Chicks grow best with friends to grow up with. Chicks pecking at their poop is common. You will find that chicks and chickens will peck at anything and everything 
Once chicks reach a certain maturity, it is near maintaince free (still feed/water). One lesson I learned by losing a few is roosters are not made to be in a coop with each other. I keep the rooster to hen ratio and let the remaining roosters roam freely till D-Day comes for them.
As to harvesting chickens, I did invest in a scalder and a plucker. I invested about $1,200 and after my 1st session, I was pleased that I did. Now if their was an easy way to gut them
After a few seasons of slaughtering chickens, I am quite handy at it now.
Just hang in there and don't give up! if you need more chicks, try your local feed stores. Feedstore near me sells chicks at cost to create sales for starter feed (clever tactic). You can always get fertile eggs local and incubate them.
Kevin - Ohio
Once chicks reach a certain maturity, it is near maintaince free (still feed/water). One lesson I learned by losing a few is roosters are not made to be in a coop with each other. I keep the rooster to hen ratio and let the remaining roosters roam freely till D-Day comes for them.As to harvesting chickens, I did invest in a scalder and a plucker. I invested about $1,200 and after my 1st session, I was pleased that I did. Now if their was an easy way to gut them
After a few seasons of slaughtering chickens, I am quite handy at it now.Just hang in there and don't give up! if you need more chicks, try your local feed stores. Feedstore near me sells chicks at cost to create sales for starter feed (clever tactic). You can always get fertile eggs local and incubate them.
Kevin - Ohio
