Okies in the BYC The Original

[RonnieAtkeson]

Ive got 8 adults. 30 chicks. And ive got about 57 eggs cooking with another dozen coming later this month. Im addicted to hatching. I will be keeping all the hens and some roos from my purebreed eggs wich is only bout 25 eggs.

 

[Teach97]

Don't know about expert but here is what I believe to be the facts...Friday.

If they are native species you are supposed to have a license (Bobwhite, blues, and ringneck pheasant (these aren't naive but apparently got adopted)) The other colored bobwhites don't count (red, white, Mexican speckeled)....for the ornamentals you don't have to but they are considered to be upland game birds. BUtton quail and coturnix do not count. In order to have like bobwhites and release them you have ot have a license that shows such and such and mainly means you have healthy stuff or get it from healthy breeders.

They do not do alot of checking on these birds so it is basically a hit and miss sort of thing when it comes to enforcemet. As long as you are not releasing them you are gonna be okay...opinion here!

For me I like trios or quads on quail and pheasants. They need flight room and cover. The yellow goldens, reeves, and such are roosting birds and will need some limbs and stuff...a covered area like a dog house works for a nest box...with the pheasants size depends on tail...the bigger the tail the bigger the enclosure...around 4ft wide...10 ft long and 8 ft tall for a pair or trio is about right on the smaller birds...you can put birds together in a group setting but you gotta start using blinders and such with the cocks...you can grow them out in a large area...you want to provide protection from wind...typically folks put tin around the bottom...about 2 ft high. then good netting over the top to stop escapes and predators

feed runs the spectrum...game bird feeders to scratch feeders to special blends...protein is of key importance...in the wild these birds ae taking in insects aswell as grains...they typically need a higher protein content

 

[RonnieAtkeson]

Beth does he say you have to many for your coop or he just doesnt want to feed that many? 13 acres to free range on is alot of free food for the cluckers and can provide lots and lots of goodies during spring and summer for the chickens.

 

[Teach97]

Quote:
Currently...ballpark...
quail - 60 ish (three breeds several color patterns)
Chickens - 70 ish (at least 5 breeds and several colors)
chicks - 25 ish
eggs in bator - probably 60 ish
eggs coming - probably 30 ish
pigeons - 40 ish (about 5 breeds)

So looks like you have a long way to catch-up!

my goal is around 150 birds at a time...wife's goal is to have none

 

[RonnieAtkeson]

www.feathersite.com probly has a pigeon section. Check the poultry link and go from there. Its a great site for pictures of a ton of difrent breeds.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
Around a 150 I'm thinking, counting adults and chicks.


ETA: If I had 13 acres to free range on, my chickens would be lucky to get some scratch every now and then.

I would supplement for winter.

 

[Stimpy]

Quote:
1 breed, 20 adults and 9 juveniles. All free range at the moment, going back into breeding pens as soon as they dry out.

-Stimp-

 

[Sooner]

Quote:

14 laying hens
14- 3month olds (mixed)
1 bantam roo
2 BTW bantams
5 Silkie chicks
28 eggs in incubator

Too many, there is never too many!

 

[Sooner]

Mr Al, I will be hitting you up when I run into trouble in my garden. I am so excited to have it back in the spot it was 2 years ago in the good dirt (black & rich) instead of the clay!


I saw a breed of chickens in a mag today(with no name) when I get a chance I want ya'll to help me figure out what it is.

Time to go play with my babies! The sun is shinning and a fence is waiting for me. LOL.

 

[GracefulBantams]

Quote:
Around 50 birds is pretty average for me, during hatching season I have had as many as 50 chicks of a single breed!