The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

They look like square dowels. we have those at Farm and Fleet.

 

[aoxa]

Thanks. I wonder if 2 x 2s with small sticks across would work.

Definitely would

2x2s are quite thick for little chicks for the poles, but for the sides it would be a good option.

I'd say the pieces I used were 1/4 the size of 2x2s

 

[aoxa]

They look like square dowels. we have those at Farm and Fleet.

I really have no clue. They could very well be. Not sure what you'd use them for in building, but they work perfectly for chick roosts!

 

[JeffOeuf]

For you folks that brood and sell, I have a couple questions.

At what age are you selling your chicks? What venues do you find most successful? Are you raising and selling pure bred stock? Are you selling them sexed or straight run (guess that one combines with the first)? Do you find the market seasonal -- as in demand is only strong in the Spring?

And most importantly, are you making any money, or do you continue simply because you love to hatch chicks?

I like having my young layers puttering around the yard, but I must say that my favorite part of this past year's chicken adventure was the first couple of months watching them go from little puff balls to chickens.

I would really like this hobby to come close to paying for itself, but I'm afraid I'm just hypocritical enough to enjoy eating chicken, but really don't want to eat MY chickens unless circumstances force me to, and they're not -- yet. The egg market is so saturated in my area that it would be nearly impossible to make that a positive cash flow (free range, yard-bird eggs go for about $2.00 a dozen). That leaves my only market option as selling chicks, which happily coincides with my favorite part of raising chickens. That is, if it can actually provide a revenue stream.

 

[delisha]

For you folks that brood and sell, I have a couple questions.

At what age are you selling your chicks? What venues do you find most successful? Are you raising and selling pure bred stock? Are you selling them sexed or straight run (guess that one combines with the first)? Do you find the market seasonal -- as in demand is only strong in the Spring?

And most importantly, are you making any money, or do you continue simply because you love to hatch chicks?

I like having my young layers puttering around the yard, but I must say that my favorite part of this past year's chicken adventure was the first couple of months watching them go from little puff balls to chickens.

I would really like this hobby to come close to paying for itself, but I'm afraid I'm just hypocritical enough to enjoy eating chicken, but really don't want to eat MY chickens unless circumstances force me to, and they're not -- yet. The egg market is so saturated in my area that it would be nearly impossible to make that a positive cash flow (free range, yard-bird eggs go for about $2.00 a dozen). That leaves my only market option as selling chicks, which happily coincides with my favorite part of raising chickens. That is, if it can actually provide a revenue stream.

You need to conduct a market survey. Go to your local poultry sales, barn auctions and find out why the market is so saturated. If eggs are $2 a dozen and you find them on every corner it would be tough. Have you asked your local feed store about selling your eggs? I drop off eggs in exchange for feed. See if that is an option. Run an add on Craig's list and track your responses. Find places you can sell your poultry before you make any plans. Selling shipped chicks is a huge endeavor, do some leg work on what is necessary for Local, Federal, and State laws. You will have to be tested, your birds all banded, all records sent in from every sale. Taxes paid on the sales if you do not acquire a farm sales license. Many things to look into before you even think about selling poultry. If you have good stock you might consider selling fertile eggs on here.
If you don't eat your own poultry, how do you propose to sell them? As pets?

I sell meat birds, both chickens and ducks. I occasionally will sell a POL or laying pullet. I ask serious money for my POL's $18.00 My birds are huge and healthy.

 

[Ashdoes]

Aoxa~Are your silkies roosting on their own? My two will not go up the ramp on their own, so every night I have to go out to the barn and put them into the coop. I have to put them on the side with shavings, because If I put them on the roosts, the next morning they under the roosts. With it being so cold I don't want to leave them on the ground. They keep picking the worst spots, right by a draft or gap between the ground and the bottom of the barn wall. The only thing we didn't get to before deployment was the perimeter of the barn. So there are a few places where the dirt was washed away a bit by rain, just enough for air and snow to get blown in.

 

[delisha]

Aoxa~Are your silkies roosting on their own? My two will not go up the ramp on their own, so every night I have to go out to the barn and put them into the coop. I have to put them on the side with shavings, because If I put them on the roosts, the next morning they under the roosts. With it being so cold I don't want to leave them on the ground. They keep picking the worst spots, right by a draft or gap between the ground and the bottom of the barn wall. The only thing we didn't get to before deployment was the perimeter of the barn. So there are a few places where the dirt was washed away a bit by rain, just enough for air and snow to get blown in.

Any chance you can put a 3 sided card board box there?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aoxa~Are your silkies roosting on their own? My two will not go up the ramp on their own, so every night I have to go out to the barn and put them into the coop. I have to put them on the side with shavings, because If I put them on the roosts, the next morning they under the roosts. With it being so cold I don't want to leave them on the ground. They keep picking the worst spots, right by a draft or gap between the ground and the bottom of the barn wall. The only thing we didn't get to before deployment was the perimeter of the barn. So there are a few places where the dirt was washed away a bit by rain, just enough for air and snow to get blown in.

I don't it's a Silkies nature to roost.

 

[mrsamplias]

I want into this thread, a lot of nice people and great info here .... and I LOVE the rules.

 

[Miss Lydia]

For you folks that brood and sell, I have a couple questions.

At what age are you selling your chicks? What venues do you find most successful? Are you raising and selling pure bred stock? Are you selling them sexed or straight run (guess that one combines with the first)? Do you find the market seasonal -- as in demand is only strong in the Spring?

And most importantly, are you making any money, or do you continue simply because you love to hatch chicks?

I like having my young layers puttering around the yard, but I must say that my favorite part of this past year's chicken adventure was the first couple of months watching them go from little puff balls to chickens.

I would really like this hobby to come close to paying for itself, but I'm afraid I'm just hypocritical enough to enjoy eating chicken, but really don't want to eat MY chickens unless circumstances force me to, and they're not -- yet. The egg market is so saturated in my area that it would be nearly impossible to make that a positive cash flow (free range, yard-bird eggs go for about $2.00 a dozen). That leaves my only market option as selling chicks, which happily coincides with my favorite part of raising chickens. That is, if it can actually provide a revenue stream.

I don't hatch big time, but my bantams love to brood and hatch so I give in in the spring and let them, plus I enjoy watching mama and chicks it just makes my day, This past year My biggest seller was bantams most want them as brooders because it seems other than just being so cute, thats what they do best brood. I had no problem selling 14 hens/pullets. I could have probably sold more if i had more, I only sold 1 rooster, he was a beautiful Cochin bantam, we usually process our extra roos. This is just a hobby for me I don't make much money but sure enjoy all of it. And eggs? why no one wants to buy eggs unless you want to give them away then of course they'll take them in a heart beat. Even the local Natural health Food store only wanted to give me 1.50 for a doz. I ended up giving alot last summer to our local food pantry. I want to add some more layers this spring so I'll need to put some feelers out to see if anyone maybe interested NOW in free range natural raised eggs.