View Full Version : Want to set up a flock of chickens?
Posting this here for the most exposure, mods feel free to move.
We've received so much help from this forum; we want to give back a bit.
What we're offering as a pilot is a small flock of chickens. I know it's not much, and it's easy enough to do on your own, but we'll provide the chicks (probably 3-7 depending on the incubator hatch) as well as help getting everything up and running and ongoing support. We can incubate 7 eggs at a time and have had pretty good luck. We're happy to do a 2nd set of eggs as well as help with how to deal with the roosters that will show up....
We'll also help design and build a small coop.
Preferably near Castle Rock for the first one but we're pretty flexible.
Our rooster really admires Gengis Kahn so we're trying to help him out.
OtterbatHellcat
08-22-2017, 18:32
Thank you for the offer, that's cool.
This thought came up from our daughter's science fair project last year. She hatched chicks and a child in her class ended up adopting them. Turns out, the family had always wanted to have a flock of their own but didn't think they could start one. We helped them with the whole process and it turns out, it was very successful for them. It was so fun for us, on so many levels, that we would like to help other families do the same.
OtterbatHellcat
08-22-2017, 18:44
It's cool for you to offer to get someone started up, and I hope that you can get some folks up and running and on their way... :)
This is on my very near to-do list after I finish landscaping in the next couple weeks.
What kind of chicks?
I probably want to have 5-8 to start and go from there, probably doing a larger coop/run for 10-12 capacity. We have a couple acres that will need bug exterminators free ranging on!
Looks like we have the first trial. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Sniper, let me know when you're ready and we should be able to help out as well. The chicks will all be mixed, our hens are Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks & Americana and our rooster is an Americana (easter egger).
I got my first egg on Saturday. Lots of fun. Wish I would've built a coop. Would've been cheaper as well as better. Kits come poorly (if at all) insulated. By the time I insulate this one for the winter I could've built a much better one with a larger run for a lot less money. I've only got 3 hens though and they spend a few hours a day roaming the back yard so their 4x8 run should do for now.
I can see how it could be addictive. Hopefully some people take you up on it. Fresh eggs are great. Even the little starter size eggs I'm getting now taste awesome.
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Ok will do! I'd be happy to get up to a dozen chicks once I get the coop and supplies established.
The first person in line won't be quite ready yet and the chicks will probably be ready to go in the next few weeks. We have 7 but would like to keep 3 of them, if you only want 3 we'd be happy to keep 4.
These are actually ISA Brown, Tractor Supply had a great sale so we went this route rather than incubating. They're about 4 weeks old at the moment. One big plus is that they're all pullets, being a sex link there should be no risk of ending up with a rooster.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISA_Brown
We also had a broody hen hatch 2 chicks this weekend so we have plenty. :)
72009
Wow, those sound like they'll be excellent layers!
We've got a &^%##!!!!! raccoon problem, or I'd be taking you up on your offer. Good luck! :)
Wow, those sound like they'll be excellent layers!
We've got a &^%##!!!!! raccoon problem, or I'd be taking you up on your offer. Good luck! :)
Oh no. I better dig a moat. I don't want any in my backyard!
I've heard raccoons can be terrible. We stayed at a B&B in the mountains a few years ago and the owner said raccoons had killed most of her flock (~10 - 15) in one night.
We've been very lucky, we lost two bantams to an owl when they got locked out of the coop one night, but other than that we've been good. I think the 3 dogs and the fact that our house is in the open helps keep coyotes away. In 2 years we've heard them a lot down in the scrub oak but only seen one near the house, including having a game camera set up for weeks at a time.
I'm thinking your dogs also are helping to keep the trash pandas away. It doesn't help that a neighbor down the block apparently feeds the varmints.
They are AWFUL in this neighborhood. I need to get a motion-operated water-cannon er, spotlight.
We've also got a lot of raptors, but they're obviously not large enough to take these industrial-sized cat-food-fed raccoons.
To add icing on the cake, our neighbors have a well-fed coonhound.
Zundfolge
09-19-2017, 16:24
So how much do full grown chickens cost (live)?
I have this idea for a practical joke, but I really don't want to spend too much on it.
We have a neighbor with chickens and occasionally they'll post on Nextdoor about how they've lost another chicken to the coyotes or foxes or bobcats or cougars that cruise our neighborhood.
I think it would be fun to sneak a couple new chickens into their yard every once in a while ... he expects to lose them but not to gain new chickens, so this would be funny to me (but only if grown live chickens are like $10 or something).
So how much do full grown chickens cost (live)?
I have this idea for a practical joke, but I really don't want to spend too much on it.
We have a neighbor with chickens and occasionally they'll post on Nextdoor about how they've lost another chicken to the coyotes or foxes or bobcats or cougars that cruise our neighborhood.
I think it would be fun to sneak a couple new chickens into their yard every once in a while ... he expects to lose them but not to gain new chickens, so this would be funny to me (but only if grown live chickens are like $10 or something).
That would be funny...but an established flock may not welcome an interloper, and there may be a sad pecking death. I could be wrong, though.
So how much do full grown chickens cost (live)?
I have this idea for a practical joke, but I really don't want to spend too much on it.
We have a neighbor with chickens and occasionally they'll post on Nextdoor about how they've lost another chicken to the coyotes or foxes or bobcats or cougars that cruise our neighborhood.
I think it would be fun to sneak a couple new chickens into their yard every once in a while ... he expects to lose them but not to gain new chickens, so this would be funny to me (but only if grown live chickens are like $10 or something).
If you want to be really funny, I have a young barred rock rooster you can have for free. :) He just started crowing a little bit last weekend. :)
muddywings
09-19-2017, 20:17
So how much do full grown chickens cost (live)?
I have this idea for a practical joke, but I really don't want to spend too much on it.
We have a neighbor with chickens and occasionally they'll post on Nextdoor about how they've lost another chicken to the coyotes or foxes or bobcats or cougars that cruise our neighborhood.
I think it would be fun to sneak a couple new chickens into their yard every once in a while ... he expects to lose them but not to gain new chickens, so this would be funny to me (but only if grown live chickens are like $10 or something).
depending on the breed and age I pad $20-30/per chicken.
(Had hand surgery today-typing kinda sucks)
muddywings
09-19-2017, 20:18
if you are near thr speings these guys make some bomb proof coopsl gave me $100/off to pick up my own:
https://overezchickencoop.com/
i didn't like the cheapo ones from big r or online. this one is pricey but will last!
muddywings
09-19-2017, 20:22
We just got ours going some pics:
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I just wanted to share cause I think my chickens are cool.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OtterbatHellcat
09-19-2017, 20:31
Good luck with everything, that's cool.
That would be funny...but an established flock may not welcome an interloper, and there may be a sad pecking death. I could be wrong, though.
This seems like a rare thing to me. I've introduced new hens to my flock on many occasions and they always have integrated quickly, within 2-7 days. There's a little posturing and fighting at first, but they quickly get back to normal once the pecking order is reestablished. (My flock is currently a count of 27, having slowly grown over the last several years.)
I like incorporating my chickens into gun pics, that way it's not the usual brown carpet photo with toes creeping in the bottom of the frame.
https://i.imgur.com/xWqJ6vi.jpg
[snip]
I like incorporating my chickens into gun pics, that way it's not the usual brown carpet photo with toes creeping in the bottom of the frame.
[snip]
That's really cool! New twist on the armed cat/dog pics.
Hope those chickens all passed their background checks.
Marine24
09-20-2017, 08:15
So what kind of daily maintenance/care is involved taking care of chickens?
I expect the need to provide food/water but what else is involved? Coop cleaning, vet checkups?
muddywings
09-20-2017, 20:32
So what kind of daily maintenance/care is involved taking care of chickens?
I expect the need to provide food/water but what else is involved? Coop cleaning, vet checkups?
Mine came with their shots.
I see them daily cause they're pretty cool but refill their dog bowl with water every other day and top off their food at the same time.
I use deep liter method using hemp for their bedding.
I only have 1 of 4 laying right now but Dude lays an egg a day. Other three are to young.
Disclaimer-I'm a novice.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OtterbatHellcat
09-20-2017, 20:46
It does suck if the roosters get to pecking on a hen repeatedly, don't know why it started, they all were happy chickens before that. You will have awesome bug and weed control in whatever area you put them in....for my personal experience at least.
muddywings, those are great pics! Very happy chickens, there. A good-looking flock.
The Rat, I'm glad to hear it. My aunt had a tough time integrating hens. Apparently she had some very strict rank-and-file chickens, or something.
I think it helps a lot to have a breed-diverse flock. My flock is outrageously colorful now, but back when it was more of the same breeds, the new breeds would be ostracized more. Chicken racism or something I guess.
Ours have been pretty easy so far, just shelter, food and water. My wife says they're like her fish tank but much easier to take care of.
We've introduced additional chickens about 5 times so far and never had an issue. If you end up with another rooster there will be issues with the main one. Some hens can be a bit mean to younger chickens but as long as they're somewhat close in size when introduct they seem to work it out.
Still looking for someone interested in 3 - 5 of these pullets (free and guaranteed hens). Probably ready to go in the next 3 weeks. :)
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