Newbie in the coop!!

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Percheron chick said:
I think that starting with 70 chicks is overly ambitious.  20 sexlink hens is going to give you about 9 dozen eggs a week.  That's a ton.  They quickly get ahead of you.  You will be eating eggs for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  50 meat birds that will need to be processed in a very short window is also daunting until you have the process down pat.  50  4-5# birds will take up most of a freezer.  How much meat a week does the family eat and how long will that last?  Smaller batches that are only in the freezer for 2-3 months will taste better than one that has been in there for 6.  Yes, you probably do want to load up in the late fall to get through the winter but you will be processing these birds in June. You will want to start another batch of meat birds by September 1st.  

 Another thought instead of raising meat birds is to purchase straight run layers.  Naturally, you will end up with 50% roosters that will be headed to the freezer.  It will take longer but it can also give you a steady supply of fresh meat and if you don't have the time to process them, it's no big deal (you will house them separately from the layers),  Cornish X will keel over dead if they get too old whereas a DP cockerel just eats more.
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We certainly are ambitious!! 9 dozen a week is great as we live off a good road that is a major route for the weekend cottage goers and plan to sell lots!! We figure it will offset some costs of raising our brood!!

We want 50 meat right away so we can freeze them.
We eat more white meat than red and are thinking 2 or 3 chickens per week is what we will go through. Also want to give some to family and friends.

What are straight run layers? That sounds like a great idea!
As for processing, there is a great place close to us that does it all for $4 a bird. Thinking we would go that route.
Or we will learn to butcher them ourselves. I'm okay with that too.
I've heard 8 weeks for the x is as long as they should be eating until slaughter. Is it true they eat themselves to death? That's nuts eh!!!!
 
canadianmedic said:
Michael! Thank you for the indeapth reply!!
The layers we are going to use are something called s red sex link. Apparently they are laying machines. I originally wanted Rhode island red, but couldn't get them from the hatchery as 20 week olds. I DO have an option to get barred Plymouth rock instead of the red sex link. What's your opinion?
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You're welcome. Sex Links (whether the Red or Black variety) are egg laying machines. I've raised both Sex Link varieties for years (along with dozens of other breeds and hybrids, including RIRs and Barred Rocks), and the Sex Links have been my best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 eggs per hen per year. I like Barred Rocks, but between the two, I would personally stick with the Red Sex Links as they will eat less and lay more. Both birds are generally docile so I don't think you'll have any major temperament problems as long as they are not overcrowded. If you get the opportunity down the road, I would definitely recommend getting some Black Sex Links. My Blacks have been friendlier than my Red Sex Links and have laid slightly better in really cold winter weather. However, you can't go wrong with either Sex Link variety.
 
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I'm glad you joined us!

The other posters have given you some great advice already! Good luck with all of your future chickens.
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Welcome welcome.
I am also ery new with chickens but have gotten lots of amazing help from everyone here. Isn't it exciting just waiting for yor chicks to come in?! Good luck and have fun!
 
Thanks all!!
We are very excited! Now all we need to do is build a coop!
Does anyone have any plans or drawings or pictures of their coops?
We will have to build 2 and would love to make something cool for them!!
 

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