Yardbirds?

HawgBonz

HawgBonz

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I've thought about doing the chicken gig for a long while now. Started as a joke on her. She used to be a home health nurse and has several funny chicken stories and a resultant strong dislike for roosters. And geese. The problem being that we've been on the move for several years. Now we're settled into this place and will hafta be drug or carried out of it.
..So for a Christmas present, the Mrs got me a "chicken rental" for the spring/summer. Apparently, they bring a chicken coop, 2 yardbirds and associated supplies ta keep'em in business for the duration. In theory it's s'posed to be an easy way to try it out. Sounds a lil sketchy to me, but whatthehell. I'll give it a shot. Can't say as I know diddly bout the care and feeding of said critters.
Guess Ima find out.. I'm kinda curious how that'll play out when I'm off to the club for 2 or 3 days at a time. Any pointers? :cool:
 
Don't buy more chickens before the trial period is over- chicken math is a real thing. 😂

Seriously, evaluate the surroundings for potential predator threats, I guess. Don't need any unhappy accidents.
Don't name them, if you can.
 
We've got owls and Hawks o'plenty. The neighbor's roaming cats. Grey Fox.
Only saving grace being that the previous owners of the property had dogs they let run loose in the fences so they had all the PCV horse fences lined with 2" mesh fencing. Not much help with the aerial variety, tho'.
Vat is dis "chicken math"? I'm a city boy fakin it.. :cool:
Eeyore said:
Don't buy more chickens before the trial period is over- chicken math is a real thing. 😂
Seriously, evaluate the surroundings for potential predator threats, I guess. Don't need any unhappy accidents.
Don't name them, if you can.
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@JimB- Somehow I knew that would be coming.. 😄
 
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Easiest things ever. Fill the feeder, fill the water figure out how long it lasts. Stick to those numbers for vacay, upsize, or find a neighbor kid.
We let ours wander in the afternoon. Predators are a real issue, they have a 360 degree covered run for the rest of the day and the coop itself closes tight at night.
One decided to roost outside somewhere, made it three days. A raccoon after years dislodged the screen on the coop got in and killed two one evening. It's attached harder now. You learn as you go. Roos are probably not worth having. We have more eggs than we need always. They're kinda fun to watch, specially when they catch a snake or something. They will jack up your yard.
 
What are some of the do's n don'ts concerning location and such?
If this thing works out I'll be about making a decent coop. We've got a metal barn for the horses.
Was thinkin bout just puttin'em in the back yard. I ain't much of a "yard guy" anyways.
Beef15 said:
Easiest things ever. They will jack up your yard.
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Chickens are the easiest animals to own and take care of.

Mine stay in a ~500 sq ft run, and have a coop they go in at night. The run has masonry twine across the top of it, spaced 8 inches apart between strands. Keeps birds of prey out. .

DO get a automatic coop door. Hands down the best thing I could have bought for them. Let's them out in the morning, locks them in at night. The coop itself is basically predator proof. Between the auto door, large feeder (holds ~15 pounds of feed), and 5 gallon waterer, I don't have to do anything for at least 5 days, other than retrieve eggs every day. This is for 8 birds.

If y'all eat much for eggs, 2 chickens aren't going to do much for you. You'll get 1 to 2 eggs per day, at best. With that few of birds, I'd expect 0 to 1 eggs per day.

If you plan on free ranging, get a rooster. A good rooster will help protect the flock. If you're going to keep the birds in a run, and do something to keep birds of prey out, a rooster isn't needed. We've got one, but mostly for looks....and in case we want to hatch some eggs later.
 
Good info, fellas.. Thanks much for the responses.. :cool:
What's the biggest difference between laying hens and birds for the pot?
We were reading on that recently..
 
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HawgBonz said:
Good info, fellas.. Thanks much for the responses.. :cool:
What's the biggest difference between laying hens and birds for the pot?
We were reading on that recently..
Click to expand...

Broiler chickens go from day old chicks to ready for processing in 8 to 10 weeks. They grow FAST. Cornish Crosses are typically what's used for meat birds. Letting them live longer than 10 or so weeks is rough on them. They'll get so big their legs won't support their weight.

Laying hens are freeloaders for the first 20 to 25 weeks before they lay anything. In my experience, they don't quit putting on weight till they're 30 weeks old or so. They (generally) won't get as big as broilers.
 
Thanksyasir!!
Gettin ready to knock out and heading to the club for a coupla days inna mornin.
Will try to keep up with the thread on the phone.. But sometimes that doesn't work very well..
 
I've got mine between the house and the horses dry lot and run-in, pretty close to the horses. We think possibly the horses spook some predators, they were off sight ten weeks and that was the only time anything ever messed with the coop.
When they free range they stay in about a 200yd radius. Tear up flower beds, mulch, anything loose.
 
Walp, got a lil time to catch up. Sittin in Norwood broke down. Damn Dodge being a Dodge. 🤣
There's a big mulch area near where we were thinkin we'd put'em. But have plans to clean that out and replace it with stone.
Not so sure about a rooster, but I do remember on the occasions I was around them that the sound of hens in the coop was somehow relaxing. 😊
 
I've trained mine to come on command. I let them out in the morning...then if I need to put them up, or put them in early I give the command, and they come running.
Hilarious to watch.
 
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