So, meat project #1 finished about 2 months ago. We have been sadly chickenless while nibbling away at the delicious goodness in the freezer. Now that the wedding is over, I am allowed to get more chickens! I still lost the battle on the laying hens, but a friend of mine has tons of excess eggs right now so its not a huge issue.
So, I've ordered 25 "Barbecue Special" chicks from Murray McMurray. I am praying that it will not be 100+ degrees outside when they arrive the last week of August!
I am trying to improve on my system last time. Some thoughts-
1. I think I should be able to brood them outside this time of year. Even at night, the coldest its getting is down into the 80's and I do have a heat lamp that I can add if needed. Does anyone do this?
2. Feed- I spent a TON on feed last time, and although I realize to some degree this is unavoidable, I am going to try to supplement more with "pasture". My other thoughts were- raising mealworms or other bugs as a supplement to their diet, and possibly sprouting some clover or alfalfa as a supplemental forage. Any thoughts?
3. Housing- my last group was raised in a 15x5ft dog run with access to a grass Xpen when I was home. My chickens are moderately illegal (ok in our town but not in our HOA), we have privacy fencing on 3 sides with the back opening up to a creek bed. I would like to have these guys get more access to the outdoors, but am still not entirely comfy leaving them out of the dog run while I am at work... we have a lot of foxes and worse, stray dogs around here. But, since I'm home 3 days a week,, I would like to fence off a corner of my acre yard for them to run around on. How high/what type of fencing? I am still to paranoid to let them run loose when we're not home for fear of escapees and pissing off the neighbors, who apparently never noticed that we ever had chickens in the first place.
My last group of cornish were not very "escape" minded, but the other roosters thought it was funny to jump the fence and wander around a bit.
Sorry that this is so long! We are moving in about a year so I don't want to put in any permanent structures. I have looked at electric poultry netting but don't really want to invest $300+ at this time.
THANK YOU as always for your fabulous ideas and advice!
So, I've ordered 25 "Barbecue Special" chicks from Murray McMurray. I am praying that it will not be 100+ degrees outside when they arrive the last week of August!
I am trying to improve on my system last time. Some thoughts-
1. I think I should be able to brood them outside this time of year. Even at night, the coldest its getting is down into the 80's and I do have a heat lamp that I can add if needed. Does anyone do this?
2. Feed- I spent a TON on feed last time, and although I realize to some degree this is unavoidable, I am going to try to supplement more with "pasture". My other thoughts were- raising mealworms or other bugs as a supplement to their diet, and possibly sprouting some clover or alfalfa as a supplemental forage. Any thoughts?
3. Housing- my last group was raised in a 15x5ft dog run with access to a grass Xpen when I was home. My chickens are moderately illegal (ok in our town but not in our HOA), we have privacy fencing on 3 sides with the back opening up to a creek bed. I would like to have these guys get more access to the outdoors, but am still not entirely comfy leaving them out of the dog run while I am at work... we have a lot of foxes and worse, stray dogs around here. But, since I'm home 3 days a week,, I would like to fence off a corner of my acre yard for them to run around on. How high/what type of fencing? I am still to paranoid to let them run loose when we're not home for fear of escapees and pissing off the neighbors, who apparently never noticed that we ever had chickens in the first place.
My last group of cornish were not very "escape" minded, but the other roosters thought it was funny to jump the fence and wander around a bit.
Sorry that this is so long! We are moving in about a year so I don't want to put in any permanent structures. I have looked at electric poultry netting but don't really want to invest $300+ at this time.
THANK YOU as always for your fabulous ideas and advice!