Thank you ol for the support!

[cluckcluckgirl]

Don't worry right now about your wife saying "no more chickens". Chicken math is highly contagious to anyone who has been around a chicken, so it's likely she'll catch it too.

I've not had trouble with the Sex Link varieties. I have 6 Sex links, one of whom is 3 1/2 years old and has stayed healthy. I think a lot of what can help them live longer and healthier is a proper diet, adequate space, and not too much stress.

 

[jsilva05]

When you have that many chickens what do you do with all the eggs?

 

[jsilva05]

Do you guys have to worry about cats killing your full grown chickens? I have two outside cats

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

With 4 hens right now, you can expect about 2 or 3 eggs a day (unless they decide to be generous and all lay). My family definitely eats at least 3 eggs a day plus eggs for a weekly cake or brownie pan. The eggs are soooo much better than any egg available in a store. You can give extra eggs to family/friends or sell them.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Do you guys have to worry about cats killing your full grown chickens? I have two outside cats

I don't have house cats around me, but I think some people have trouble with them. I hear more about dogs killing chickens than cats, but both can happen.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

When you have that many chickens what do you do with all the eggs?

Endless options - you can give them away, sell them, use them for all sorts of baking and cooking, feed them back to your flock or other pets as part of their diet - I've done all of these and more. We currently have 22 in the flock (5 are young pullets not yet laying) - and average 8-10 dozen eggs a week.

 

[GitaBooks]

We've had a number of barn cats, house cats, and stray cats over the years. Only one went after chicks and that same one only attacked adults only when they were silkies, which perch low and can't escape as they are terrible at running and jumping. Cats don't tend to bother adults, especially since chickens will chase them and even attack them!

(cats and chickens getting a drink together)

 

[jsilva05]

NICE!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you guys have to worry about cats killing your full grown chickens? I have two outside cats

I have not ever had an issue with domestic cats and my flocks - but I have heard of others who did. The cats that I have had that showed any interest in the birds would do a little stalking, but all it took was a bit of a challenge, or worse an actual peck, from one of my hens to convince them chicken should be taken off the menu. Generally, after that, they all co-exist pretty happily and the cats are great at keeping the feeding of grain from drawing in rodents.
Young birds w/out the benefit of a broody hen watching over them and/or birds with special needs (not just disabilities, but also those who may have their vision impeded by lots of head-feathering, etc) are at the most risk and least likely to be able to convince the kitty to change his/her mind about a chicken dinner.

 

[jsilva05]

My wife read your replies and agreed we could use a couple more. We got barred rocks. The only thing is we put them in the brooder with four four week old chicks and the red stats started pecking at them and making their beaks bleed. I put the older chicks alone in the new coop and the younger plymoth rocks in the brooder. Any tips on incorporating them together?