DellaMyDarling
Songster
I've been reading through threads getting a bit of info. Here's a few other questions I have, and would welcome comments on my "plan".
We've decided to build a coop similar to this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...icken-coop-plans-and-progress-pictures.47946/
Originally I just wanted a 6-10 flock of Orpington, we were going to scale down the size of that coop design to better suit the flock I wanted. I'm starting to change my mind about meat birds, I think I now want some!
We have several acres we own, abutting many many acres owned by our neighbors. Woods, lush rolling lawn, and orchard. The neighborhood chickens all free range and that was my plan too. Quite nice to see the neighbor birds wander around our yard!
I see a lot of mix regarding free ranging meat birds, some people coop the meats and let eggers free. I also see there's a meat bird called Free Rangers. Hmm, looks like that could suit us. I just started research but also see Orpington is considered a mix use bird. Thoughts on Free Rangers for meat? Orpington? I "think" I want a mix flock, birds for specific purpose. Thoughts on one coop for all birds?
Here's my other thoughts.
Free Rangers, about a 12 week maturity. I know I can get faster growers but it sounds as though bird quality suffers on taste, health, and life quality the faster they mature. I wish to be a conscientious meat muncher in terms of their health and happiness, and I am unclear about our town bylaws, so I was considering multiple "batches" of meat birds per year. Keeps coop cleaner and we can build smaller, requires way less freezer space (electricity is crazy expensive here), lets the lawn stay healthy, etc. Also, since we're a New England home, there's way less for a free range chicken to eat outside a third of the year. Not having a meat flock to sustain in winter is more cost effective I think.
I'm in New England, again, so we can't get chicks shipped in winter. How about three batches per year: spring, summer, early fall?
I also considered over ordering the desired Orpington, I believe term is straight run, in hopes of getting one rooster so that Orpington ladies might reproduce for me. Now knowing Orpington is good eats, I wouldn't hesitate to cull the potential extra males (which are just as tasty, right?)
I'm terms of bird quantity...I know this is hard to estimate. Three batches would help determine need better for sure.
We feed our dog home made food, consisting of chicken for protein. More research needed, but I saw some people buy a good quality grinder to grind up the less desirable or non human edible parts of bird. Sounds like good dog food addition to me! She eats about 8 pounds of chicken, with livers, mix of dark and light meats, per 10 days. Let's say 28 pounds of meat a month for pooch.
Our family eats a wide variety of meat. If I guess right, 3-5 pounds a week...let's guess 15 pounds a month. If we HAD more in freezer, we'd eat more, it would not waste it's just expensive for decent meat in my area!
What's your estimate on meat bird order?
Do you feed your meat birds the same as your eggers? What do you recommend in feed?
Will meat birds have an instinct or ability to lay? Be fertilized by rooster? Do I need to be concerned about them bothering the eggers nesting boxes?
I've seen mixed reports about introducing small birds with big birds. Would you have any concerns about each new batch of meat birds being added to the eggers? Of course, I know I need appropriate housing for the wee chicks separate until they're a few weeks older. I hear I should have them visible to rest of flock, just not accessible to bigger birds.
Favorite company to order from?
We've decided to build a coop similar to this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...icken-coop-plans-and-progress-pictures.47946/
Originally I just wanted a 6-10 flock of Orpington, we were going to scale down the size of that coop design to better suit the flock I wanted. I'm starting to change my mind about meat birds, I think I now want some!
We have several acres we own, abutting many many acres owned by our neighbors. Woods, lush rolling lawn, and orchard. The neighborhood chickens all free range and that was my plan too. Quite nice to see the neighbor birds wander around our yard!
I see a lot of mix regarding free ranging meat birds, some people coop the meats and let eggers free. I also see there's a meat bird called Free Rangers. Hmm, looks like that could suit us. I just started research but also see Orpington is considered a mix use bird. Thoughts on Free Rangers for meat? Orpington? I "think" I want a mix flock, birds for specific purpose. Thoughts on one coop for all birds?
Here's my other thoughts.
Free Rangers, about a 12 week maturity. I know I can get faster growers but it sounds as though bird quality suffers on taste, health, and life quality the faster they mature. I wish to be a conscientious meat muncher in terms of their health and happiness, and I am unclear about our town bylaws, so I was considering multiple "batches" of meat birds per year. Keeps coop cleaner and we can build smaller, requires way less freezer space (electricity is crazy expensive here), lets the lawn stay healthy, etc. Also, since we're a New England home, there's way less for a free range chicken to eat outside a third of the year. Not having a meat flock to sustain in winter is more cost effective I think.
I'm in New England, again, so we can't get chicks shipped in winter. How about three batches per year: spring, summer, early fall?
I also considered over ordering the desired Orpington, I believe term is straight run, in hopes of getting one rooster so that Orpington ladies might reproduce for me. Now knowing Orpington is good eats, I wouldn't hesitate to cull the potential extra males (which are just as tasty, right?)
I'm terms of bird quantity...I know this is hard to estimate. Three batches would help determine need better for sure.
We feed our dog home made food, consisting of chicken for protein. More research needed, but I saw some people buy a good quality grinder to grind up the less desirable or non human edible parts of bird. Sounds like good dog food addition to me! She eats about 8 pounds of chicken, with livers, mix of dark and light meats, per 10 days. Let's say 28 pounds of meat a month for pooch.
Our family eats a wide variety of meat. If I guess right, 3-5 pounds a week...let's guess 15 pounds a month. If we HAD more in freezer, we'd eat more, it would not waste it's just expensive for decent meat in my area!
What's your estimate on meat bird order?
Do you feed your meat birds the same as your eggers? What do you recommend in feed?
Will meat birds have an instinct or ability to lay? Be fertilized by rooster? Do I need to be concerned about them bothering the eggers nesting boxes?
I've seen mixed reports about introducing small birds with big birds. Would you have any concerns about each new batch of meat birds being added to the eggers? Of course, I know I need appropriate housing for the wee chicks separate until they're a few weeks older. I hear I should have them visible to rest of flock, just not accessible to bigger birds.
Favorite company to order from?
