What would it be?
Hi guys! My name is Natalie and our mountain farm is about to become a CHICKEN MOUNTAIN FARM! YAYAYAYAY!! I'm very happy and can't wait to begin my life as a chicken farmer...I haven't taken care of livestock since I was a teenager and am so glad to get some livestock back in my life! I have 25 White Dorking hatchlings coming home in May...and currently have taken on the flock of my neighbor and good friend...that wasn't in the plan, but due to a very sudden and devastating family situation she can no longer care for them, that flock is made up of: Two silver-laced Wyandottes (roo and hen), one golden comet pullet and a couple of black sexlinks...a very nice flock, absolutely awesome personalities on these birds, she has raised them so well and they are in very good health, etc.
My main goal in keeping the neighbors chickens is just for their eggs and to spare her the guilt and sadness of seeing them culled or sent ot live far away from their mountain home. These will be pet chickens and I will keep them until they die (so long as they are in good health). The one Roo of the flock may have to "go the way of the pot" if I can't keep him separated from the Dorkings, I don't want him to compromise the integrity of my breeding stock! The White Dorkings are to be my working flock I will keep them for meat and eggs...I have decided to enter into my local farm community;s effort to protect this ancient heritage breed and am very excited to run a breeding program to keep this line of excellent dual purpose birds going strong in my neck of the woods. That being said...I need a little help. I need a really really good book or two to be my "go to" book for questions about breeding, healthcare and everything in between. I get a LOT of great information here at BYC...but I need a good reference book.
I would love if you all would recommend to me a "chicken bible" - I have a few little books about runs, etc...but most of my reading about actual care and flock management, comes from interweb reading! I am a book lover and while the interwebs have given me great info, would love to have a book to curl up with while the kids are sleeping...you know what I mean!
So....if you could tell me:
1. The one book you would recommend for a beginner about chicken health and management.
2. The one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out who has years of experience running a farm...but all in the past as a kid/teen. Like...the one single greatest piece of advice you would give to someone...that thing you wish you'd known before you started out!
Thank you so much...I know it's been said a million times, but this website is the best darn site around....I have spent months and months lurking...finally made an account and can't wait to get to know people better and live and learn that chicken life you are all so fond of!
Hi guys! My name is Natalie and our mountain farm is about to become a CHICKEN MOUNTAIN FARM! YAYAYAYAY!! I'm very happy and can't wait to begin my life as a chicken farmer...I haven't taken care of livestock since I was a teenager and am so glad to get some livestock back in my life! I have 25 White Dorking hatchlings coming home in May...and currently have taken on the flock of my neighbor and good friend...that wasn't in the plan, but due to a very sudden and devastating family situation she can no longer care for them, that flock is made up of: Two silver-laced Wyandottes (roo and hen), one golden comet pullet and a couple of black sexlinks...a very nice flock, absolutely awesome personalities on these birds, she has raised them so well and they are in very good health, etc.
My main goal in keeping the neighbors chickens is just for their eggs and to spare her the guilt and sadness of seeing them culled or sent ot live far away from their mountain home. These will be pet chickens and I will keep them until they die (so long as they are in good health). The one Roo of the flock may have to "go the way of the pot" if I can't keep him separated from the Dorkings, I don't want him to compromise the integrity of my breeding stock! The White Dorkings are to be my working flock I will keep them for meat and eggs...I have decided to enter into my local farm community;s effort to protect this ancient heritage breed and am very excited to run a breeding program to keep this line of excellent dual purpose birds going strong in my neck of the woods. That being said...I need a little help. I need a really really good book or two to be my "go to" book for questions about breeding, healthcare and everything in between. I get a LOT of great information here at BYC...but I need a good reference book.
I would love if you all would recommend to me a "chicken bible" - I have a few little books about runs, etc...but most of my reading about actual care and flock management, comes from interweb reading! I am a book lover and while the interwebs have given me great info, would love to have a book to curl up with while the kids are sleeping...you know what I mean!
So....if you could tell me:
1. The one book you would recommend for a beginner about chicken health and management.
2. The one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out who has years of experience running a farm...but all in the past as a kid/teen. Like...the one single greatest piece of advice you would give to someone...that thing you wish you'd known before you started out!
Thank you so much...I know it's been said a million times, but this website is the best darn site around....I have spent months and months lurking...finally made an account and can't wait to get to know people better and live and learn that chicken life you are all so fond of!