Hello everyone!!
Just wanted to introduce myself and let everyone know how excited I am about starting this fun process of having chickens. I am totally new to this chicken thing, but can't wait to learn how to do it!! We decided to start raising chickens not only for eggs, but also for meat so I really need some ideas and suggestions on how to keep it going without being without one or the other. We have two boys that are going to be helping and learning along the way with us.
I did a lot of research before I finally decided to buy Black Australorp chicks. I bought them from Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, MO which is only a couple of hours from here. I was going to wait and see what our local farm store (Atwoods) would have later this month, but decided not to risk it. The only thing is, I had to order a minimum of 15 chicks!! We are really only wanting to have 3-4 hens and 1 rooster, but now I am stuck with 16 pullets and 2 cockerels (EEK!). So the process will soon begin with thinning out our flock. My mom grew up on a farm in rural Oklahoma so she is very familiar with how to kill and process chickens, so that should be a big help. We live in a rural area in Oklahoma and don't have any restrictions, so we can't wait until we can move these guys out of our garage and into their coop!
What started all of this was our desire to live off the land and be as green as possible. We don't have enough land to ever consider ourselves farmers, but we want to do as much as we can. Chickens seem like a great starting point.
Anyway, I can't wait to talk to some of you guys and learn the ropes!!
Thanks!!
Joy
Just wanted to introduce myself and let everyone know how excited I am about starting this fun process of having chickens. I am totally new to this chicken thing, but can't wait to learn how to do it!! We decided to start raising chickens not only for eggs, but also for meat so I really need some ideas and suggestions on how to keep it going without being without one or the other. We have two boys that are going to be helping and learning along the way with us.
I did a lot of research before I finally decided to buy Black Australorp chicks. I bought them from Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon, MO which is only a couple of hours from here. I was going to wait and see what our local farm store (Atwoods) would have later this month, but decided not to risk it. The only thing is, I had to order a minimum of 15 chicks!! We are really only wanting to have 3-4 hens and 1 rooster, but now I am stuck with 16 pullets and 2 cockerels (EEK!). So the process will soon begin with thinning out our flock. My mom grew up on a farm in rural Oklahoma so she is very familiar with how to kill and process chickens, so that should be a big help. We live in a rural area in Oklahoma and don't have any restrictions, so we can't wait until we can move these guys out of our garage and into their coop!
What started all of this was our desire to live off the land and be as green as possible. We don't have enough land to ever consider ourselves farmers, but we want to do as much as we can. Chickens seem like a great starting point.
Anyway, I can't wait to talk to some of you guys and learn the ropes!!
Thanks!!
Joy
