My kids are obsessed with chickens, so we agreed to let them become "mini chicken farmers" they do most of the work (they are currently 12, 5, and 2, our 4 month old is to young to help haha!)
We built our own coop, and the chickens live with our goats to reduce the chance of predators. Our dogs keep the yard around the goat pens pretty safe, so we haven't had many issues with unwanted visitors!
So far, so good.
I'm mostly here, because I wanted to figure out the best way to do things for the kids and to reduce issues since it really upsets my daughters when her chickens die.
We are raising a new batch now - and if she likes the raising them part, I told her she can use the incubator and try to raise a batch down the road from egg, to baby chicks, to outside in the coop.
We made them raise some older ones first that were ready to start laying (we got them between 14-16 weeks.) and they took care of them for a few months before I agreed to let her raise a batch of easter eggers.
If all goes well, I'll let her raise some in an incubator this fall -- We live in Texas, it doesn't get cold her until late nov-early dec. The local feed store told her they'd give her 50cents-1dollar per baby she brings in as long as she warns them before they hatch so they can be ready to advertise them. (I'm not sure if they'll take batches of 6-12, which is the size of her current incubator at the moment, so I'll have to look into that down the road too.)
(Okay i'm done now. hehe)
We built our own coop, and the chickens live with our goats to reduce the chance of predators. Our dogs keep the yard around the goat pens pretty safe, so we haven't had many issues with unwanted visitors!
So far, so good.
I'm mostly here, because I wanted to figure out the best way to do things for the kids and to reduce issues since it really upsets my daughters when her chickens die.
We are raising a new batch now - and if she likes the raising them part, I told her she can use the incubator and try to raise a batch down the road from egg, to baby chicks, to outside in the coop.
We made them raise some older ones first that were ready to start laying (we got them between 14-16 weeks.) and they took care of them for a few months before I agreed to let her raise a batch of easter eggers.
If all goes well, I'll let her raise some in an incubator this fall -- We live in Texas, it doesn't get cold her until late nov-early dec. The local feed store told her they'd give her 50cents-1dollar per baby she brings in as long as she warns them before they hatch so they can be ready to advertise them. (I'm not sure if they'll take batches of 6-12, which is the size of her current incubator at the moment, so I'll have to look into that down the road too.)
(Okay i'm done now. hehe)
. Happ you joined our flock. Beautiful family you have. Best of luck to you! 
I'm still hoping to convert him!
