my wife is all about having a small coop and raising some chickens (for eggs) i'm not sold on the idea. anyone have some experience and want to offer some advice? we're talking small like 4 hens
Does Anyone Raise Chickens?
Started by
-Q-
, Feb 13 2012 05:09 PM
120 replies to this topic
#3
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 05:13 PM
One of Liz's good friends down in Louisville, raised them with her boyfriend for quite a while. I don't think they have any more on their land though. I'll ask her about them and see of she can offer any tips based on her experience.
The eggs we had at their place were seriously the best eggs I've ever tasted!!
The eggs we had at their place were seriously the best eggs I've ever tasted!!
#4
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- Time Out
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 05:18 PM
I don't, but have friends that do. Both friends had all their chickens killed at one point - fox got one friend's and a pinemartin got anothers.
One friend lives in Ireland - she runs B&B so she uses eggs for breakfast and baking every day.
The other friend lives out in Western MA. I think she has started to sell eggs. She also has started raising pigs now - she's got a whole bacon and eggs factory going. Sells pork products as well.
Only advice I can give you is make sure you provide them with a good secure coop so they don't get hunted.
One friend lives in Ireland - she runs B&B so she uses eggs for breakfast and baking every day.
The other friend lives out in Western MA. I think she has started to sell eggs. She also has started raising pigs now - she's got a whole bacon and eggs factory going. Sells pork products as well.
Only advice I can give you is make sure you provide them with a good secure coop so they don't get hunted.
#6
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- VibeGuide
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VibeGuide
Posted 13 February 2012 - 05:28 PM
my sister is a chicken "expert". she even has an e-book about raising chickens for sale on her website: http://www.bluehillfarms.org/
she raises all sorts of birds, some are endangered. she also raises pygmy goats. but she's had chickens since we were kids.
check out her website! it's pretty awesome
she raises all sorts of birds, some are endangered. she also raises pygmy goats. but she's had chickens since we were kids.
check out her website! it's pretty awesome
#8
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 05:31 PM
http://gatheringofth...ead.php?t=67761
Edited by Joker, 13 February 2012 - 05:31 PM.
Good timing Tim
#22
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 06:45 PM
Will you let them out of the coop in an enclosed area, and if so, how does that move with the coop on wheels?
Probably try true free range to start, and if they start getting picked off during the day, put up some lightweight, moveable fencing...
a Coupe de Wheels.... hmmm
#23
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 06:47 PM
hey Carl! i've got about 40 chickens and like JBetty said, they're easy peasy! check out the magazine backyard poultry (or better known as "cock magazine" around here) - lots of good advice in there. seriously, the best eggs are the ones right from your own back yard. best of luck!
#24
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 06:49 PM
nuff said, consider raising goldfish.
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. Their poop does NOT smell half as bad as chicken shit. (I grew up down the street, likes, miles down the street from a chicken farm, and I can still smell the stench of it on a hot, blustery day. Oofa!)
I was also right across the street from a dairy farm. I find the smell of cow manure comforting.
I also like the smell of skunk. But chicken shit, no way Jose.
#26
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 07:00 PM
I'm talking about 4 chickens not 4,000 lol can I leave them in the coop for the weekend with a bowl of water and feed like the cat?
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. Their poop does NOT smell half as bad as chicken shit. (I grew up down the street, likes, miles down the street from a chicken farm, and I can still smell the stench of it on a hot, blustery day. Oofa!)
I was also right across the street from a dairy farm. I find the smell of cow manure comforting.
But chicken shit, no way Jose.
#27
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 07:01 PM
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. Their poop does NOT smell half as bad as chicken shit. (I grew up down the street, likes, miles down the street from a chicken farm, and I can still smell the stench of it on a hot, blustery day. Oofa!)
I was also right across the street from a dairy farm. I find the smell of cow manure comforting.
But chicken shit, no way Jose.
well, a full on chicken farm does make for a lotta shit..so... and yah, as a former country lad, I too find comfort in the waft of cow manure on a warm day....
#32
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- VibeTribe
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- LocationQuiet Corner
Posted 13 February 2012 - 08:33 PM
Already have old coop that I will be sprucing up. Will be our first year. Want them mostly to eat ticks as I don't eat eggs but the wife does. I can see donating some. Sign & basket at end of driveway "free eggs":gop:
#33
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 08:48 PM
we have 4 chickens. good times. awesome eggs. the questions you should be asking are really dependent on whether you are urban or rural. we have a 1/4 of an acre just outside of an urban area. houses are not too close here and we have no issues. if they are close, you will want to factor in noise concerns. chickens can be very loud.
#34
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 08:50 PM
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. Their poop does NOT smell half as bad as chicken shit. (I grew up down the street, likes, miles down the street from a chicken farm, and I can still smell the stench of it on a hot, blustery day. Oofa!)
Dog poop smells far worse than chicken poop. So does cat poop. The chicken farm probably did a poor job of picking up the chicken poop. Imagine having hundreds of dogs crammed into a small area and having the poop just fester. it would smell far worse.
#37
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 10:09 PM
Just seems like alot of work and money for one egg a day per chicken.
Yeah, usually the eggs don't cover the cost for feed (especially Organic) and time, but my hens are more like pets. I love their cackling and the fact they follow me around the yard.
I get about 12 eggs/day with 6 hens, most of which I give to neighbors, family and the local food bank.
#39
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 13 February 2012 - 11:02 PM
Just seems like alot of work and money for one egg a day per chicken.
Factor in pretty dandy garden fertilizer (once it's composted), some tick control, knowing exactly where those eggs came from, the stress relief that comes from keeping animals around and the bit of insurance that comes with knowing you'll have food around if things ever get really upsidedown, and the cost sounds pretty good to me.
#46
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 14 February 2012 - 09:21 PM
we had one chicken who was part guinea hen. Her egg shells were pale green.
She acted the momma hen for the other girls and they would follow her around the yard.
but she could fly up into the trees.
she was the only survivor of the fox that picked them off.
She acted the momma hen for the other girls and they would follow her around the yard.
but she could fly up into the trees.
she was the only survivor of the fox that picked them off.
