Howdy all, I'm new to raising chickens, or actually getting ready to raise chickens and thought this might be a good place to start.
5 years ago my wife and I purchased 10 acres of fallow farm land. We've been busy reforesting about 5 acres of it and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of it. To the point, we're both sick of flavorless antibiotic fill battery eggs and want some good farm fresh eggs that taste like something. And should we desire a fresh chicken from time to time, although that's not our main focus, we have that option. We have the area to do it so why not?
On our property there is a 108 year old farm house and 3 out buildings. One of which we've decided would make a perfect chicken coop. It was in a former life, many many years ago, a hog house. We know this not because someone told us but because we grew up in the Midwest and can sniff out a farms inhabitants long before we can see them. This building has that unmistakable lingering nose of hog. The building is ~20' x 30' with a concrete floor. Currently we're using about 2/3rds of it for storing wood for our wood stove. That leaves a 20' x 10' for our impending flock. My plan is to section it off with wire, add some roosts and nesting boxes and cut a few small doors for 3 separate runs so I can rotate the flock into fresh areas. I'd like to free range them as much as possible but they will have to be confined at night and in the winter. I know there are Fox, Skunk, Mink, Ferrets, Raccoons, Red Tail Hawks, Bald Eagles and Great Northern Owls in our area, we see them frequently. So a comfy secure confinement is critical. I'm also considering a movable range house (aka summer palace). We have an area that is about 300'x60' that we do little with. I was think that if we get a good foraging breed they could find lots of things to eat in an area that large (gotta flavor those eggs
). I'd roll the Range house along one edge (long side) and fence the area off in 60'x30' sections. Moving the fencing about once a week when the chickens have eaten the grass down. I'll most likely get a electrified poultry fence to protect the bird while we're at work and at night. On weekends I plan to let them roam the entire yard/tree lot for forage.
So here's my first question for you all. How many problems can you find in my well laid plans so far? I know this will be a lot of work but I'm it doesn't bother me at all. I grew up in farm country bailing hay, cutting wood, running fences etc so it's not a problem.
Now for breeds. We were originally considering a nice quite, docile breed that would give us enough eggs for our personal needs (ie Buff Orpingtons). BUT I've mentioned to a few friends of mine that we might be getting chickens and would be enjoying fresh eggs when ever we wanted. Out of the walls they came, everyone I've mentioned this to has offered to buy "any extra eggs" we might have. I could easily get rid of 8 dozen a week and only a hand full of my acquaintances even know about this. I'm not looking to start a commercial operation here but I was thinking that if we had a few extra eggs to sell we could at least supplement the cost of feeding our flock. The minimum order , for the hatchery I'm looking at, is 25 chicks. We have the room and I figure raising 10 chickens and raising 25 isn't that much different since we have the room. So now I'm thinking a flock of Rhode Island Reds (25 hens 3 chocks) might work better for us. Good egg producers and docile enough for my kids to deal with. And the real bonus is that they are very good foragers so they will fit into my free range idea very well.
Second question, are the reds the best choice? I'd like to stick with a pure breed and not the sex-linked so that in the future if the bug bits me I could raise a few chicks.
Third question, am I making a mistake looking at breeds that are more prolific egg layers? It was never our intent to sell eggs but like I said I could sell 8+dozen a week and I don't have any chickens right now. And since the set up will be the most expensive part a few extra chickens won't be that expensive to keep. Especially if I can sell a few eggs to off set the cost.
Anyway that's enough for now. I'm sure I'll be back frequently and will have a ton of questions.
Oh sorry one last question, Anyone live near Wilton Iowa? I'd love to stop by and see a small operation in action.
Thanks All
Clay
5 years ago my wife and I purchased 10 acres of fallow farm land. We've been busy reforesting about 5 acres of it and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of it. To the point, we're both sick of flavorless antibiotic fill battery eggs and want some good farm fresh eggs that taste like something. And should we desire a fresh chicken from time to time, although that's not our main focus, we have that option. We have the area to do it so why not?
On our property there is a 108 year old farm house and 3 out buildings. One of which we've decided would make a perfect chicken coop. It was in a former life, many many years ago, a hog house. We know this not because someone told us but because we grew up in the Midwest and can sniff out a farms inhabitants long before we can see them. This building has that unmistakable lingering nose of hog. The building is ~20' x 30' with a concrete floor. Currently we're using about 2/3rds of it for storing wood for our wood stove. That leaves a 20' x 10' for our impending flock. My plan is to section it off with wire, add some roosts and nesting boxes and cut a few small doors for 3 separate runs so I can rotate the flock into fresh areas. I'd like to free range them as much as possible but they will have to be confined at night and in the winter. I know there are Fox, Skunk, Mink, Ferrets, Raccoons, Red Tail Hawks, Bald Eagles and Great Northern Owls in our area, we see them frequently. So a comfy secure confinement is critical. I'm also considering a movable range house (aka summer palace). We have an area that is about 300'x60' that we do little with. I was think that if we get a good foraging breed they could find lots of things to eat in an area that large (gotta flavor those eggs
So here's my first question for you all. How many problems can you find in my well laid plans so far? I know this will be a lot of work but I'm it doesn't bother me at all. I grew up in farm country bailing hay, cutting wood, running fences etc so it's not a problem.
Now for breeds. We were originally considering a nice quite, docile breed that would give us enough eggs for our personal needs (ie Buff Orpingtons). BUT I've mentioned to a few friends of mine that we might be getting chickens and would be enjoying fresh eggs when ever we wanted. Out of the walls they came, everyone I've mentioned this to has offered to buy "any extra eggs" we might have. I could easily get rid of 8 dozen a week and only a hand full of my acquaintances even know about this. I'm not looking to start a commercial operation here but I was thinking that if we had a few extra eggs to sell we could at least supplement the cost of feeding our flock. The minimum order , for the hatchery I'm looking at, is 25 chicks. We have the room and I figure raising 10 chickens and raising 25 isn't that much different since we have the room. So now I'm thinking a flock of Rhode Island Reds (25 hens 3 chocks) might work better for us. Good egg producers and docile enough for my kids to deal with. And the real bonus is that they are very good foragers so they will fit into my free range idea very well.
Second question, are the reds the best choice? I'd like to stick with a pure breed and not the sex-linked so that in the future if the bug bits me I could raise a few chicks.
Third question, am I making a mistake looking at breeds that are more prolific egg layers? It was never our intent to sell eggs but like I said I could sell 8+dozen a week and I don't have any chickens right now. And since the set up will be the most expensive part a few extra chickens won't be that expensive to keep. Especially if I can sell a few eggs to off set the cost.
Anyway that's enough for now. I'm sure I'll be back frequently and will have a ton of questions.
Oh sorry one last question, Anyone live near Wilton Iowa? I'd love to stop by and see a small operation in action.
Thanks All
Clay
