Hello,
I live in Central Florida. Instead of buying chicks every year. I want to establish a flock. I would like to have 20 layers and 200 meat chickens each year.
I thinking of using Rhode Island Reds.
Where are some places that I can buy quality breeding stock? After my flock is established. I plan to buy roster chicks every year for breeding.
Hear I can raise 2 groups of chickens a year. Early spring and in the fall.
How many rosters do I need? How long is it recommended to keep a breeding roster?
I plan to put the rosters in with the hens to breed the hens. I will have a separate house for the roosters. To collect the fertilized eggs. And hatch them in an incubator. Then raise the chicks normally.
I would appreciate any and all advice.
What is the recommended square foot space for inside and outside?
For my new chicken house. I plan to have a fenced in yard on both sides of my chicken house. The top will be covered in small chicken wire to keep wild birds our. I will let the chickens in on pen and raise my garden in the other pen. (No tomatoes) we have 2 crops a year. Then close one chicken door and open the other door. Then the chickens can eat my garden plants especially the weeds and seeds. I expect them to eat all the insects feeding on my garden and to fertilize. At the same time I will plant a new garden in the other pen. That is hopefully weed free, insect free and fertilized.
Will this plan work. I plan on putting up a temporary fence down the middle of the pen to keep the layers and chicks separated.
I live in Central Florida. Instead of buying chicks every year. I want to establish a flock. I would like to have 20 layers and 200 meat chickens each year.
I thinking of using Rhode Island Reds.
Where are some places that I can buy quality breeding stock? After my flock is established. I plan to buy roster chicks every year for breeding.
Hear I can raise 2 groups of chickens a year. Early spring and in the fall.
How many rosters do I need? How long is it recommended to keep a breeding roster?
I plan to put the rosters in with the hens to breed the hens. I will have a separate house for the roosters. To collect the fertilized eggs. And hatch them in an incubator. Then raise the chicks normally.
I would appreciate any and all advice.
What is the recommended square foot space for inside and outside?
For my new chicken house. I plan to have a fenced in yard on both sides of my chicken house. The top will be covered in small chicken wire to keep wild birds our. I will let the chickens in on pen and raise my garden in the other pen. (No tomatoes) we have 2 crops a year. Then close one chicken door and open the other door. Then the chickens can eat my garden plants especially the weeds and seeds. I expect them to eat all the insects feeding on my garden and to fertilize. At the same time I will plant a new garden in the other pen. That is hopefully weed free, insect free and fertilized.
Will this plan work. I plan on putting up a temporary fence down the middle of the pen to keep the layers and chicks separated.
