Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Justin and I have around 30+ acres and I figured I might as well have some animals on it (besides the Labradorks!). So after much pleading, pouting , and begging.... I finally got 8 - day old chicks. They are Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and boy were they ever cute little fluff balls! Here is their brooder. The Labradorks kiddie pool for the summer with lobster pot wire around the top. Here are a couple at 3 weeks old. .....and I took this picture on Sunday night at 5 weeks old. :jaw: Justin has been super sweet and built me a really nice coop for them but it's not finished yet and we're obviously running out of time. LOL!! :48: We are planning to use a pen that we built to use for April during the summer, but it never got used so it will be moved down to the coop to use for a run. There is still a lot to do, finish the roosts, pop door, windows, ventilation, adding white trim, repainting the door and painting the hinges black, painting the rest of the interior.......predator proofing..... etc.. :48: The lumber on the roof is to keep the shingles on until we have time to tar them. We get pretty high winds here at times. Oh, and for anyone that's wondering.. that's my greenhouse on the right with tomatoes, green beans, bell peppers, peas and carrots growing in it! I'll try to make new posts with updates on this as I have time. If you've made it this far....... thanks for reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hey Alisha, I keep chickens too! Mine are in the freezer though.... Nice setup there, good luck with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Yep, I have 54 chickens. I have 47 hens and 7 roosters. I have a mix of everything from bantam, cochins, araucanas, plymoth bard rock, Leghorns, etc. We get between 18-32 eggs a day. They sure will clean a place up too! They clean out fence lines, under trailers, etc. Pretty amazing. They are good about keeping away snakes and bugs too. They start laying around 6.5 - 7 months old. so it wont be too long and you'll have fresh eggs. Its hard to beat fresh eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Yep, I have 54 chickens. I have 47 hens and 7 roosters. I have a mix of everything from bantam, cochins, araucanas, plymoth bard rock, Leghorns, etc. We get between 18-32 eggs a day. They sure will clean a place up too! They clean out fence lines, under trailers, etc. Pretty amazing. They are good about keeping away snakes and bugs too. They start laying around 6.5 - 7 months old. so it wont be too long and you'll have fresh eggs. Its hard to beat fresh eggs! Nice! Would love to see your coop set up and pictures of your chickens!! I wanted them for eggs mainly, but to also keep the bugs tamed down a bit as well. I'm already looking to get a few Polish chicks but am having a hard time finding them locally. I can already see that having chickens is going to be quite addicting. Do you happen to do any poultry shows or do you just keep them as your barnyard flock? I'd love to get into showing, but have no idea where to even start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 My youngest has inquired a few times about them. I must admit, I'm tempted. Looks like a cool setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Christina had 20 when she started with the 4 h chicken raising project. A couple of those died and she sold a few at the fair. She ended up selling the nasty rooster that she was not supposed to have gotten, I will not let the kids have another rooster. Was going to build a better pen setup for them this spring, but have not had the time yet. Coyotes here have been a real problem, had them coming up in the yard getting the chickens in the mornings this time of the year last year well after daylight after the chickens would come out of the shed and had one come after the chickens with me right there yelling at it. We popped a couple of the yotes, but they got probably 7 or so of her chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 My youngest has inquired a few times about them. I must admit, I'm tempted. Looks like a cool setup. You really should get some! It's so much fun watching them and seeing the different personalities. Mine are all really friendly and enjoy being held. VERY easy to take care of. Make sure they have food, water and clean living area and ta-da - you're done! I wish the Labradorks were that easy to take care of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Make sure they have food, water and clean living area and ta-da - you're done! I wish the Labradorks were that easy to take care of. LOL. Wait til they get bigger and crap everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Christina had 20 when she started with the 4 h chicken raising project. A couple of those died and she sold a few at the fair. She ended up selling the nasty rooster that she was not supposed to have gotten, I will not let the kids have another rooster. Was going to build a better pen setup for them this spring, but have not had the time yet. Coyotes here have been a real problem, had them coming up in the yard getting the chickens in the mornings this time of the year last year well after daylight after the chickens would come out of the shed and had one come after the chickens with me right there yelling at it. We popped a couple of the yotes, but they got probably 7 or so of her chickens. Very cool! What kind did/does she have? If I end up with a nasty rooster, I won't hesitate to introduce him to my steel toed boots and if that doesn't work..... then the .22 might get through to him. LOL! :oops: About coyotes and such.... that's a major concern for me. When we are finished with the coop, I'm hoping it will be like Fort Knox. The only free range time they'll have in the yard is when I'm outside with them working in the yard. I know no matter what I do, I'll lose a few here and there, but I guess that's just a part of keeping them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 LOL. Wait til they get bigger and crap everywhere. Ugh.... I know. Dreading that part. We're putting poop boards under the roosts to hopefully help with SOME of that inside the coop. I'm also going to do the 'deep litter method' in the coop..... but outside is a different story...... oh dear. LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Good luck with your chicks! We have 25-30 here, not sure exactly how many. We have some White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Golden Comets, Barred Rocks, and Black Minorcas (spelling?). We keep them mainly for the eggs, and because my mom likes chickens lol. We are actually supposed to be getting 10 more White Leghorn chicks in tomorrow. They seem to lay better through the winter than the other breeds. We give eggs to neighbors and friends, and we eat plenty ourselves. Nothing better than farm fresh eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Nice! Would love to see your coop set up and pictures of your chickens!! I wanted them for eggs mainly, but to also keep the bugs tamed down a bit as well. I'm already looking to get a few Polish chicks but am having a hard time finding them locally. I can already see that having chickens is going to be quite addicting. Do you happen to do any poultry shows or do you just keep them as your barnyard flock? I'd love to get into showing, but have no idea where to even start. They will keep bugs at bay! I dont take mine to shows but will encourage my girls to join 4H or the FFA when they are old enough. Chance are they will be showing chickens at the local county fair. We really dont have many poultry shows here that I know of. However, all of the county fairs have poulty divisions. I use to show them as a kid. Ill take pictures of the coop and some of my chickens tonight and get them up. its not as pretty as yours but its more than effective! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 My youngest has inquired a few times about them. I must admit, I'm tempted. Looks like a cool setup. It will make you cool.... everyone else is doing it! Seriously Chris, there is nothing better than stepping out and getting fresh eggs for breakfast. Also, they do a tremendous job cleaning the yard and such if you live where you can let them run during the day. Chickens are pretty easy keepers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 You really should get some! It's so much fun watching them and seeing the different personalities. Mine are all really friendly and enjoy being held. VERY easy to take care of. Make sure they have food, water and clean living area and ta-da - you're done! I wish the Labradorks were that easy to take care of. Yep, thats right. You can handle all 7 of my roosters. None are fighters. They all have a different personalitiy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Ugh.... I know. Dreading that part. We're putting poop boards under the roosts to hopefully help with SOME of that inside the coop. I'm also going to do the 'deep litter method' in the coop..... but outside is a different story...... oh dear. LOL. Outside isnt that bad as it will typically just dissolve and become fertilizer. The coop is the real mess. We just have to take a rake and rake it into a bucket to get rid of it. They can make a coop nasty in a hurry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Good luck with your chicks! We have 25-30 here, not sure exactly how many. We have some White Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Golden Comets, Barred Rocks, and Black Minorcas (spelling?). We keep them mainly for the eggs, and because my mom likes chickens lol. We are actually supposed to be getting 10 more White Leghorn chicks in tomorrow. They seem to lay better through the winter than the other breeds. We give eggs to neighbors and friends, and we eat plenty ourselves. Nothing better than farm fresh eggs. If you leave a light on in their coop they lay more eggs, especially during the winter. They eat more feed because of the light but it keeps them more active. I literally see a difference of 10-12 eggs a day depending on whether im using a light or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 (edited) Jeramie - Do you use a heat lamp in the winter or just a low watt red bulb or? I've been wondering about this! Can't wait to see your pics! Fancy or not, sometimes you can get great ideas from others coops! Have you been to the backyardchickens.com site? If not, it's a great source of info, plus there are lots of egg auctions/swaps, etc..! Edited May 10, 2011 by Alisha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 backyardchickenS.com Fixed that for you. If you leave off the S and type it in. you get some interesting related searches that pop up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisha Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Fixed that for you. If you leave off the S and type it in. you get some interesting related searches that pop up.... :oops: Thanks Ben. I fixed it in my post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Jeramie - Do you use a heat lamp in the winter or just a low watt red bulb or? I've been wondering about this! Can't wait to see your pics! Fancy or not, sometimes you can get great ideas from others coops! Have you been to the backyardchickens.com site? If not, it's a great source of info, plus there are lots of egg auctions/swaps, etc..! Winter time I use a clear heat lamp. We dropped below Zero several times this year. They needed the heat. Right now im using a standard 60watt bulb with a metal shade. If the light is on when I go in to feed at night they are all perched and sitting quiet. If the light is on they rush the food like they havent eaten in a week! They really are a lot quieter if its totally dark. It changes their demeanor greatly but the amount of eggs they produce are cut too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Mom and dad only have one lowly hen left from my FFA days. I had about 20 or so. They coons got them during the night time when they slept. No matter how we secured them, the coons still found a way to get em all over the last few years. The one remaining hen we call Brenda and she still follows me all over wanting to be held. Enjoy them! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Very cool! What kind did/does she have? If I end up with a nasty rooster, I won't hesitate to introduce him to my steel toed boots and if that doesn't work..... then the .22 might get through to him. LOL! :oops: About coyotes and such.... that's a major concern for me. When we are finished with the coop, I'm hoping it will be like Fort Knox. The only free range time they'll have in the yard is when I'm outside with them working in the yard. I know no matter what I do, I'll lose a few here and there, but I guess that's just a part of keeping them... Dunno why her rooster was so mean, he did not get that way until after he was about a year old, maybe something to do with the hens. The 4 h program they were supposed to have only gotten hens. Got to where the rooster would attack anyone in the yard if they got near the shed and he would wait until you were not looking. Kicked him too many times to count when he came after us. Got to where I would carry a broom handle with me to the shed. Last straw for him with me was when he flew up at my face after I rounded the corner of the garage and I had to grab him out of the air before he got me, lucky I did not kill him right there and then, she sold him a few days later. Her chickens are some type of red laying hens, not sure the name but they came from our local ag extension 4 h agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 That's cool Alisha! The funeral director I work for occasionally had a dozen or so chickens for a long time. We had a supply of eggs for a while until he sold his house and could not take the chickens where he is currently living now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Very nice chickens. We have Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and Super Comets for now. Will be ordering new ones shortly. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Dunno why her rooster was so mean, he did not get that way until after he was about a year old, maybe something to do with the hens. The 4 h program they were supposed to have only gotten hens. Got to where the rooster would attack anyone in the yard if they got near the shed and he would wait until you were not looking. Kicked him too many times to count when he came after us. Got to where I would carry a broom handle with me to the shed. Last straw for him with me was when he flew up at my face after I rounded the corner of the garage and I had to grab him out of the air before he got me, lucky I did not kill him right there and then, she sold him a few days later. Her chickens are some type of red laying hens, not sure the name but they came from our local ag extension 4 h agent. Its all up to the rooster. Growing up we had roosters that were all kids of mean. They became dinner. I dont have a single mean rooster now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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