Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[loanwizard]

I need some old timers help!....i have 13, 2-4 day old chicks....i planned on the broody taking care of them but she killed one and started pecking the rest as they hatched so i took them away from her....so i am brooding them in the bathroom...everybody is doing good...is it too early to put them outside? i have a dog kennel i can put them in. I live in TN its been 80-90 degrees in the day and 50 plus at night. I will keep the kennel covered half way with a tarp, they will have a little carrier to get into and i will have a heat lamp going for them....will they be okay outside at 4 days old? I know a lot of people wait till they are 3-4 weeks old before putting them outside but i dont see how it can be any different than them being outside with their mother. I do have a detached garage but i rather them be in the kennel...however i dont want to kill them.

Thanks!

I agree with BeeKissed. While no OT, I have raised 100's of chicks and learned from OT's here. My chicks NEVER come in the house. I brood in a trailer with a tarp over it, 2 heat lamps although only one is necessary (reminds me to take one out tonight), two 5 gallon buckets with nipples and acv added, and a couple of feed pans. Wood shavings is the base which stays the entire 3 weeks until they go to the coop or tractor. for 13 chicks a kennel is not necessary or even advised in my opinion. You need something with sides and a top as they are easy snacks for basically anything that eats meat.

 

[Squawkbox]

I don't know if it is just mine, but they are not very good egg layers whatsoever. I am down to 4 hens as the rest have gotten chopped for being very poor producers. I'm getting 25 RIR and 25 assorted heritage breeds in the next few weeks so hopefully they do better.

So, after the march culling when is your next?

Thanks for the help

.

Quote:

I'm not familiar with that breed or their egg laying capabilities. I can only tell you what I do. I give all birds the benefit of the doubt on laying during times of molt or low production, like winter. During peak production months such as right now, they should be laying like gang busters if they are a good producer. I usually check for laying in March, cull those not actively laying every day or every other day. Then I let the flock be what they will be...if one stops laying before the next culling, it gets to ride on a free ticket until I cull again.

 

[Beekissed]

Sometimes I'll do one in the fall to reduce winter feed bills but it's harder to determine a good layer then because some may slow down due to molting. Usually the March culling is the most effective, so I stick with that unless I have birds that have caught my notice during the summer months as undesirable birds that I don't wish to feed all winter.

 

[OhanaChicks]

I posted this over in another section and haven't gotten any responses, so I'd like to post it here. I have found a lot of valuable information in this thread and would like advice on raising chickens in my area from the Old Timers. Yes, my coop is on stilts and will be painted...but what can I say, my husband is a builder and I paint signs and such as a hobby . Anyhow, I wish I'd found this thread when we first began our research! Thanks in advance! Ok, we are building our coop and I have a few questions on ventilation... We live in Southeastern NC and have hot & humid summers. As you can see from the pics below, our metal roof will be raised about 3 1/2" to provide ventilation from the top; we are going to put a door within a door on the front and back openings with hardware cloth so they can be propped open; we are going to cover the top opening in the front with wire and cut an opening in the side above the chicken door. Do y'all think that's adequate or do we need to cut holes on either side of the doors for vents? Suggestions appreciated Also, our chicks are 1 1/2 weeks old, I thought I'd be okay with the whole chickens in the house thing, but I'm really not :/ ...I can deal with it for a few more weeks I guess... So, my question is, in my climate ( 70's & 80's during the day and 50's & 60's at night, and getting warmer) when would it be appropriate to put them in the coop? Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

On a larger scale, our barn has similar lines. Our eaves are open at the top and the bottom. Convection provides the air movement and excellent ventilation. Your setup is coming along nicely.

 

[qball53]

I found this thread today and have read to page 16 and I am in love with beekissed. Thank you for this breath of fresh air!

 

[fowlman01]

This chicken barn is about 35 years old. I just repainted it. As Fred says convection works very well. I thought I would need to keep the doors open on hot days, but this barn stays pretty cool compared to the outside temps. This is too big for most folks but the principle works in all sizes of inclosures.








Walt

 

[OhanaChicks]

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Walt, thanks for sharing that classic style photo. Wow, what nostalgia that brings back.

 

[qball53]

Ok have to add this bit of experience for caution. This is the way I always did it as well. But one day I found a nail missing, instead of taking the time to get another nail properly located, I used one foot to hold the head. When that hatchet came down it was firm against the knuccle of my big toe on my sandled foot. LOL none of my blood was shed but that was way to close for comfort. The chicken only half lost his head, I lost my grip and the bird flopped down the hill into the street stopping traffic. Take the time and do it safe, you and the bird will be better off.

We also hold the birds legs and wingtips and have two nails in a stump of wood to hold the head (in a V shape) as it makes stretching the neck easier, very sharp cleaver and one chop. One holds the bird the other does the beheading fast and I guess also humane....