- Mar 13, 2013
- 3
- 0
- 9
Hello everone!
I am new to BYC and would love, love, love, to peck your brain (excuse the pun). LOL!
My family, with the exception of me, is new to raising chickens. We have a Dairy Farm and milk Jersey Cows. Our milk is considered Grade A, so we cannot have chickens mingling with the cows according to the State Inspector. We will be keeping the chickens in some type of coop/shed away from the barn or pastures, with a fully enclosed spacious area outside for the free ranging effect. Our children are 5 and 4 and LOVE being outside and working with animals. They have recently joined our local 4H chapter and are excited to bring some chickens to the County Fair. I have a hidden adgenda though. I want the kids to learn so much more than just raising a chicken. Respondsibility. Relationships with animals. Caring for animals. Great work ethic. Working with money because of purchases/supplies. COOKING with the delicious eggs. Just plain old morals and values! I think this project will become much more than that, as I have read that your chickens become your pets and your obsession!
)
My questions for you...
When I was a young girl my mom and dad raised chickens to butcher and then sell. What term are those kind of chickens given? Are they called broilers?
I am familiar to raising that type of chicken, but now that I am married and have small children, I am interested in raising laying hens. Our family is going through 1-2 dozen eggs weekly, and I would love to have them on hand and fresh at a moment's notice. Which breeds do well in some seasonally harsh weather. Hot and humid in summer, very cold lots of snow and windy in winter?
We are in the process of either purchasing a shed from DakotaStorage.com or try to build one ourselves. But with spring planting being just around the corner, I will become a seasonal widow and my husband's time will not be devoted to building a chicken coop and instead channeled to driving John Deere's all day.) My question is what kind of material would you suggest for the floor of the coop part of the shed? Treated lumber? Dry Ply? Sheetmetal with chaulking all the way around? The reason I ask this, is because I want a coop that is super easy for myself and our children to clean out.
I have scoured over the Coop section of BYC and read their tips and advice. I am wondering if any of you have had good luck with keeping one side of the coop's floor 1/2" higher than the other side in order to allow easy drainage from cleanings? Pros/Cons?
I have many more questions but can't think of them at the moment. But I sure know where to come for answers when I think of them again.
Thanks for any advice you may have for my family and I! We really truly appreciate it!
Steph
I am new to BYC and would love, love, love, to peck your brain (excuse the pun). LOL!
My family, with the exception of me, is new to raising chickens. We have a Dairy Farm and milk Jersey Cows. Our milk is considered Grade A, so we cannot have chickens mingling with the cows according to the State Inspector. We will be keeping the chickens in some type of coop/shed away from the barn or pastures, with a fully enclosed spacious area outside for the free ranging effect. Our children are 5 and 4 and LOVE being outside and working with animals. They have recently joined our local 4H chapter and are excited to bring some chickens to the County Fair. I have a hidden adgenda though. I want the kids to learn so much more than just raising a chicken. Respondsibility. Relationships with animals. Caring for animals. Great work ethic. Working with money because of purchases/supplies. COOKING with the delicious eggs. Just plain old morals and values! I think this project will become much more than that, as I have read that your chickens become your pets and your obsession!
) My questions for you...
When I was a young girl my mom and dad raised chickens to butcher and then sell. What term are those kind of chickens given? Are they called broilers?
I am familiar to raising that type of chicken, but now that I am married and have small children, I am interested in raising laying hens. Our family is going through 1-2 dozen eggs weekly, and I would love to have them on hand and fresh at a moment's notice. Which breeds do well in some seasonally harsh weather. Hot and humid in summer, very cold lots of snow and windy in winter?
We are in the process of either purchasing a shed from DakotaStorage.com or try to build one ourselves. But with spring planting being just around the corner, I will become a seasonal widow and my husband's time will not be devoted to building a chicken coop and instead channeled to driving John Deere's all day.
) My question is what kind of material would you suggest for the floor of the coop part of the shed? Treated lumber? Dry Ply? Sheetmetal with chaulking all the way around? The reason I ask this, is because I want a coop that is super easy for myself and our children to clean out.I have scoured over the Coop section of BYC and read their tips and advice. I am wondering if any of you have had good luck with keeping one side of the coop's floor 1/2" higher than the other side in order to allow easy drainage from cleanings? Pros/Cons?
I have many more questions but can't think of them at the moment. But I sure know where to come for answers when I think of them again.
Thanks for any advice you may have for my family and I! We really truly appreciate it!
Steph
Last edited:
