speaking of space. look i am the type of guy that never would allow any type of livestock in my home no where for any reason. with that said i have 32 meat birds in my basement as we speak. why? that is where i had the room. i keep my birds (12 layers) in a 14x8 pen and coop with the gate open to free range. yes it is closed at night. the meat birds (17 )are kept in a 14x8 pen with a metal roof 1/2 way on top with free range as well.. i am also converting a wooden garage that is 15 or 20X6 for the new meat birds. i have maybe 2 1/2 weeks to do this. yes chickens are addicting however the care to properly care for them is what is most important. over crowding causes illness, crankyness. parasites, etc. which leads to people wanting to dump their no longer wanted chickens.. proper management is the most important element in keeping any animal. it is not that you have to do it perfect but it is a whole lot it easier to correct with a few birds than it is to correct with a ton of birds.
i was reading on my local thread about all these people having issues with there flocks. i even gave some suggestions. i also said if you have a problem p.m. me. if i don't know the answer i ask someone who does. well with that said not one person wrote me yet. let me correct that one person did .that person is now on this thread.
yes some people take suggestions, most will not. it is a ego thing. all i can say about that is they do such much diservice to the birds and all it would take is simple management some common sence, and take some darn advice without getting the underware in a bunch.. it would give them a much better expirence than what they have now.
i may not be able to spell but i can raise a healthy happy chicken that produces well and tastes great. if i can raise those horrible cornish x ( just kidding ,i love to raise them) and they are healthy, diarea free , running and jumping to the day of slaughter. anyone can.
i just want to thank all of you on this thread and the men at the markets when i was a kid for all the advise. omg i think i am softening up.
bruce