet...I'm pretty sure we will need way more than 13 to be able to keep up. So we are going to just start out with something small while we get the hang of it. Collect eggs for a bit and maybe have some meat for the humans.
We also got a rooster or 2. Plan to free range them during the day on the pasture. 2 roosters just in case something happens to one. 10 hens and one bonus chicken the hatchery offered. They have a one free chick per order thing going on with the goal of you raising it then offering the eggs or meat to a local family or charity. I love that idea so we are gonna do it!
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