How challenging is chicken keeping?

[chicknextdoor]

Hi everyone!

So I'm fairly new in the chicken keeping world. A few extended family members keep chickens and convinced me a while back to take up the lifestyle! I haven't gotten any chicks yet, but am planning on obtaining 3 Barred Rocks and 2 Easter Eggers to mostly free range on my 1/2 acre of land.

I've spent a considerable amount of time reading/researching, and have just finished Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. As informative as that book was, it has me completely spooked. It seems to detail every possible disease/injury/danger that my future chickens could come across and has shaken my confidence more than a bit.

SO I was hoping that you lovely souls might be able to restore my confidence? If anybody out there could tell me a story about a healthy flock or an easily cured illness, I would so greatly appreciate it. Or even if you've had chickens succumb to illness or predators, maybe it was still worth it? Really any words of wisdom would be welcome.

Thank you so much!

 

[Cindy in PA]

I had the same problem after reading a book 22 years ago. Ignore most of the stuff. The reason I wanted chickens was because I read an great article in Mother Earth News in 1993 & then I read a book, which was mostly geared toward factory chickens at the time & I freaked. I have had chickens for 22 years & have had 2 taken by predators, about 4 die of unknown causes etc. I clean the coop 2 times a year, feed them well & give them plenty of room now that they don't free range. It really is not that hard or complicated, some people just make it that way! As long as the chickens look & act healthy & lay eggs regularly, they are usually OK. Take a deep breath & jump in. You will lose some, especially if they free range, but it's still worth it in the end. It's just the way of nature. JMHO

 

[allpeepedout]

Chickens are sooo much easier than almost any other pet or livestock I have had. They take far less care and have fewer issues than cats, dogs, horses, cows, or goats, in my experience.

I started 5 years ago with the same breeds you are considering, but I got 3 BR and 4 EE. I handled them extensively, and one BR turned out to be a roo. The hens are all very gentle. The roo was challenging at first but the hens seem very happy to have him and there are techniques for handling roosters that worked with mine. I have had no illnesses or issues so far.

My hens started laying like crazy at 5 months and now approaching 5 years old I am still getting 4 eggs a day from 6 hens. They do take increasingly long winter breaks. I don't think BRs and EEs are top picks for free ranging, but that depends upon the predators in your area and any perimeter fencing. Most critically, you need to have a very secure coop -- and a very dry covered run is also a wonderful thing, especially during bad weather. Having very dry housing will reduce your cleanup, as will the free ranging.

The chickens have been a delight to observe and just enjoy, also.

Hopefully, a few thousand other enablers will chime in! Go for it.

 

[chicknextdoor]

Oh thank you so much guys! Even hearing just 2 people say that it's completely doable is inspiring!

And I'm so glad to hear that BRs and EEs have worked out well, allpeepedout. I adore the 2 breeds and look forward to it immensely!

 

[Blooie]

Welcome! You have nothing to worry about! After all, if a chicken can take care of a bunch of chicks, we can all do it, right? I thought taking care of chicks was hard at first too. In fact, I was so convinced that it was going to be hard that I made it hard - a self fulfilling prophecy! You said that you were getting chicks soon, and then you said you'd be getting 2 BR and 3 EE to mostly free-range. So I'm wondering if the birds you are getting will be little chicks or older pullets...if they are little dudes, you might enjoy this thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

And you might enjoy the videos on page 4 and page 8 of that thread. That should sorta sum up how difficult chick care is! And as always, we're all just a post away if you run into problems!

 

[Abesinger]

I was new to it a few years ago but trust me it's so easy I would get buff Orpingtons.. You do not need a rooster to have eggs also you probably can't have a rooster b/c of your 1/2 acer. I would say 4 hena would be good 4 u.. Hopes this helps

 

[chicknextdoor]

Blooie - I am going for younger chicks, so that thread was really helpful! Definitely saving that one to my bookmarks bar.

But Abesinger, aren't Buff Orpingtons broody? I just assumed that, as a first timer, I might not want broody hens to deal with (though I'm sure it's inevitable to a degree with any breed of hen). I'll definitely look into them though in the event that I happen to be mistaken on the broodiness.

Thank you so much everyone! LOVING the advice!

 

[bobbi-j]

Chicken keeping can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Their basic needs are food, water, and shelter from the elements. I have had a few chickens die for no apparent reason. Most of them were older laying hens - 3+ years or so. I generally don't keep them that long for that very reason. I have runs attached to my coops. My chickens free range most of the time, but when I get new ones that I want to acclimate to the coop or there are predator threats, or we're out of town, they get locked in the run/coop. I don't worm my chickens ever. I dusted once when my broody had mites or something. It's really not that complicated. Enjoy your new hobby!

ETA - if you get your chickens from a hatchery, they don't seem quite as likely to go broody. The general consensus is that it has been pretty much bred out of them. Not saying it won't happen, just not as much of a chance.

 

[iluvmybabiez]

Easy to raise em in my opinion.
I started out with 6, 2 Roos and 4 hens. I now have 40+ chickens, along with 2 ducks, 2 geese, 2 turkeys, and 4 guineas.

There are illnesses and chance of death, but that is unfortunately the way life goes we all gotta die. Raised with the best care and death can at least be halted and illnesses cured.

I incubated all the eggs that the first 6 created together and that is how I have my flock. Yes a select few did die during the incubating process, which was truly a heartbreaking experience. I have learned some things during it all, for the ones who do make it its worth it.

All you really need is the coop, or a chicken tractor with an egg box, some chicken feed based on their ages, and some water.

Raising chickens is a rewarding hobby, that can eat through budgets, but there is something peaceful about seeing them peck around. Each Bird has their own attitude, its so cute.

My first 6 birds were from a Polish (he assed away) and Silkie Roo, and the hens were Easter Egger, Ameraucana, California White, and a Rhode Island Red. So the mixes are beautiful! We recently just added a lavendar Orpington, Black Copper Maran, and two more Polish.

My Polish Roo out of the first 6 had passed away, two chicken hawks somehow got him and ripped his neck upon through a dog crate we had to temporarily place him in .
So for predators you definitely need to be prepared for that. The chicken coop needs to be completely fenced in, top, and bottom with chicken wire.
Chickens main enemies are foxes, coyotes, chicken hawks, racoon's, and opposums.

As for keeping little chicks this is a bit more trickier than keeping the adults, you will need water and chick feed. It's best to keep chicks indoors in a crate with a red bulb light over them. Just be sure to line the crate with bedding.

You'll also need to keep up with the different temperatures that chicks need as they grow, they prefer to be warm.
Week 1 90 - 95°
Week 2 85 - 90°
Week 3 80 - 85°
Week 4 75 - 80°
Week 5, 6, 7 70 - 75°
Week 8 65 - 70°
Week 9 65° minimum

Oh and chickens love scraps! Make sure they have plenty of grass too!

Anymore questions feel free to ask!

 

[chicknextdoor]

Thanks guys!

So question about the raising of chicks -

I assume that I'll get mine sometime within the first few days of hatching. If the temperature outside is already warm (we're looking at about 85-90 in August here), how long should I wait before moving them outdoors? It seems a little odd to wean the chicks down to anywhere under 70 degrees if I'm going to be moving them outside into a coop in 80+. Or is there already some agreed-upon number of weeks that chicks should absolutely be kept indoors in a brooder?

Apologies if any of this sounds bone-headed! There's just so much to learn!

Also - if anybody else has an opinion as to whether or not a Buff Orpington might be good for a first timer, I'd really appreciate it!