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

[Arielle]

I will go back and re-read all the posts I missed. I'm very surprised this thread is still alive but also very glad. OT have insight that I can only dream of. I hope at this point I can dicern the OT from the new comers as I've been reading for almost a year now. Always more to learn. Thank you to all who have contributed and took the time to add their knowledge. Most threads to take short excursions; I just jump over them and get to the good stuff.

 

[Cass]

No offense taken . But I would appreciate some clarification. It is my understanding that the chicken was less than 40 wks old, was eating and doing everything a normal chicken does. In fact she was still gaining wt, The only thing possibly abnormal that I could see was the OP having to occas clean a poopy butt, which could have been caused by diet. She did not mention any pain. My question is how do u diagnose an internal egg layer, is it predominate with new layers or can it happen at any time. I would have no problem eating the chicken but I would have hated to have invested that much time and money in a chicken for laying, killed it and then found out that wasn't the problem. I personally have read and appreciated all the comments from the OT's and hope that they will cont to post. I was not trying to undermine anyone's experience or offend the ots. That's why I asked for more OT's to chime in hoping they would explain how they came to that conclusion if they concurred with NYRed. It bothered me that it was assumed that the chicken was an internal egg layer w/o even looking at the (?)symptoms.

BWKatz, here is the post they are referring to:

"I have a young, less than 40 weeks, Australorp Bantom (Bubble) who I am 85% sure is internal laying.

She has never laid a 'normal' egg but about 8 weeks ago I though she ws going to start. She put on that 'about to start laying' body shape, her wattles turned and she started to visit the nest box either with her freind or directly after......great I think she is going to start laying me some lovely eggs ! Not to be !

Poor girl, she goes, makes a nest, sits for while and nothing happens. I noticed runny poop and have been cleaning her baskside on a regular basis, also been giving her a diet packed with fiber, lean protein, probiotic and vits and have stoped her from free ranging, but about 10 days ago she took a turn for the worse and now she is feeling really bloated, looks a bit uncomforatable and has a very squishy abdomen.

She is bright and still has no problem in the henhouse pecking order or keeping up with other chooks, she hasn't lost any condition, she feels like she is gaining weight ( I guess fluid) she is eating, scratching and drinking fine.....but it can't be nice to have this condition and I wonder if anyone has any REAL success with curing it and maintining the chicken as a layer. She is a working chook, not a pet and although I am fond of all my girls and need to know if she is worth keeping ?

I fear the worse and will not keep her to suffer if nothing can be done for her, so cull or cure ? I personally am edging towards cull after reading some other forum threads on the subject but if there is a fail proof remedy I will try it 1st.

she's my 1st seriously ill chook...it's like worrying about a child !"


I am assuming the people replying with the "kill" advice are assuming that the person who owns the bird knows what they are talking about and it is indeed "internal laying". The use of the "squishy abdomen" is usually an indication of such a condition....oh, and not laying any normal eggs at her age.

Of course, we all know what "assume" does....but in this case it does sound like the hen is not worth keeping since she hasn't laid any eggs. Soooo the OT's say "off with her head"....and to be honest with you, even a newbie like me would say the same thing. You don't lay an egg, you have just volunteered to become different source of protein in my household.

 

[Beekissed]

******After looking at this thread and how many times it has been viewed, I've noticed the number compares with threads that have been ongoing for over 2 years...and this one has been open for a little over a month. Clearly many are interested in the information offered by the OTs and I hope the OTs continue to offer advice here even though the thread has become a little overgrown and difficult to search if one is interested in a particular subject discussion.

I'm hoping that newbies will continue to read the thread for answers to questions they might have and ask any that they don't see already covered in the posts. I'm also hoping that a few OTs will stick around to answer those so that no one is left hanging. It sure would be nice if they would just make the existing information a big ol' messy sticky but I doubt a thread this big could be an effective sticky note. For now, I hope the thread can stay true to intent and be helpful to those who truly want the information. *****

 

[shadetech]

I need the advise of the OT's.

First let me thank Beekissed for starting the thread as it has been the mos informative thread I've read on the forum. And the Long Tomorrow is the reason I am considering chickens. The knowledge of the other "Old Timers" is invaluable to us all. Thank you!!!!

I was kept by chickens about 35 years ago, but life happened and well.......A family and what seems like several lifetimes crept in there somehow. Last year, while doubling the size of my garden, I realized I needed livestock to complete the circle. The size of my property drastically limits the size to chickens or rabbits. I liked chickens. I would like to get it pretty close to right the first time. I'm real good at mistakes, hence the need for advice.

I have a 14 x 20 garage that is going to become a coop and room for a run. I plan on carving an 8 x 14 section out for the main flock with an 8 x 40 run. the rest of the garage can be divided into various other pens and storage. Another 10 x 30 set of runs is planned for future use.

I a thinking of 10 welsummer hens with 3 cocks, 5 ameraucana hens with 2 cocks and 6 dark cornish straight run for my foundation flock. Day old hatchery stock, all. I'm hoping this will give me a flock to learn the many things I need and perhaps limit the mistakes I am bound to make.

Predator proof the coop and runs as dogs and foxes abound. There are also some beautiful hawks in the area along with the normal run of the mill scavengers, etc.. Much work to do and hope to be ready for chicks by April. Any and all advice is welcome.

henry

 

[runsw/scissors]

It seems like a nice mix of birds you're planning on. My only concern is that unless you plan to separate the males from the females you have will have to many males. That's an awfully high ratio of M:F. Were you planning to use the extra males for food? The usual advice is 10 hens to 1 Roo.

 

[shadetech]

I felt the extra cocks would give me choice for breeding and the ones with fewer desired atributes would taste delicious. Never having "processed chicken" it would give me a needed learning experience there too. It gives me the option for breeding as close to a pure line as I can. With them being hatcheery stock it will be a daunting task for the OT's, so I assume I will have my hands full to say the least.

After having read most of Al's posts on " raising and breeding for the dependable backyard flock" I hoped to get some cornish going for meat. Although both the EE's and the Welsumers are said to be dual purpose, they are a bit light for table fare. The Cornish should fill that niche.

I hope to use some of these ladies to till my garden and help me with my composting, but I think I need to do things in stages before my chickens and I "Conquer the World."

henry

 

[flocksalot]

I need the advise of the OT's.

First let me thank Beekissed for starting the thread as it has been the mos informative thread I've read on the forum. And the Long Tomorrow is the reason I am considering chickens. The knowledge of the other "Old Timers" is invaluable to us all. Thank you!!!!

I was kept by chickens about 35 years ago, but life happened and well.......A family and what seems like several lifetimes crept in there somehow. Last year, while doubling the size of my garden, I realized I needed livestock to complete the circle. The size of my property drastically limits the size to chickens or rabbits. I liked chickens. I would like to get it pretty close to right the first time. I'm real good at mistakes, hence the need for advice.

I have a 14 x 20 garage that is going to become a coop and room for a run. I plan on carving an 8 x 14 section out for the main flock with an 8 x 40 run. the rest of the garage can be divided into various other pens and storage. Another 10 x 30 set of runs is planned for future use.

I a thinking of 10 welsummer hens with 3 cocks, 5 ameraucana hens with 2 cocks and 6 dark cornish straight run for my foundation flock. Day old hatchery stock, all. I'm hoping this will give me a flock to learn the many things I need and perhaps limit the mistakes I am bound to make.

Predator proof the coop and runs as dogs and foxes abound. There are also some beautiful hawks in the area along with the normal run of the mill scavengers, etc.. Much work to do and hope to be ready for chicks by April. Any and all advice is welcome.

henry

Henry, I'm not sure I'm an OT or not. At least I don't want to be, but who wants to believe they are on the down side of life. I'm 48 and except for about three years later in life and the first 4 I've been raising poultry with an emphasis on chickens, but a LOVE for my turkeys. Anyway I know some people have the natural ability to raise a wonderful flock with an eye for genetics. Al is a great example. I'd love to get a couple of his very pretty Red Laced birds, but alas I'm stuck with hatchery birds. I sadly don't have his ability. I use the same hatchery my grandfather used many moons ago. I can tell you that the Dark Cornish they have are tremendous. They forage for most of their food I almost never see them at the feeders. They have no problems with the cold or heat that I have had to deal with or even noticed. The 7 that I have started laying early and have continued through the winter. I get no less than 5 eggs each a week from them. That is unless they go broody which they do. LucyLu is setting her second batch right now along with her sister Carmelita. They seem to have no problems covering the eggs and are wonderful mothers. They are very passive and will walk right up to you accepting being picked up and handled. (Yes, we love on our chickens, all 146 of them. Can't help it I always wanted a girl and only had boys plus my older brother broke my barbies when I was little so I'm making up for my trashed childhood. I know how you OTs feel about that, but I love on my horses, parrots, turkeys, ducks and geese too. I'm just a love-able old codger so there.

) They are also very meaty birds. I will tell you they do like to free range. Ours seem to prefer to find their own food even when the weather is bad. I'm not sure how they would do in a pen and run, but if you can let them free range some your feed bill for them will be greatly reduced. I don't think mine are exceptional. I do believe that the strain from the hatchery I use is a cut above the rest. I guess to sum it up much of what I read about Dark Cornish has been proven incorrect in my case. Well at least they are still meaty as all get outs.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have a dominance rooster question. My policy since having the chickens has been to nip any and all dominance problems in the bud, and so far it is working well I have no problems w/ my one and only roo being human aggressive. He has this one behavior that I just am not sure if it is innocent curiosity or the beginnings of a dominance issue. He has a huge fascination w/ my hair, when I am gardening in the run areas he stares near continuously at it, and when he can't stand it any more he reaches out and "touches" it w/ his beak. He has not attempted to peck me, more like the action of running a feather through their beaks while grooming. I have red hair not sure if that is part of the fascination or not (like normal human red hair not punk rock red). I can't find any information on this specific behavior.

 

[Beekissed]

IME, if you have a rooster so close to your face that he can run his beak through your hair this is a red flag~ if you haven't had a problem yet it is only a matter of time. That is just an accident waiting to happen...

Yeah...I know, there are all kinds of folks out there who let a rooster sit/stand on their heads, laps, shoulders, etc. and they have never have an incident(at least, we never hear of the incident~who in the world is gonna admit that the big baby they were snuggling finally took out their left eyeball?)

Imagine how vulnerable you are to injury if you are bent over in your garden and a full grown roo is close enough to your face to comb your hair...in a flash he could flog you right in the face and though you've had no issues yet, a male animal is an unpredictable creature. Why take the chance and try to analyze his motives for grooming your hair? I'd nip this activity in the bud like you've been doing any other behaviors you have noticed to be borderline unacceptable. He has no business being that close to your personal space.

No matter how friendly, nice, sweet or cuddly a roo may be, I don't let creatures with a pair of 3 in. daggers and a bird's brain walk so closely to vital parts(eyeballs, for instance)...he can stroll around my legs all he wants, though mine rarely do.

 

[flowerchild59]

IME, if you have a rooster so close to your face that he can run his beak through your hair this is a red flag~ if you haven't had a problem yet it is only a matter of time. That is just an accident waiting to happen...

Yeah...I know, there are all kinds of folks out there who let a rooster sit/stand on their heads, laps, shoulders, etc. and they have never have an incident(at least, we never hear of the incident~who in the world is gonna admit that the big baby they were snuggling finally took out their left eyeball?)

Imagine how vulnerable you are to injury if you are bent over in your garden and a full grown roo is close enough to your face to comb your hair...in a flash he could flog you right in the face and though you've had no issues yet, a male animal is an unpredictable creature. Why take the chance and try to analyze his motives for grooming your hair? I'd nip this activity in the bud like you've been doing any other behaviors you have noticed to be borderline unacceptable. He has no business being that close to your personal space.

No matter how friendly, nice, sweet or cuddly a roo may be, I don't let creatures with a pair of 3 in. daggers and a bird's brain walk so closely to vital parts(eyeballs, for instance)...he can stroll around my legs all he wants, though mine rarely do.