Help for a newbie

[dcs02d]

I'm mid build on my first chicken coop and getting ready to buy a gerbil cage off craigslist to raise chicks.

I have a few questions -

I was originally thinking about getting chicks from a local feed store but all they have are rhode island reds and black sex link chicks. I want good egg layers that are docile as I have small kids; after reading it seems like the Delaware is a good fit. After reading some more it appears that breed is not around much and in fact I don't see them for sale anywhere. I'd also considered the Plymouth Rock, Sussex and Ameraucana.

I'm in Tallahassee FL; we have hot summers and two or three weeks a year of temperatures just below freezing at night. What breed would be best for me?
Should I order from the local feed store or will I do just as well via a hatchery such as http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com - I've read the good and bad reviews on these guys.

Old chickens - From my reading I would expect my hens to slow down laying after two years or so. Do most people 'process' the hens at the point; is the meat good from an egg laying breed? I'm not too keen on running a geriatric hen center and I do eat meat

Could someone recommend a good feeder and waterer for the chicks and for the adult hens.

Thanks for pointers - who knew there were so many breeds of chickens!

 

[Miss Dottie]

Hi! As for waterers, I use a quail waterer for my chicks. It is small enough that they can't get into it or run through it. It is the Little Giant brand and has a plastic base and a one quart glass jar on top. Lots of people use lots of different things but that has worked best for me.

Good luck with your chick ventures!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

A gerbil cage? How big is it? H ow many chicks are you getting? These chicks grow pretty quick. I just get one of those large watermelon boxes from walmart for free and it's perfect. RIR and sex links are two of the best layers around. You will get eggs from them almost every day

They are pretty well behaved too. Either one of those would be fine for your FL weather too.

Yes older chickens will slow down actually after a year and 1/2 most times. By two they seem to lay only 1/2 as many as they did before...seen sex links tho still laying an egg a day at 2 yrs old

They are great layers.

 

[yomama]

I haven't done the chick thing yet, but I have 4 adult hens. I use a "chicken nipple" for their waterers. ( It is a device, kind of like a "lick it" that you can put on a faucet for a dog). It screws into the bottom of anything, I have mine on a one gallon rubbermade container. Make sure you put air holes in the lid, otherwise the water won't come out. I love them, because they can't get any dirt or yuck in their water! It only took about a day or so for my girls to figure it out. I got mine online at Tractor Supply Co, I think. The "chicken nipple" itself was just a few bucks. I got the ones with "threads"on them, so it would twist in well. You just drill a hole slightly smaller than the nipple,in the bottom of whatever container you are using, twist it in, and hang it up. I use a clear container, so I can see how full it is. Also, when it was freezing temps out, I just hung a heat lamp up, shining at the container. Guess you could do that with any kind of waterer, though. I do have a word of warning. My avian vet said to exercise caution with these waterers. Make sure the vent holes in the lid are big enough to allow water to come out the other end. She has seen alot of birds dehydrated by not wanting to work so hard to get water, or water not coming out at all. But if installed correctly, it should be fine. Mine work great. Definatley nice not having to clean out buckets, that's for sure. As for food, since I have a small flock, I just use a dish with about 4" sides. High enough so they don't kick shavings in it. I think I will probably upgrade to a hanging steel feeder when I increase my flock. Hopes this helps in regards to your feeder and waterer question!

 

[chaneg78]

Yes you can eat them when they dont lay good anymore. People call them stewing hens. They are mainly good for chicken noodle soup or chicken and dumplings. A lot of people put them in crockpots for a day to make them tender. If I had to choose chickens I would get more than one kind, as long as you just want layers and not for breeding. Its more interesting to have different color chickens and different color eggs. Hatcherys are a good way to go if you just want hens because they can sex them so you only get hens. ( about 90 % accuracy) and some of them will ship small numbers. In florida you wont have to worry to much about freezing, chickens can withstand alot colder temps than florida ever sees. Good luck.

 

[ChickenPenPlans]

Another source for chicks is local farmers, veteran backyard growers and the 4-H. These folks are friendly and will have good advice for you about what breeds they like and their characteristics etc. They have bee there before you and are generally very willing to help. They offer chicks reasonably priced and will be available for questions later.

Hope this helps!