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

[al6517]

I tend to keep my layers around a little longer also, but they are all heritage birds and can be productive for longer periods, and I don't mind getting egg's every other day from them, with a nice long rest from laying in the winter. I am not one of those folks that's get's all freaked out when they get chinsey on laying, there is always 3 doz in the fridge on any given day. I do however give them a stern tongue lashing when they get lazy during breeding and hatching season when I really need them LOL.

 

[Beekissed]

My theory exactly! You know? I notice that each time I do a culling, I get an amazing number of eggs in the days following. Now, either my method stimulates some of the hens in ways I don't even want to know about, or they have the fear of God put in them! I swear even the rooster will lay an egg the next day!

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a common question on the boards: Flat roost or round?

 

[al6517]

2X4's in most and a few large round drifwood staubs in others, and an ole ladder leaned up against the wall in another, whatever I have handy and doesn't look like it came from Fred Sanfords yard works for me.

 

[gardendufus]

Darkmatter.... from an entirely personal point of view I certainly hope that chick meant no disrespect by using the term "Old Doofus" (by the way you need to teach your chicks to spell "dufus".

But seriously, I think Beekissed mentioned hers, but what do you guys consider to be the essential medications to have around?

Sure will be nice when they let me tell ya'll I'm from CO Springs, and am still so new I'm just in the planning my coop stage.

 

[gardendufus]

Ok now I'm just trying to get my posts up to 10. Too much reading not enought posting......sigh!

 

[mississippifarmboy]

All our newer chicken houses have 2" x 4" roosts turned 2" side up. The older ones have everything from peeled pine poles, to scap lumber, to tree limbs.

Never noticed the chickens to have a preferance.

Never had one's toes freeze either. Of course we only have a very few days where it gets below zero here.

 

[dirtsaver]

Quote:

Hold on Al.....even though I've only had chickens a couple of years this time I spent 23 years growing up on the farm and everything on the place...including coops and roosts....came from Sanford & Sons Salvage and worked just fine

 

[Beekissed]

Same here!

Actually...if something didn't look like it came from Sanford's place, I rejected it as being "too fancy".

 

[al6517]

Ok going out there tomorrow and beat up & bang up all my stuff...........

I have plenty of Ghetto stuff out there, you see the surrounding area. all the cages and misc chicken stuff stacked up everywhere, Soooo should I unstack it and throw it around for the real look