- Dec 2, 2012
- 20
- 1
- 24
I just got into raising back yard chickens and other birds! A friend was getting a divorce and gave me 18 hens, 1 rooster, 4 geese, 1 turkey, 1 peacock! Well the peacock ran away from home, and the coyotes ate 10 of the hens. They were all free range.. Not any more. So my husband and I closed in one of the stalls in the horse barn and turned it into a coop! They didn't like @ first but now they are all happy again and safe from the coyotes. The geese are still free range, they didn't like being confined--@ all--the original angry birds are guarding the property. We also have 68 Mexican brown head whistling ducks that have taken up residence in the pond--they figured this lady feeds us we are staying--they have been here for 2 months now. I also have 6 horses and 4 cows and 4 dogs!
So after the coyote carnage we were left with:
4 white hens--for sure 2 are Leghorns the other 2 not so sure (I think they are white rocks)--I will send pictures so someone can help identify them!
3 black hens--Australop
1 Dominique--I call her Joan Crawford--she is a mean one!
We have closed in 1 stall in our barn (now all are safe)--attached to the back of that stall is a stall where we used to wean babies--so it's huge--we are now in the process of closing that in and adding a chicken run that's covered--we also have lot's of hawks--When complete they will have 3 12'x12' stalls & 1 12'-24' stall as a coop with a run!
So i went out & purchased:
6 red sex-links--They are adorable--just start laying little brown eggs!!
10 Cuckoo Marans--they are just so sweet--the person I purchased them from said they would begin laying in April!!
And about to get 10 Amercaunas.
Also my friend gave me 2 Americauna roosters--1 very sweet the other not so much! And one Red Pyle rooster--he is about to go to a new home--he is very nasty and mean! I can't wait for the coop expansion to be finished so I can separate all 3 roosters in separate pens. They don't really fight--but 2 of them pick on 1 rooster all the time.
Loving this chicken stuff--still learning how to do everything--I ordered a book to help. My next challenge is to learn how to raise babies--anyone have any ideas on incubators? I only want to try about 12 eggs @ first??? But first I need to get my book in and see what all that requires.
I put vinegar in my water and wash out the water containers daily as per a friend (old cattle rancher) & I give them fresh collard greens and fresh garlic twice a week (also another tip from my old cattle rancher friend)!
So in closing any and all information would be helpful!-no information turned away! The accidental chicken farmer!
So after the coyote carnage we were left with:
4 white hens--for sure 2 are Leghorns the other 2 not so sure (I think they are white rocks)--I will send pictures so someone can help identify them!
3 black hens--Australop
1 Dominique--I call her Joan Crawford--she is a mean one!
We have closed in 1 stall in our barn (now all are safe)--attached to the back of that stall is a stall where we used to wean babies--so it's huge--we are now in the process of closing that in and adding a chicken run that's covered--we also have lot's of hawks--When complete they will have 3 12'x12' stalls & 1 12'-24' stall as a coop with a run!
So i went out & purchased:
6 red sex-links--They are adorable--just start laying little brown eggs!!
10 Cuckoo Marans--they are just so sweet--the person I purchased them from said they would begin laying in April!!
And about to get 10 Amercaunas.
Also my friend gave me 2 Americauna roosters--1 very sweet the other not so much! And one Red Pyle rooster--he is about to go to a new home--he is very nasty and mean! I can't wait for the coop expansion to be finished so I can separate all 3 roosters in separate pens. They don't really fight--but 2 of them pick on 1 rooster all the time.
Loving this chicken stuff--still learning how to do everything--I ordered a book to help. My next challenge is to learn how to raise babies--anyone have any ideas on incubators? I only want to try about 12 eggs @ first??? But first I need to get my book in and see what all that requires.
I put vinegar in my water and wash out the water containers daily as per a friend (old cattle rancher) & I give them fresh collard greens and fresh garlic twice a week (also another tip from my old cattle rancher friend)!
So in closing any and all information would be helpful!-no information turned away! The accidental chicken farmer!
