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Raising chickens for eggs

20K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  imamonstertruck 
#1 ·
When I was in NYC last week, I get a call from Carol saying she wants chickens, so after intensive research and planning I went to the local feed store and picked out 4 chicks. 1 Orpington, 1 Brahma, 1 New Hampshire Red and 1 Jersey Giant. They are very unique from each other and watching them develop their personalities is hilarious. I have plans for the coop in the yard but I would love to hear from any experience any of you may have with raising chickens.

Warm and cozy in their brood box


Turkish, curious as he is


Turkish is intrigued


Carol enjoys them very much


And I think they are pretty neat too


cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
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#3 ·
blacklabel said:
Awesome man! My wife and I where about to under take the same thing. 4-6 chickens and a small coop.

I want to get the coop first before the chickens though.

The dog looks highly interested LOL
This is an amazing resource...
http://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/p/chicken-keeping.html

I have yet to build the coop however the chicks are in the house and will be for a while until they are ready to go outside. Also, they lay for 3 years and begin to slow and stop after that. So we decided to get four (in case 1 does not make it) and will add more in 3 years and so on.

Turkish is harmless believe it or not, very affectionate and protective. The only thing he has ever killed was a raccoon, and that raccoon was threatening our other dog. He loves these little birds, so wierd 8)

Do you have any plans for your coop? I have so many ideas and drawings but am not sold on them yet. I am a perfectionist and I never get anything finished :oops: :D

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#4 ·
hahah Turkish....is that from SNATCH? Awesome looking pooch! We have a Rottie, Pitbull, and Beagle Mix)

Awesome, I found http://www.chickens101.com/ and have emailed them for the plans that they email for free, but I have not gotten a response. We were planning on a smallish enclosed pen and coop to house 6-8, We will probably only have 4-5 but I like to have room for growth.

I just got my little garden planted yesterday (20'x20'), so this week my plans are to get my shop bench built, the tumbler composter, and water catchment systems built. Then it will be coop time.

My wife and I moved out of Florida last year and bought 18 acres in N. GA with plans to have a self sustainable property. We are working slow and expanding little by little every year. Chickens will be the first live stock, will probably move on to a couple of cows by next year. Also we are going to focus on getting the 7 acre Apple, Peach, and Pear orchard planted...Weekends are jam packed at my house LOL I come back to work to get rest.
 
#6 ·
You dont need a big coop for 4 hens 3x4 or 3x3 wold work. The more yard they have to roam the better, but be aware they can be destructive if you or your neighbors have manicured yards. An automatic door that opens a sun rise and shuts when dark, would be the way to go, to keep them safe.
I would get 4 more birds if you want 4 hens because its a 50/50 chance of then being rosters. Good luck the little chicks are lots of fun to watch.
 
#8 ·
If you have a Tractor Supply I your area they currently have on sale a pre-fabbed 3 to 4 chicken coop for about $120, a matching pen is about another $100.
 
#9 ·
Turkish is no pushover for sure. A **** is no pushover and most dogs would back down especially if it's a full grown male ****.
 
#10 ·
UPDATE!!!.... these birds grow so fast :shock:




Last week I was able to score free block for the foundation to the run. Laid it out and it is level and square as it gets.



Also, the coop is slowly coming together. I am building it in sections, or modular so it may be disassembled and reassembled as needed.



All materials have been provided thus far from previous job demo's. Hopefully I can keep up that trend and repurpose all materials. All that has been purchased have been screws :D

I would include the drawings and plans however they would be void as things change :wink:

Completion is set for Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes.

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#11 ·
blacklabel said:
hahah Turkish....is that from SNATCH?
:lol: Yes, Yes indeed.

chers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#12 ·
slainer said:
You dont need a big coop for 4 hens 3x4 or 3x3 wold work. The more yard they have to roam the better, but be aware they can be destructive if you or your neighbors have manicured yards. An automatic door that opens a sun rise and shuts when dark, would be the way to go, to keep them safe.
I would get 4 more birds if you want 4 hens because its a 50/50 chance of then being rosters. Good luck the little chicks are lots of fun to watch.
I expect in 3 years we will double our count as they slow production after 3 years of age. With that intention, I have build what I feel is adequate space for 8 chickens. They will have opportunity to free range in the fenced in back yard while we are home. The run and coop will be tight as Fort Knox 8)

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#13 ·
IsuzuGeek said:
Yeah, my yard is too small and I don't need chicken s hit allover. It's bad enough with the land mines the dogs leave for me. Its gonna hafta wait until the next house I think.

Bart
Bart, they do not require a lot of space.

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#14 ·
Sorry, its been so long and I have been busy, but I have an update!!! All is well, aside from loosing the white bird to the grey dog :roll:

Enjoy

Birds enjoying their plot


Coop planted, walls up and roof placed


Roosting box on the ground



Roosting box mounted and intact




Ramp to the roosting box


more...........

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#15 ·
Roosting box poop tray...






Ramp to coop...


Dust bath containing sand, wood ash and diatomaceous earth...


Compost bin. The birds forage and turn at the same time :D ...



Doors ripped from old hickory boards


hopefully eggs in a month or so

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#17 ·
Here is the coop I built a year or so ago:
 

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#18 ·
My little coop in Virginia
 

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#19 ·
That is a beautiful outfit you have there. What kind of birds do you have?

And any chance you may be dealing with rats?

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#22 ·
My hens: 5 were all the Americuna "Easter Eggers" One was a White ?
I have to improve my security becuase I have fox, Coyote, skunk, Oposum, bears, black snakes, and various dogs and cats. There is also hawks and owls to deal with.
My dogs and cat got along great with them, but the neigbors pets were somtimes a problem. I'm getting things secured and then I will get 9 more chicks. I really did enjoy them, and the eggs we were getting. I never really had rat problems.
 
#23 ·
You lost all your birds?

My build was built like Fort Knox, or so I thought. We have not had any problems with racoons or opossum, they have tried and failed. However, 2 blocks away are a couple apartment buildings and they bombed for rats. Since the infestation has moved to our neighborhood and primarily our run and coop :evil: . I have tried trapping them, both humane and inhumane to no avail. I tried flooding out their holes hoping for a freeze but they are below the freeze line. There tunnels run from under our run/coop to our garden and into the neighbors yard. I do not want to poison them because of the dogs, gardens and neighbors cats. All I have been able to do is shoot them with my pellet gun.Every other day or so I get 1 at a time. Once I kill one, they fill the hole it was baited from and dig another.

IT IS ANNOYING :evil:

Just curious.

We had 4. A Brahma, Buff Orpington, Jersey Giant and New Hampshire Red. The Brahma died this summer. Turkish, my weimaraner got a bit excited and scared her to death :shock: . Guess her heart just popped. Turkish does not seem interested in harming them, but oh well. We plan to get 3 more in 2016 since egg production slows after 3 years of age and we are only allowed 6 ladies in the city.

Nothing like the fresh eggs though. Nothing. :D

I really do like your get up, looking forward to showing Carol when she gets home.

cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#24 ·
I've had many different breeds over the years, but imho if you're interested in eggs (not meat) look at Highland Browns. I picked some up at the local feed store last spring. Evidently, a lot of the pasture/free range producers in my area are using them. Every breed I've ever had stopped laying when the days got short. Not these gals. Only occasionally does one miss a day. I called the feed store yesterday and had them put me on the waiting list for some more.

Mike
 
#25 ·
gruff54 said:
I've had many different breeds over the years, but imho if you're interested in eggs (not meat) look at Highland Browns. I picked some up at the local feed store last spring. Evidently, a lot of the pasture/free range producers in my area are using them. Every breed I've ever had stopped laying when the days got short. Not these gals. Only occasionally does one miss a day. I called the feed store yesterday and had them put me on the waiting list for some more.

Mike
Highland Browns, We will check them out.
Thanks Mike :D

Here are some more photos of our birds through out last fall.

Our ladies picking through the garden as we clean it out for the season...


Awaiting the refill of scraps in their compost. Turkish wants some too ...


Eggs! Even in the short days we get 1-2 eggs a day...



Fresh start is a place in town that makes chicken feed by hand in store.
Much better than the stuff we were getting at the chain feed stores.




Cheers
-Ian :blackeye:
 
#26 ·
OK, just so you guys won't think I'm crazy....I googled Highland Brown. What I found out was this: "The birds are Hi-Line Brown...a hybrid brown egg layer bred by the Hy-Line division of Lohmann Tierzucht." It sounded like Highland, but I never saw it in print. So anyway, they're hybrids. Kinda strange though, an organic feed store selling a hybrid bird.

Mike
 
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