first time chicken farming

[lazy gardener]

You could be much more creative than that. All hens are single comb and the chance of frostbite for them is greater than other combs. Cold hardy breeds should be your primary consideration. Personally not a fan of RIR in a mixed flock as they can have a reputation of being bullies. Leghorns are rather fractious and I've never owned a tame one. Great layers but always moving. Where are you sourcing your chicks from?

Agreed with PC. Also, IMO the leghorns have a tendency to be flighty, and can also be on the aggressive side. I've never met a RIR that I liked. Take a look at Henderson's chicken breeds chart. Got kids? If so, you need a couple of Easter Eggers. In my zone 4 climate, my goal is to have a flock of small combed birds: Pea and rose combs for starters. Those 2 combs cross to yield a nice tight little walnut comb. I do have some straight combs, but, again, they cross with the pea/rose which are dominant. I would avoid standard leghorns b/c of their massive floppy combs. Not a good choice IMO for cold climates. I also avoid feather footed birds.

More reading for you: Heating pad brooding (IMO the best and most natural way to brood, if you don't have a compliant broody hen.) Fermented feed. Deep litter bedding. You can read about the first 2 topics by clicking on the article links at the bottom of my signature. It's also helpful if you put your general location in your profile. Have you checked out your state's thread yet?

 

[jnicholes]

Hi There!

I am getting my chicks from Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell, ID. It is near where I am moving to. They have a website and have a big selection of chicks as well as supplies. Just curious, How could I be much more creative in a mixed flock like Percheron chick said?

I think I will try doing the setup that Adalida showed me with the link. Thanks for the link! It was really helpful!

Jared

 

[jnicholes]

Hello!

I just saw Lazy gardeners post. Thank you for that information!

Jared

 

[Eggsakly]

Hi, Jared. I've been a chicken farmer for two whole years now, and for the first year-plus of that time I really was a "chicken" farmer because I only had one chicken.

First things first - make certain the new coop is secure from predators and that it is well cleaned before you even think about putting new chicks in it.

After that, people like chickens for different reasons and it's kind of important to be clear on your reasons. I want temperament and talented egg laying in my flock. I'm not interested in showing my birds or selling eggs, or having a source of meat, but I did want a purebred flock so I could have purebred chicks to sell locally.

There is a difference between "docile" and "friendly." Chickens that are known to be "docile" are generally not aggressive to humans or other breeds. Making chickens friendly takes time and developing the "friend" part with your bird, but some breeds are friendlier than others. Brahmas, Buff Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Barred Rocks and Australorps are all considered docile, easy to handle breeds, and the Orpingtons and the Barred Rocks are considered "friendly" as well, and these are among the most popular backyard breeds. They are also considered "dual purpose," which means they make a good "table" bird for eating. Many people find Easter Eggers quite friendly, and that is my experience also. People routinely report that Speckled Sussex are insanely friendly and gregarious, and many people also report that their Barred Plymouth Rocks are their friendliest chickens in their flocks. If I could have Speckled Sussex bantams I would in a heartbeat, but I cannot find any, so I'm looking at getting some Buff Orpington bantams this year. (I love my bantams, they're so little and cute.) Salmon Faverolles are also very docile, and some people report them as being quite friendly, too. Brahmas, many Orpingtons, and Salmon Faverolles are routinely bullied in flocks with other breeds, however, and it is always something to consider when choosing your breeds. Barred Rocks have a reputation for not being bullies and not being bullied, but being very enjoyable birds that do well in mixed flocks, and so do the Speckled Sussex. All of these breeds are widely popular and have stood the test of time for good reason!

Here on BYC you can go to the "Breeds" link at the top of the page and sort by "Highest Rated." You will immediately find the most popular breeds (#1 is Buff Orpington), and numerous posts by folks sharing their experience with the breeds. It is very helpful.

For your babies - you want heat. Lamps and the EcoGlow "brooder" provide a heat source that allows the chicks to manage their own comfort zone if you set things up correctly. The first week your chicks are hatched the temperature needs to be 95 degrees. The second week they are alive, the temperature should be 90 degrees, and the third week they prefer the temperature at 85 degrees, and so on until they are sufficiently feathered, which is around six to eight weeks of age. You can tell when they are good to go without supplemental heat because they will be all over the place, taking up as much room as you will give them. If they are huddled together under the heat, it means they're cold. If they are as far away from it as they can get, they're too warm.

So, set up the heat source so the chicks can move closer or farther away from it as they need to. You don't want to limit their ability to move away from the heat when they need to by having your box too small, and you don't want them right on the heat source with temperatures lower than they need to be, either. Monitor it carefully, especially if you only have a few chicks, like fewer than ten, because the number of chicks + the temperature + size of your brooder = your chicks' ability to successfully manage their comfort.

Don't feed medicated feed to them without reason. They need fresh water all the time, and you will need a chick waterer or rocks in their water to prevent them from falling in and drowning the first couple of weeks. They are very messy, and you may want to clean their water a few times a day at first. They are adorable and hilarious. Like all babies, they sleep a lot, sometimes suddenly just slowing down and falling over on their little faces right where they are. The older they get, the more they will be awake and active.

Watch for "pasty butt" in the early days.

If your chicks are newly hatched, either locally or from a hatchery, put them on paper towels for the first few days after you get them, feeding them on the towels so they learn what is food. After a few days you can switch to shavings or whatever you plan on using, and at that time you should place their feed in a feeder.

Keep your eyes on them for any signs they might not be healthy and if one appears at all ill or injured, you must remove it immediately - the others will peck at it.

After that the only thing I can think of is, have fun, and it is fun. I never imagined chickens would be so enjoyable.

 

[jnicholes]

Hi there!

Sorry it took so long to reply. Thank you SO MUCH for all this information, Eggsakly! I will definitely use it!

Jared

 

[lutherpug]

Hi Jared,

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of fun once you get moved! People have pointed you towards some really good info and it sounds like you are doing your due diligence which is great-you'll be well prepared

I thought I'd give my 2 cents on breeds-

I have a RIR and I probably won't get another one. She lays great but she is a bully and has caused issues in my flock.

Probably the most popular breeds for beginners are Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Australorps, and Easter Eggers. They lay well, are easily handled, and are readily available. A lot of people also have Wyandottes, Brahmas, and Marans. I love my Dominique, she lays smaller eggs but has a big funny personality. If I had room for some Speckled Sussex I would get some in a heartbeat.

You'll soon discover that it doesn't matter which 6-8 breeds you choose initially as you will suddenly have an intense need to have ALL of the breeds/egg colors/feather patterns. You've been warned......it is VERY contagious! But, that said, the above breeds would be a good starting place. Good luck with your move!

 

[Percheron chick]

Dunlap has a very limited option of breeds to choose from. There are some nice options on CL and check FB for any local poultry groups.

 

[jnicholes]

Hi everyone!

So I took Percheron chicks advice and I went on the internet and after searching for awhile, I was able to get in contact with some people in Nampa and Boise who are trying to sell their chickens for 5-10 dollars each! And these arent chicks, these are already egg producing chickens! They are cheap too! Many varieties!

There has been a change of plans because of this, and I wont be raising chickens from chicks anymore. Maybe sometime in the future! Thanks for all the help! I just have one more question, but I am going to post it on a different part of the forum.

Thanks everyone!

Jared

 

[Percheron chick]

Learn some signs to look for so you aren't bringing home spent layers. Also have a good feel for what a 4 month old cockerel looks like compared to a 4 month old pullet. There are both dishonest and clueless sellers out there. If unsure, snap a picture, pass then post the picture on here and someone will help.
What breeds are you considering now? Saw some nice marans and orpingtons but those were chicks.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi Everyone!

I am going to move to Nampa, ID in 5 days and the house I am moving to has a chicken coop about 4 feet by 12 feet, and a large fenced area around it. The coop has about 8 nesting boxes, so I plan to get around 6 or 8 chicks if the space in the coop will allow it. The coop does not have a heating system as far as I know. As for breed of chicken, I have been having trouble finding the right one. My mom has a preference and she wants, "the friendliest chickens." Not sure what kind of chicken fits that mark. One person at a hatchery in ID recommended a Gold Sex-link chicken. That might be the one I go with if they are friendly and lay a lot of eggs.

I will post pictures when I get down there in 5 days. I am just planning and doing research now before I move

I hope this answers your questions!

Jared

If I may make a suggestion . Pick a rosecomb breed. Or try the White Chanteclers which have a cushion comb. Chanties are friendly and love the cold. They are a Canadian breed, available here in the USA. No need to heat your coop. They will forage in the snow at below zero temps. Good winter layers, good meat birds. Excellent to sell to others in your area who do not want to heat their coops. There is a Chantecler club you can join , Chantecler Fanciers International ( website) .. The main color is white and the color I recommend because there is no color balancing of the undercolor to obtain correct top color in the White variety. like there is in the Partridge variety. In other words, in White you don't have to worry about inaccurate color impinging on the value of your birds. White is white, easy peasey. Also, with a 4x12 coop, unless you put a divider in , you may be subject to drafty conditions. Something the Chanties can deal well with.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA