Finally Pulled the Trigger

[Littlebhuddha]

After reading what seems like every post on BYC, I finally bought my first chicks, 10 Ross 308. I decided to start with meat chickens because it was only an 8-10 week commitment. If everything went south no big loss. The chicks cost $.50 a piece and the feed was only $5. I built a brooder out of pvc an plastic for another $5. Total cost: $15. The plan was to quick build a temporary coop. But I don’t think they need one. They are 3 weeks old and they don’t run around much. They mostly lay in front of the feeders and eat. Que flojo! But I guess that’s what makes them great meat birds. My next batch will be dual purpose birds, probably brahmas. It’s very difficult to find different breeds here in Colombia. And no one exports fertile eggs or chicks to Colombia. Most of what you find here are Ross, Cobb and a local breed called criollos. I am going to build a coop and run over the next few weeks and start building my permanent flock. I found a place that will sell me one rooster and 5 hens, Brahma, 4 months old, for about $300. Not sure what the cost is in the states. It seems a bit high to me.
I want to thank everyone for posting on this site. Everything I know about chickens I learned here.

 

[Fishsticks06]

After reading what seems like every post on BYC, I finally bought my first chicks, 10 Ross 308. I decided to start with meat chickens because it was only an 8-10 week commitment. If everything went south no big loss. The chicks cost $.50 a piece and the feed was only $5. I built a brooder out of pvc an plastic for another $5. Total cost: $15. The plan was to quick build a temporary coop. But I don’t think they need one. They are 3 weeks old and they don’t run around much. They mostly lay in front of the feeders and eat. Que flojo! But I guess that’s what makes them great meat birds. My next batch will be dual purpose birds, probably brahmas. It’s very difficult to find different breeds here in Colombia. And no one exports fertile eggs or chicks to Colombia. Most of what you find here are Ross, Cobb and a local breed called criollos. I am going to build a coop and run over the next few weeks and start building my permanent flock. I found a place that will sell me one rooster and 5 hens, Brahma, 4 months old, for about $300. Not sure what the cost is in the states. It seems a bit high to me.
I want to thank everyone for posting on this site. Everything I know about chickens I learned here.

Even if there isn’t high demand for Brahmas in your area, 50 dollars a piece seems excessive. But you could let your hens brood more chicks. So all in all, it could work.

 

[Reurra]

Grats!

Although, from my experience with meat turds....I mean birds...well lets just say

They grow super fast and poop a LOT! Way more than regular chickens. They are not as mobile either due to the sheer speed they get fat. They get so fat, they can barely walk. One suggestion, to keep them moving, is to keep the food and water in separate areas away from each other so the rolly polly feather bags are forced to get up on their stubby drumsticks. They can get nasty sores on their breats from sitting, and some die of hearattacks just sitting too. Use a chicken tractor too, if you dont already, that way you dont have to worry about as much cleanup. Just pick it up and move it.

And heaven forbid you fall in love with any of them. because of their rapid growth, they live short lives.

Ive found regular chickens to be much more fun, rewarding and clean. But thats just my 2 cents!

You could try your luck at hatching, sometimes the eggs are cheaper than the chicks. Bramahs are good, buckeye too, I like australorp, they are great egg producers, great mothers, friendly overall and yield a decent carcass if the intention is to consume them. Columbian rock are great too. Mix breeds should be much cheaper, if someone is trying to sell a set for $300, its likely they are con artists or they are super high quality show birds. Drive around to some farms, talk to the locals, they can probably tell you where to get some chickens.

I wish you luck! Chickens are the best!

 

[Littlebhuddha]

Even if there isn’t high demand for Brahmas in your area, 50 dollars a piece seems excessive. But you could let your hens brood more chicks. So all in all, it could work.

That’s my thinking. Eventually I want to incubate and sell the chicks locally.