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

[NikkiMiChickie]

Congrats on your broody hatch! 

1.  You'll never know.
2.  Yes, I believe so.
3.  You will probably have to reintegrate.  Do you have a large dog crate or such that will just sit right inside your coop?  You could keep her and chicks in that for a week or so until the flock get used to it all when it's time to reintegrate. 

My broody pen was adjacent to the coop and there was a wire covered window between the two, so my integration wasn't a big deal each time.  I'd just let the new family out to free range, monitor the interaction and it was always alright. 

 

Thanks, Bee! I almost put them into my spare dog crate tonight and did just what you say, but then second guessed the chicks safety since they can fit between the wires in the crate. If I have a murderer, that would put them at risk... So I went with the trough until my broody is done sitting, and then I plan to move them to the crate inside of the coop as you've suggested. The chicks will be a bit bigger and hopefully a bit smarter by then, and if they're not smarter then their death is imminent anyways lol.

How old would you suggest the chicks.be when I reintegrate?

I know I have multiple hatch dates in her nest, as her friends kept adding to her clutch.... I'm not even exactly sure when the last egg was laid. I did figure out how to candle though, and while I still don't have enough experience to really understand what I'm looking at/for, I have spotted blood vessels and even some movement. The last few weeks have truly been my biggest learning experiences yet in my chickening.

Thanks for your advice, and thank you for this thread (and the FF thread, and the sick bird thread... I learn SO much from you and your OT friends!). I've even referred friends to you, or to a certain page on one of your threads to help with their problems. A thousand thank yous would not be sufficient for the knowledge (and peace of mind!) I have gained from you.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

I have a question that has more than likely already been covered several times... Right now I'm in the process of researching what will be needed once I get chickens in the spring. I haven't really been around chickens before and both my grandmother and great grandmother who had them have passed so I can't ask them. Right now my family goes through a lot of eggs (between 5 and 7 dozen in a two week span) and we also eat a lot of chicken. I have been looking and I think that I have overloaded myself with too much information.. So, what would be a good dual purpose bird? Or is there really no such thing?

If you're planning ahead, that's wonderful. I can't tell you how many people bring home chicks and then try to plan. I would recommend you take the time to read this thread from the start. It will be worth your time and answer questions you don't even know you have.

 

[Celie]

OK, guys, Now, that I got the chickens and turkeys on FF and BOSS, and Thanksgiving is a month away. Do I stay on this feed right through to slaughtering, a few days before Thanksgiving? Or do I have to do any purging, to improve the taste, like we used to do with hogs? Or what? Boy these turkeys sure are getting fat. I don't know it these big sumo looking turkeys can keep this kind of weight gain and be able to walk much longer! LOL Any advice??

 

[Beekissed]

I'd keep right on up to butcher time. I can't imagine you'd have to purge the taste of this feed. My CX were extremely more flavorful than the last bunch that didn't get the FF. They had a rich, dark and nutty flavor like a chicken should taste. I bet you get the same results. Might wanna add a little sage to your mix.....

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks, Bee! I almost put them into my spare dog crate tonight and did just what you say, but then second guessed the chicks safety since they can fit between the wires in the crate. If I have a murderer, that would put them at risk... So I went with the trough until my broody is done sitting, and then I plan to move them to the crate inside of the coop as you've suggested. The chicks will be a bit bigger and hopefully a bit smarter by then, and if they're not smarter then their death is imminent anyways lol.
How old would you suggest the chicks.be when I reintegrate?
I know I have multiple hatch dates in her nest, as her friends kept adding to her clutch.... I'm not even exactly sure when the last egg was laid. I did figure out how to candle though, and while I still don't have enough experience to really understand what I'm looking at/for, I have spotted blood vessels and even some movement. The last few weeks have truly been my biggest learning experiences yet in my chickening.
Thanks for your advice, and thank you for this thread (and the FF thread, and the sick bird thread... I learn SO much from you and your OT friends!). I've even referred friends to you, or to a certain page on one of your threads to help with their problems. A thousand thank yous would not be sufficient for the knowledge (and peace of mind!) I have gained from you.

I always integrate at 2 wks...but I free range and it's a little easier that way...everyone goes their separate ways when free ranging and the birds all have something to do elsewhere. I've never done it in a coop/run system, so if that is what you have you may just try it and see how it all goes.

In your crate, you could block off the bottom openings in the wire with strips of cardboard or wire so that the little boogers can't slip through.

I'm so glad you have gotten some good out of the thread and your continued interest and good questions are appreciated. We will try to keep it going as long as there is interest in it and the OTs are still willing to commit their time.

 

[Celie]

I'd keep right on up to butcher time. I can't imagine you'd have to purge the taste of this feed. My CX were extremely more flavorful than the last bunch that didn't get the FF. They had a rich, dark and nutty flavor like a chicken should taste. I bet you get the same results. Might wanna add a little sage to your mix.....

My hubby is already saying I am preseasoning the meat ! I guess I was just overthinking things. I know now that a lot of my hens will need to be culled come spring. They are going on 4 years oldand in molt right now, but I did not get as many eggs from them this year as I did the last. I didn't know a hen was only good for laying for only 2 years. Seemed to remember my aunt who had chickens, having the same hens for several years and never hardly ever getting new ones. I guess I should start by penning up a dozen at a time, to see who lays almost every day and who doesn't. They're mostly muts by now, just keep reproducing. On free range only the strong survive, around here. Last year I got 6 to 7 eggs per hen every week during the summer and 5 per hen per week during our mild winter , This year they have averaged an egg a week less. So some may be spent. Right now the are mostly in molt. The ones that are laying are pullets, mostly right now. If you had to choose only a couple of breeds to raised where I live in Southern, Louisiana, whet would they be?

 

[TeacherDude]

I'm one of the lurking learners who has read the whole thread and is grateful it will continue teaching. I've learned lots, laughed lots, and am hoping to do both lots more. Just wanted you to know that everyone who uses the thread doesn't even make him/herself visible on the thread.

 

[Gargoyle]

Whether you like it or not the chickener world is different now than it was 50 years ago. The culture is different.

I took this photo in a supermarket in Italy, to show our kids here. Too many American kids can't really handle something like this- they carefully packaged the chickens (guinea fowl on the left, rooster on the right, so that you can see the head and feet, and in particular so you can see the eye. Shoppers there are extremely concerned with the quality of their food, and they want to know exactly what they are getting. So many in the US are really separated from the source of food, they hardly even know what a "chicken" is.

This is from a chain supermarket. In the small local butcher shops they just hang them upside down on the wall by their feet, so you really know exactly what you're getting.

 

[Beekissed]

My hubby is already saying I am preseasoning the meat ! I guess I was just overthinking things. I know now that a lot of my hens will need to be culled come spring. They are going on 4 years oldand in molt right now, but I did not get as many eggs from them this year as I did the last. I didn't know a hen was only good for laying for only 2 years. Seemed to remember my aunt who had chickens, having the same hens for several years and never hardly ever getting new ones. I guess I should start by penning up a dozen at a time, to see who lays almost every day and who doesn't. They're mostly muts by now, just keep reproducing. On free range only the strong survive, around here. Last year I got 6 to 7 eggs per hen every week during the summer and 5 per hen per week during our mild winter , This year they have averaged an egg a week less. So some may be spent. Right now the are mostly in molt. The ones that are laying are pullets, mostly right now. If you had to choose only a couple of breeds to raised where I live in Southern, Louisiana, whet would they be?

Hens are good for laying past 2 years. Everyone says they go down 40% after that time but that has not been my experience. I think it depends on the breed, the conditions in which they were raised, genetics and overall health. I have had 6 and 7 yr olds laying steady in my flocks and currently have a 6 yr old laying daily, right through slow down and molt season. I cull for laying each year during peak laying time, in which all hens should be laying unless they are gone broody.

If I only could choose 2 breeds, one would be White Rock and the other Black Austalorps. Both are superior to any other dual purpose breeds, IMO.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm one of the lurking learners who has read the whole thread and is grateful it will continue teaching. I've learned lots, laughed lots, and am hoping to do both lots more. Just wanted you to know that everyone who uses the thread doesn't even make him/herself visible on the thread.

So glad you finally found your voice!