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I have decided to start raising chickens. Does anyone have any good resources I could educate myself with? (Other than google results) If not, any tips from experienced farmers? Not exactly the usual BB&B topic... but I trust people here more than a random web page.
My primary interest is eggs. I'm thinking 6-8 hens and I live in a very rural area with varmits/dogs around.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I thought chickens kinda raised themselvesOriginally Posted by duckbillplatty
Get ready for some stock loss
That's one of my largest concerns. I'm thinking about building a covered run with an attached coop inside of a yard with a 6 ft. privacy fence around it. That's expensive, but I'm not doing it to for monetary reasons and would be worth it if it keeps me from having to constantly replace hens.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/foru...?id=128226&p=2
You could get some guard geese.
Don't get any Warchickens. They are very dirty and full of diseases.
But they do lay alot of eggs.
(rimshot)
http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/...S|b|3242966818
I'm jealous. My wife and I will be "in the country" in the next 5-7 years and I am researching the chickens right now. I remember my grandparents chickens/eggs and such but I don't remember enough. Leave it to me to get preapproved for a my landloan and then this Haynesville thing blows-up. Every piece I liked had two or three rigs planned for it and the values went through the roof. THat and the state of the economy (investments) and I had to postpone my move for a few more years. Hope to have some chickens soon!
I've also subscribed to GRIT magazine and Mother Earth News and have found both to be great sources for farming and treating your land better.
Last edited by marketdawg; 04-13-2010 at 06:21 PM.
“Towie Barclay of the Glen, Happy to the maids, But never to the men.”
I tried it when I first moved to Texas. Just seemed like the right thing to do out in the country. I had an old barn on the property, so I added a structure and covered it with chicken wire that extended out from the barn. I did try the "out in the open" thing once, but lost them all to Coyotes. The other system worked. I used those milk crates (now you can buy them at target as plastic storage boxes) for the hens to lay eggs. Worked great. I had several types. One was called an Aracana (I think that is right) and the eggs are literally blue and green tinted. Got some Silkies and Cochen's too. It all worked out well, until my house was no longer in the country. I ended up giving them away eventually. Still have the old barn structure way down on the property, though.
The biggest issue was snakes. They will steal the eggs. Always watch before putting your hand in a nest to get the eggs. Start small with one Rooster and about 3 or 4 hens.
Thanks guys. I'm not very worried about coyotes, but do y'all think I need the covered run for things like hawks?
Good luck on moving out to the country, marketdawg. I've loved every minute of it... other than the minutes spent commuting.
You have the Hawks and Coyotes covered. Just watch for the Chicken Snakes.
Great! Thanks for the guidance.
Duckbillplatty,
Check with the Ag Center in your parish. They are a good source for info.
I have some family just north of here that raise their own chickens. There is nothing worse than a bloody egg.
I've heard that you should avoid choking your chicken at least in public....
Originally Posted by champion110
I am less angry this morning and ready to get back up on the horse. That girl was a freak last night.
Originally Posted by champion110
In fact, I finally had to tell her to stop over the last weekend, because I was worn out and needed a break.
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