You might want to try Babcock white leghorns and brown leghorns if you're going for production. They're skittish, but consistantly lay large white eggs and are ecomomical to feed.
I insulated my coop the second year. I think it was worth the cost (about $100) My thinking on that was instead of them using up their energy to keep warm, they'd be more productive in the cold months.
How many you get should be determined by how many you are ready to butcher in two months. I tried raising some with my layers ( big mistake), eneded up getting too attached to them, predators got some, the rest died of old age (at about 6 months old if i remember correctly). I can still...
I tried raising meat birds with layers and had problems. Because of their different feed requirements, you will need seperate living quarters for them. Also, I was told that although a varied flock isn't usually a problem, with feathered leg birds like brahmas, the bare-legged birds might be...
I am seeing some rust when i change the water. I bought a plasic one but they knock off the bottom when i hang it and fill it with shavings when i put it on the floor. Is the rust ok or should i throw the galv. one away and buy a new one?
I'd buy a 50# bag. If you run out buy more. When they get to be laying age, mix whatever you have left in with the layer feed. You do have more than one chick right?
Amy, she's lucky to have one good eye. I have one that went totally blind and the others were merciless. I jst couldn't bring myself to cull her, so now she lives alone in the garage, and gives me an egg almost everyday. She "talks" to the other pullets through the door when they are out free...
I'd recommend that you stop mixing your feed. Grit and oyster shells should be offered seperately. And I wouldn't mix cracked corn with their layer pellets either. Scatter a few handfulls as a treat on the ground. And PLEASE, what kind of chickens do you have?
I have a light bramah roo and he's excellent. But the Wyandotte was terribly mean to one particular hen. He didn't just want to mate with her, he wanted to punish her. After pecking her head almost bald, he ended up in the stew pot. He was just plain mean.
Nurse Nettie, i got 4 roos in my spring order ( they were supposed to be sexed). I'm down to 1 now, and the whole flock is so much more peaceful. Even with 21 hens (2 stopped laying) 2 roos was too much. I'd bet that those black spots in the pic are just from being pecked.