HomeFarmlove
Chirping
- May 12, 2020
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Hello everyone,
My name is Terri and I am new to raising chickens. I have 18 4-5 week old chicks. Two Rhode Island Reds, Two Chucko Murans, 10 Easter Eggers (straight run) and 4 Silver Laced Wyandotte’s. Most are looking like females at this point. But not sure. My two Rhode Island Reds are supposed to be females (Marans and wyandottes too), but one of them is getting a redish comb.
We live on 6 1/2 acres in the PNW. Half our land is protected. We have a new 1/4 acre fenced in garden, and it is in it‘s beginning stages of planting. We have cherry, apple, plum, walnut, blueberries, aronia, strawberries, kiwi, and many herbs so far. We have had a good spring.
We have always had gardens of some kind. But never a small ”farm” like now.
I have always wanted to raise chickens. When I was a little girl I received a chick for Easter. It grew up to be a rooster and lived on my friends farm. That is the extent of my experience. Lol. But hubby and I are learning fast. The chicks are so well behaved, and funny. We are planning on using the eggs for ourselves and our neighbors. We are not planning on eating them. I am sorting out my feelings about eating chicken at all now that I have them here. Maybe others go through this when they get their own chickens? I have taken a chicken class at the local farm store and watched dozens of chicken videos. But still feel experience is the best teacher : )
My question at the moment is that now they are 5 weeks can I let them out in a small pen to forage? I am not sure if chickens know what not to eat when out in the wild. The area I am thinking of putting them in has all kinds of plants...chickweed, cleavers, clovers, grasses, wild blackberry and raspberry vines, all kinds of mustard family and dandelion family, huckleberry, current, and many plants I do not yet know. Also there is ragwort tansy, and foxglove. Those two I am sure would not be okay and I have been digging them out of the area. Do chicks know what not to eat?
Thanks so much!
My name is Terri and I am new to raising chickens. I have 18 4-5 week old chicks. Two Rhode Island Reds, Two Chucko Murans, 10 Easter Eggers (straight run) and 4 Silver Laced Wyandotte’s. Most are looking like females at this point. But not sure. My two Rhode Island Reds are supposed to be females (Marans and wyandottes too), but one of them is getting a redish comb.
We live on 6 1/2 acres in the PNW. Half our land is protected. We have a new 1/4 acre fenced in garden, and it is in it‘s beginning stages of planting. We have cherry, apple, plum, walnut, blueberries, aronia, strawberries, kiwi, and many herbs so far. We have had a good spring.
We have always had gardens of some kind. But never a small ”farm” like now.
I have always wanted to raise chickens. When I was a little girl I received a chick for Easter. It grew up to be a rooster and lived on my friends farm. That is the extent of my experience. Lol. But hubby and I are learning fast. The chicks are so well behaved, and funny. We are planning on using the eggs for ourselves and our neighbors. We are not planning on eating them. I am sorting out my feelings about eating chicken at all now that I have them here. Maybe others go through this when they get their own chickens? I have taken a chicken class at the local farm store and watched dozens of chicken videos. But still feel experience is the best teacher : )
My question at the moment is that now they are 5 weeks can I let them out in a small pen to forage? I am not sure if chickens know what not to eat when out in the wild. The area I am thinking of putting them in has all kinds of plants...chickweed, cleavers, clovers, grasses, wild blackberry and raspberry vines, all kinds of mustard family and dandelion family, huckleberry, current, and many plants I do not yet know. Also there is ragwort tansy, and foxglove. Those two I am sure would not be okay and I have been digging them out of the area. Do chicks know what not to eat?
Thanks so much!
Glad you joined.
Thank you all!
