how to raise chickens to have organic eggs? Need some chicken raising 101

[Jarrn]

I started out with a black sex-link and a welsummer hen. I got them both at the same age, raised them the same way, but the black sex-link was WAY friendler than the other. Came when you called, loved to be held, would “talk” to you, etc. The welsummer was never as nice. The BSL also started producing eggs months earlier and laid them every day, without fail. I would definitely recommend that breed!
I also have some sort of a cochin-mix hen that I got from the humane society (so who knows what breed she is). I have no idea how old she is, but she has never laid an egg in the 6 months I’ve had her. She’s ridiculously friendly (and soft!) though, so I can’t even be annoyed about it.

I also just recently got 2 old english game bantams and they are MEAN and not at all fun to have. I wouldn’t recommend them at all.

[neversaynever]

We have had a variety of breeds - buff Orpington, English Lavender Orpington, Rode Island Red/Production Red, Cochins (large and bantam), Silver Laced Wyandotte, Light Braham, and Speckled Sussex. The Buff Orpington is the friendliest and a consistent producer. The Rhode Island Red/Production Red is the best producer, the Cochins are more flighty, the Wyandotte and Speckled Sussex were in the middle, The Light Brahams are the least productive. The orpingtons and Cochins tend to be broody, which is good if you want them to hatch and raise chicks but a pain if you don’t. Each chicken has its own personality. The Sussex would follow me everywhere and was very vocal, but did not like to be held - she was my favorite, but we lost her to some predator.

We used to free range, but now have them contained behind an electric poultry net because we lost so many to foxes/neighbor’s dogs. We also quit naming them for that reason. Most of the girls are getting older and lay fewer eggs. Last year I got some hatching Eng. Lavander Orpington eggs locally and let my broodies hatch and raise them. We didn’t handle these chicks much, so they are more skittish but still come running up when called. Good luck with your chickens! They are so entertaining and the eggs taste so much better then the store bought.

[Megaladon]

[QUOTE=knightrider;8015996]
so I’ve been secretly dying for some hens for a long time… has anyone done a cost analysis on regular chicken feed vs. cost of the eggs? I’m curious to see how close it works out. Its just two of us and I’m the primary egg eater… so not sure how many I’d get.

I’d also worry about free ranging and losing chickens especially since I can’t really do a coop very well. I do have a chicken door and enclosed room in the barn that they could go in and out of though… and the door leads to a paddock with mostly horse wire fencing around it… Will that deter the foxes? I usually leave the gates to the other paddock open though and they are just simple horse gates. Will they leave that paddock and go into my yard as well? A little worried about the dogs… and what about the cats? Do they leave them alone?[/QUOTE]
Without putting it to paper, simply buying eggs from the store will be cheaper. However, chickens are fun, so why not?

For a small family, you could go to TSC (chick days will be starting–must make a memo to myself to AVOID at all costs LOL!) and the minimum chick amount is 6. Or if you’d prefer to have adult hens, check your local craigslist. There is pros/cons to both grown hens and chicks. You just have to decide what works best for you. I’ve done both and I prefer to raise up chicks myself.

I think just simply owning chickens makes one susceptible to losses. Free ranging simply multiplies the danger. Having your property mowed to prevent foxes or coyotes from sneaking in and snatching away can help. As well as places for birds to hide under (to escape eagles, hawks etc.) and places for them to get atop of to avoid dogs or other land animals. Having a rooster can help as his primary job is to be vigilant and alert, and warn his hens of danger and give his life protecting them. Chickens love to explore, so if they can fit their body through, they are going! To me the best way to deter foxes would be secure your birds before foxes are typically out that way they don’t get an easy meal, and would hopefully move on.

My cats do not care about the chickens in the least. Both species just tend to ignore each other, occasionally a hen will do a stare down with a cat if the cat is in her favorite sun-bathing spot :lol: Chickens can make quite a fluster too, and cats don’t seem to like the flying feathers and chaos so a wide berth is typically given. Dogs on the other hand can take your entire flock out in less than five minutes. Whether or not yours will totally depends on the dog and the ability to work and train them to accept the chickens.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

My cats and my chickens were born on the same day - May 1 - so they’ve kind of grown up together. Of course, they didn’t meet each other until they were both a couple of months old. But they get along fine. The kittens - now nine months old - go out with me every morning to let the chickens out. And the kittens hang out with the chickens while they free range. The kittens’ mom does too. No problems.

I’m sure my dogs would kill a chicken if they got the chance. Well, all except the pyr - he’s always been protective of them, even when they were tiny chicks. But the border collie and the brittany would eat a hen. In fact, I suspect that’s exactly what happened to one of mine - she strayed into the fenced-in front yard while the dogs were out. I only found feathers, so I can’t prove anything. And being a lawyer’s dogs, they know better than to admit to anything.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=knightrider;8015996]
so I’ve been secretly dying for some hens for a long time… has anyone done a cost analysis on regular chicken feed vs. cost of the eggs? I’m curious to see how close it works out. Its just two of us and I’m the primary egg eater… so not sure how many I’d get.

I’d also worry about free ranging and losing chickens especially since I can’t really do a coop very well. I do have a chicken door and enclosed room in the barn that they could go in and out of though… and the door leads to a paddock with mostly horse wire fencing around it… Will that deter the foxes? I usually leave the gates to the other paddock open though and they are just simple horse gates. Will they leave that paddock and go into my yard as well? A little worried about the dogs… and what about the cats? Do they leave them alone?[/QUOTE]

Eggs from the store are cheaper, but fresh eggs from happy chickens are superior in every other way. I have a big problem with the commercial layers living in cages their whole lives…

Anyways, my dog leaves my chooks alone (we were worried about that at first, and were very careful about watching them), the barn cat never bothered with them.

The chickens will roam everywhere, but you could add some simple screen/mesh to the gates in the area you want to keep them in, and see how that works.

[saultgirl]

My favourite chooks are my Plymouth Barred Rocks. They are so pretty, and sweet. My best egg layers have been my red sex links (very cheeky birds, friendly, bold and curious) and my black sex links are also very good layers, but the two I have are very timid and cannot really be handled (and they run FAST).

I also have(and had) New Hampshire crosses (sweet, quiet little birds, very pretty and friendly and submissive) and Columbian Rock crosses (large, pretty colour).

When I was starting out I wanted a variety of breeds for a colourful flock.