New to Chickens and the forum

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manicfarmer

manicfarmer

In the Brooder
Apr 16, 2015
43
2
24
This is my first attempt at raising chickens with a goal of feeding my family meat and eggs without relying on buying those items from the stores. I read The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising Chickens and Other Fowl for Home and Market Growers and Harvey suggested that 50 chickens would be a good number to target with that goal in mind and a family of my size. So I ordered 30 baby chicks in March and received another 20 in April. I have about 6 different breeds in total because I wanted to try and see which ones I like best. I fenced in about a half acre area to serve as my chicken pasture, floating gardens and orchards. Seeded it in early February with rye, clover, bermuda and alfalfa (most of which will die in a month or so because I am in the far south, but gives the chickens to graze on something while the bermuda takes) and I have the first flock grazing on pasture as we speak. I had to put them out earlier than I would have liked because the hatchery sent me too many chicks (warmer chicks) and my brooder was overcrowded. The 5 different breeds in there didn't help things either. So to avoid further chaos I had to move that batch onto pasture at 3 weeks. I moved the heat lamp in the chicken tractor for them and they adjust well. That is a short background of my families goals and where I am at right now. I wanted to join a community like this to learn from others and share experiences.
 
Welcome to Backyard chickens. You seem to have everything under control. Have you made an observations re: what breeds you like best?
 
Hi :welcome

Glad you could join the flock! Have loved reading your intro on how you have got started with your chickens. They do grow so quickly so I totally understand how you ran out of brooder space.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your flock. Be sure to ask any questions everyone here to help and very friendly.

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat :frow
 
drumstick diva said:
Welcome to Backyard chickens. You seem to have everything under control. Have you made an observations re: what breeds you like best?
Click to expand...

Well, I have learned some things the hard way. I am sure I read along the way it isn't a great idea to mix too many breeds (or at least know which breeds to mix) while in the brooder. I ordered 3 and ended up with 5. I ordered 10 Red Rangers, 10 Barred Rocks and 10 Dark Cornish. I have 17 more Old English Games in the brooder right now that are two weeks along. So far I will say that the Red Rangers can eat you out of house and home. :) They are meant to grow to maturity in 12 weeks though so I guess it may all balance out over time. They seem to prefer the feed over the pasture although they forage well. The dark cornish seem to be the slowest growers in that bunch. They forage really well in the pasture as well as the Barred rocks. Although my Old English Games are only 2 weeks old, I do favor them in many ways. They don't seem to like to eat as much of the grain feed. I pick them some fresh crimson clover daily, roots and all and throw it in the brooder and they tear it up. The brooder is much more peaceful with only one breed all growing at the same pace.
 
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So glad you joined us!

I really enjoyed reading your intro, I also pasture my flock, and The small scale poultry flock is my all time favorite poultry book. Just watch that Bermuda grass, it is SUPER invasive. I hope you have lots of success with your flock!
 

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