Chickens 101

[urbanchange90]

This is awesome info guys. I didn't expect so much but now I feel much more ready to raise chickens this spring

 

[conquest780]

I got to know that chickens are very cute. Cochin Bantams are very fluffy and my favourites.
It's very hard to keep care for baby chicks as they need a lot of time with you. The best thing I learned was that you give respect to the animal and they give respect to you.

 

[babyfoot]

They love looking at themselves in mirrors.

yes, yes they do but don't show one to your roosters. Mine looked at their image for all of two seconds before recognising a foe worthy of them and attacked it with a high karate kick. Had to take it way, such a shame as the girls loved it. The rooster in the mirror didn't back down and whatever the rooster did, the image did it back, not good, he felt intimidated so attacked

 

[babyfoot]

1. You will get very attached to particular chickens, and when they pass or you are separated, it is absolutely heart breaking.
2. They are MUCH smarter than people give them credit for.. they have almost human like personality traits once you get to know them!
3. Bantams and standards have different sounds, different warning calls etc. I love the bantam warning call, it's like a little purr!
4. I saw someone post this earlier and I have to agree, chickens can and do make great house pets! The only difference between them and a parrot is $3000 (I still prefer a chicken)
5. They can decide to turn their nose up to new treats for seemingly no reason, even without trying it first!
6. Poop/crop/overall checks are VERY important and should be performed as often as possible.
7. Make sure a sick chicken eats/drinks..sounds like common sense but it can take all the difference between life and death within a few short days.
8. Really get to know your birds, it can save their life if you're able to notice the even the slightest warning signs quickly.
9. They do enjoy cuddling and falling asleep in your arms, and can be name trained!
10. Really make sure you inform those taking care of your birds.. What they can have, can't have, consequences of certain foods etc, I have always written out a manual, but I have found that problems still arise and the caretakers can be far too amused with what your bird will eat/how much it will eat and give them far more than they should, of foods they should/shouldn't have. It's all fun and games until you come home to a sick bird and a caretaker who says "She loves lentils!" (that were raw from the package...)
11. Chickens set an amazing family example in my opinion... The mothers, are absolutely AMAZING mothers who would give their life in a second to protect their chicks, and roosters are so sweet and protective.. warning their flock of dangers and pointing out/picking the good grass for their girls. Chickens are so unbelievably caring.

Chickens are absolutely addictive!

All so very true.

 

[babyfoot]

I read every single post in here and had to resist the urge to quote them all, lets just say I agreed with all of them, even the conflicting ones because all chickens are individuals as we humans are and we all don't do the same thing or like to eat the same thing.

My ten cents worth
1. Chickens are wily, cunning and too smart sometimes, they know how to escape and get to their favourite free ranging ground without me seeing them, taking the back way in as it were.

2. You'll never have as much fun as you'll have watching chickens run around chasing another hen that has found a tasty morsel.

3. Poop only ends up on clothes and shoes that were put on clean about ten seconds ago, dirty clothes and shoes never seem to get poop on them.

4. Roosters are extremely cuddly and get jealous of the attention you give to the girls

5. Before you know it you have eggs coming out of your ears and a freezer full of home made quiches

6. Chickens 'talk' to you. Some of mine make the same noises when they want picked up or on my lap. Once on my lap they again make crooning noises.

7. Baby chicks make your heart melt

8. You will cry over the loss of a hen, so much so that the vet in my case sent me a bereavement card, (that was so sweet)

9. Baby chicks are incredibly brave and will get into the rummage at only four weeks old fighting the big girls for the scraps but seeing as they are so small they get in between everyone's legs and get the good stuff from the middle of pile

10. You will fall in love with them all

 

[OleSandhiller]

1. Put a number of roosts at different heights in your run. This way the hens can get a rest form the rooster or more dominate hens.
2. Sand floor in the chicken coop.
3. Never think your run and coop is predator proof. I had heavy gauge wire buried 18 inches deep, covering the sides and top of my run. Two saint Bernard's tore through the side of the run and killed every chicken. Now I have chicken wire covered with hog panels and that is covered with horse fencing. Chickens are locked in every night, no exceptions.
4. Incubating eggs from your flock is a very full filling and a big step in being self sufficient.
5.If you incubate eggs, half of them will be roosters. Have a place for them. A place to grow or a place to go or both.
6. Almost any dog coming across free range chickens, will kill chickens. To expect anything different is insane. Protect your chickens.
7. Duel purpose breeds are great as long as you don't get to attached to your hens.
8. The easier you make it to care for your flock, the better job you will do, taking care of them.
9. Chickens make children smile. Share your passion.
10. Been reading the SOP 2010. I am a chicken junkie. Is there a chickens anonymous?

 

[Emmasmom]

Loving this thread!!!

1. Two words "chicken math"
2. No matter how stressful the day, having a flock of hens run up to greet me always puts a smile on my face (they always like to tell me about their day)
3. When looking for an extra snack they will not hesitate to follow me through the front door
4. I love how they fluff their feathers when I scratch their lower backs
5. It took fooorrreeevvverrr to get that first egg, now we are swimming in them
6. I tend drone on incessantly to any unsuspecting individual who asks about my chickens
7. Chickens are not "chicken" and will walk up to any new "visitors"
8. Chickens can be cruel to each other sometimes - a bullied chicken can become a bully to other chickens
9. Feathers and eggs make great media for art projects
10. It's so relaxing watching them hunt and peck in the yard, it's especially neat to watch them around wildlife like rabbits and deer - I once saw a fawn try to play with them (see pic)

 

[Cheyen]

Here's my input:

1. It doesn't take long to become an expert. Just a few months with your chickens, and suddenly you're the end all be all of poultry know-it-alls.
2. Chicken math! After you tell yourself you only have 10 or 12 chickens, go back and count them again. You actually have 20 or 30! Then continue to assure your worried family that you only have 10 or 12.
3. Chickens are a gateway animal. Chickens lead to ducks, ducks lead to goats, goats lead to cows, and soon you've got Young McDonald's Farm in your backyard.

4. Chickens have more personality than you think!
5. When you free range hens, you'll experience a drop in egg production... at least that's what you'll think until you find a pile of 30+ eggs under your porch.
6. If you notice something off about your chicken, do a check up right away! Chickens will never show any sign of sickness until they just can't bear it! That's when you know something has to be done.
7. Your friends will suddenly become egg snobs and refuse your offer of fresh eggs! Don't blame them, your eggs are just dirty!

8. You will have a rooster at some point.
9. Chickens will eat anything. Even chicken! But don't expect them to know what they should and shouldn't eat. I've had one try to eat a cigarette butt!
10. Build bigger! Remember that chicken math? "10 or 12" chickens will not fit in a pen designed for 10 or 12 chickens.

 

[Phoenixxx]

re: #9 of above: my hubby offered a cigarette to a chicken jokingly once - and only once, because said chicken took it and ran off with it sticking out her beak like she was actually smoking it! NOT cool, 'cause it was mid-summer and the thing was lit

 

[lazy gardener]

10. Been reading the SOP 2010. I am a chicken junkie. Is there a chickens anonymous?

We DON"T NEED a Chicken's Anonymous! We're all happy with our addiction! It's the rest of the world who has problems!