Hello all, my name is Ariel! I'm completely new to the whole barnyard animal scene really. I grew up next to a farm but my neighbors scared me and so did their animals! Haha since then I've been very timid toward them. Well recently I befriended an old friend of my boyfriend's. They live on a farm scene of course! horses, cows, chickens, goats, sheep, the barnyard usuals!!! Well I got interested in possibly getting a chicken (if I can talk my man into it!!!) and I thought I'd get info and whatnot first. So my main thing is building the coop! We know friends who may have a little extra materials but we are pretty poor so we can't afford much. :/ I'm willing to build up materials though. and I would like to know what they can't eat. Our friends said they eat most of anything such as bread, crackers, beans, the works. Haha but what should I avoid giving them? I'm on a budget so giving them stuff like that (leftovers) would really help! Also, we need good laying hens. That's my main point to him is saving money and also selling eggs! I heard the Buff Orpington is a great laying hen and very calm mannered. Not temperamental. I am still scared of them a bit afterall.. lol so I think that'd be a good starter for us. Should I get one or two? How much do they eat and what? So many questions! Lol sorry for the long first message I'm just overwhelmed. thanks in advance!!!!
Welcome to BYC, Ariel. I'm glad you decided to join our flock. I would suggest checking out the Getting Started Raising Chickens section of our Learning Center at https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens. Bread, crackers, scratch, corn, and other starchy foods are all treats for chickens and should make up less than 10 % of their diet as they are not specially formulated like commercial feeds to meet all of your chickens' nutritional needs. Too many treats will make them fat and unhealthy. It's the equivalent of us eating potato chips and candy bars. Buff Orpingtons are a wonderful breed. I've raised them for years (still have some in my flock), and they are very hardy, calm and gentle (my children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of them), and good layers of large, brown eggs. Being larger, dual purpose breeds, they will eat quite a bit, but since you are planning only a small flock, the cost should not be a major problem. There is a good article on feeding chickens at different ages at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/feeding-chickens-at-different-ages.html. Definitely get at least two (hens, not a hen and a rooster) as chickens are gregarious birds and like company. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting your BOs.
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. Michael has given you good links and info. Buff orpingtons are my personal favorite chicken breed. They are docile, affectionate, friendly, great layers, cold hardy, good foragers and lovely birds. Their eggs are large and brown and are laid almost every day. You will love them! Defiantly go for this breed! And you should most defiantly get at least two. Chickens are social creatures and require the company of others of their kind. Without it, they become depressed, lethargic and lonely. If you are wanting lots of eggs then you should get more hens than just the two. Chickens are omnivores and will eat most anything including eggs and meat! Here is a list of kitchen scraps to avoid feeding them: Moldy Foods Anything Salty Asparagus-This will change the flavor of a hen’s egg to a bad taste but it otherwise is not harmful. Avocado-Avocado has a fatty acid in it called “persin” which sadly can be fatal to chickens and sometimes other birds. Green Areas of Potatoes, Peels and Potato Sprouts-All are poisonous to chickens and you personally shouldn’t eat them either! Herbs and Plants to Stay Away from-Azalea, philodendron, rhododendron, sweet pea, black nightshade, foxglove, oleander, castor bean, vetch, henbane, irises, lantana, St. john's wort, trumpets vine, morning glory, datura, clematis and honeysuckle. If any of the herbs you are wondering about are not listed in this book, look them up before giving to your flock. Leaves from Tomato, Pepper, Potato, Eggplant or Nightshade Plants Onions-Onions contain a substance called “thiosulphate” which will kill red blood cells, cause anemia and sometimes even result in death. Potatoes-Surprisingly, potatoes contain solanine which causes diarrhea, heart failure and kills red blood cells. However, sweet potatoes do not contain this substance and are perfectly fine and dandy to feed to your flock. Sweet potato fries are also fine as long as they aren’t salted. Processed Foods and Sweets Raw, Dry Beans Raw Peanuts and Other Nuts Rhubarb leaves-Rhubarb leaves surprisingly contain oxalic acid which is poisonous to chickens. Remember, kitchen scraps along with other goodies should only take up 10% of their daily diet. You will need to buy your chicks a grower or chick starter feed and then once they reach 18 weeks switch them to a 16-18% layer feed along with calcium. Be sure to check out the feeding link provided by Michael. Here are another two to look at https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/feeding-at-different-ages https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/feeding-chickens-an-introductory-guide Good luck and keep us posted!
Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you. You've received some great information already from the above posters!
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Mountain Peeps and Michael have given you some great advice and information. Enjoy this wonderful new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
Hi and welcome to BYC! I found this chicken treat chart very helpful, especially when I was new to raising them: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens Good luck and be sure to ask questions if you need help.