Eastern Tennessee Thread

[bairo]

Gosh Almighty, these chickens are expensive. My dog doesn't cost this much money.

LOL...yea I remember that 1st egg, I think it cost us a thousand dollars. Once you get settled though its not bad. A gallon of oxine, quart of valbazen, quart of permethrin 10, and a small thing of ivermectin pour on
last me nearly 2 years...and that is with me using it on the dogs as well in june, july, and august. Comes out to about 120.00 for 2 years. I spend 375.00 per year or about 31.00 per month on the average total for everything including feed and shavings as well as the chemicals. I have varying #'s of chickens at all times. If you keep between 15-20 chickens (layers and breeders) you can figure about 1.50 per chicken per month. Less birds and the cost per bird will go up...more and the cost per bird starts going lower. I think the magic # to make it actually economical is about 15. Thats when you can really start to sell eggs and breed at the same time.
At 20 layers.... if you sell the eggs even for 2.00 per dozen and still keep plenty for the family; you should easily break even.

 

[grawg]

LOL...yea I remember that 1st egg, I think it cost us a thousand dollars. Once you get settled though its not bad. A gallon of oxine, quart of valbazen, quart of permethrin 10, and a small thing of ivermectin pour on
last me nearly 2 years...and that is with me using it on the dogs as well in june, july, and august. Comes out to about 120.00 for 2 years. I spend 375.00 per year or about 31.00 per month on the average total for everything including feed and shavings as well as the chemicals. I have varying #'s of chickens at all times. If you keep between 15-20 chickens (layers and breeders) you can figure about 1.50 per chicken per month. Less birds and the cost per bird will go up...more and the cost per bird starts going lower. I think the magic # to make it actually economical is about 15. Thats when you can really start to sell eggs and breed at the same time.
At 20 layers.... if you sell the eggs even for 2.00 per dozen and still keep plenty for the family; you will start to break even.

So to paraphrase, you are saying I need more birds right? I might try that, "Honey, bairo says I need at least 5-10 more ducks to break even" And of course I'll have to hatch out at least 12 to get enough girl to boy ratio. By that point, my duck house will be too small and I'll have to build some sort of poultry barn ...

I like the way you think

 

[fowlsessed]

Thank you very much, Bairo.

 

[15littlem]

I am getting 5 hens from here. If you guys could give me some advice on which breeds I should get, that would be great. I am looking for the friendliest breeds. Also, I can't get all white chickens, cause they are like owl magnets at our house, but I can do barred.

 

[littlechicklet]

Tennesseeckn it must be heart wrenching to go through this. I am so sorry this happened to your chicks.

 

[itsthelaw37801]

Sistachic, we've been trying to handle the babies everyday. We names them Jiminey and Cricket. She got her name first because she chirps like a cricket when she is calm. They are totally in-love with each other. When you get one out of the chicken tractor, the other one goes bizzerk and starts yelling.

Do you know when they were born? I'm trying to keep up with dates so I know when they can get out of that tractor. I love them Very gentle birds. Didn't even know what a Brahama was before you. Thank you for our babies. (notice their feathers came in - still very soft)

P.S. My husband would KILL me if he knew I posted a photo of him and his white legs online. lol

 

[StacyTN]

TENNESSEECKN - So sorry to hear all this and thank you for sharing and making us aware.

I tell ya, having only been in the chicken thing for a few months I get more & more nervous/paranoid about all these things. Already had my share of some deaths in just a few months (i have none over 5 months, so most were small chick deaths).

Makes me want to carry around & wear tyvex suits/booties etc. every where I go and they had them for chickens I would probably get them to.


Well, I hope all you others make it through. Can you share the vaccine you are getting? Thanks

 

[SistaChick]

Sistachic, we've been trying to handle the babies everyday. We names them Jiminey and Cricket. She got her name first because she chirps like a cricket when she is calm. They are totally in-love with each other. When you get one out of the chicken tractor, the other one goes bizzerk and starts yelling.

Do you know when they were born? I'm trying to keep up with dates so I know when they can get out of that tractor. I love them Very gentle birds. Didn't even know what a Brahama was before you. Thank you for our babies. (notice their feathers came in - still very soft)

P.S. My husband would KILL me if he knew I posted a photo of him and his white legs online. lol

Aww, they are very pretty birds! I read that Brahmas are gentle spirits. They appear so in his lap. From what I understand they were hatched around July 28th to the 30th.

As far as those white legs, shhhhh, I won't tell if you don't!!!

 

[bairo]

I am getting 5 hens from here. If you guys could give me some advice on which breeds I should get, that would be great. I am looking for the friendliest breeds. Also, I can't get all white chickens, cause they are like owl magnets at our house, but I can do barred.

so friendly is the # 1 choice??? Are you looking for ones that lay a lot also? And are you looking for them to go broody and raise their own young?? Or does it matter as long as they are just friendly?
P.S. A lot of folks have had mixed experiences with poultry hollow.. I pers. did get a few Gold Laced Wyandottes from them a couple years ago though and they all turned out great. As matter of fact I sold them last year for 30.00 a piece and had people nearly fighting over them.

 

[bairo]

Thank you very much, Bairo.

yw.

anything I can do to get you more hooked on the hobby, just let me know