PREP Chickens and mu coop update......

[20Gauge]

It has been over a year with the chickens at this point. We first got them in May 2022 and at the time we had a total of 18 over two trips to the seller. Two died shortly after we got them ( 24 hours ) and we expect it was due to being in a box over an hour drive. Yet it was the closest we could get and still get the chickens we desired.

At the time we purchased several breeds and one of those was a filler breed called Wyondette I believe was the name of the critters. We did get 5 of them and they were supposed to be a calm productive breed.

NOT!!!!!

They were bullies.

The good news is the neighbor lost his to a Bobcat in the area and needed a few new chickens. So guess what he got. 4 of the Wyondettes and 1 of another breed that was beautiful, but kept getting broody. They are now the neighbor's issue.

Overall our 1st year has been great!

We averaged 78 eggs per week from the point they started to lay. Which was at 5-6 months. The excess eggs that we have not eaten are given to other families. We currently are providing eggs to 5 other families. Though the price has dropped, food budgets are still tight and so far all have been happy to get them.

Perhaps it was the no tolerance to BS policy. The wife says the eggs are at no cost and you get what you get. If you don't like it, buy your own. People have been surprisingly good with such a policy. It did surprise me.

After the loss of 5 chickens we are still getting 5 1/2 eggs per day on average or about 39 eggs per week which is perfect for us.

Some of the production drop is that we are now in the 2nd year of production and we did have 6 of the chickens go broody but only 1 stayed that way which we gave away.

Next up is a plan to expand the coup to have a run that is 3 times larger. Why?

We do plan on keeping chickens and was enough room to have a 2nd coop to raise babies ( we buy 4 week old chicks ) until they are large enough to mix the flocks.

Thanks for listening / reading.

 

[Redcat]

My neighbor got six chicks. At about 12 weeks she was showing them to me. I said "that one will be a beautiful rooster". She replied "oh no roosters, I got all hens". I said, "well, on the farm I had maybe a hundred chickens I was responsible for, and that sure looks like a roo to me". She laughed and said, "it's a hen". She must think I'm just old and stupid.

Last week she asked the husband if the rooster crowing in the morning is bothering us. Lol.

 

[CaryC]

May want to expand the chick buying. Just saying.

The Bacon and Egg diet is taking hold.

For people who are interested, you can substitute other meat, and add in some veggies, but it's eggs as the main course in every meal. No potatoes, noodles, rice, no bread.

People are loosing tons of weight, and it's catching on.

If you add a Hog Parlor, you could corner the market, on the diet.

The diet is for real, but I'm just poking at you. Glad your egg business is doing good.

My first job when I was 12, was separating eggs by size.

 

[20Gauge]

May want to expand the chick buying. Just saying.

The Bacon and Egg diet is taking hold.

For people who are interested, you can substitute other meat, and add in some veggies, but it's eggs as the main course in every meal. No potatoes, noodles, rice, no bread.

People are loosing tons of weight, and it's catching on.

If you add a Hog Parlor, you could corner the market, on the diet.

The diet is for real, but I'm just poking at you. Glad your egg business is doing good.

My first job when I was 12, was separating eggs by size.

We don't bother. You get what you get.

Exception is for my parents. They get the largest, freshest and cleanest eggs.

 

[kyrsyan]

My friend keeps the broody ones and lets them hatch out chicks. She says it's easier on her. She gets plenty of eggs from the non broody hens. And extra chicks grow out to become dinner.

She has the same egg policy. I am apparently a favored acceptor because I will quite happily take whatever they wish to give me, whenever it is available. That gets me quail and duck eggs quite frequently.

 

[20Gauge]

My friend keeps the broody ones and lets them hatch out chicks. She says it's easier on her. She gets plenty of eggs from the non broody hens. And extra chicks grow out to become dinner.

She has the same egg policy. I am apparently a favored acceptor because I will quite happily take whatever they wish to give me, whenever it is available. That gets me quail and duck eggs quite frequently.

Np and that is actually what we did to begin with. Then we noticed that she decided to gather ALL of the eggs and sit on them. After a couple of days, we said no more. She kept adding to the pile.

 

[Jeff B.]

Some friend of ours that lived across the street on Long Island had an extra lot and a chicken coop. They had it for many years and I expect for the eggs. Because it was almost always there, it wasn't unusual to us... Sounds like its working out nicely for you! Glad to hear.

 

[nwillitts]

i started with 63 3 day old chicks in march of this year.eggs all over the place.i have 3 geese and 7 ducks.eggs all over the place.cant give them away fast enough.had 3 roos till sunday,got rid of the two rapey ones and kept the polish roo.he is stunningly handsome but will attack people,but not me.i am the master.

 

[KMR58]

The last of my four broody hens this summer has about a week to go. Our hens hatched out 17 so far this summer. The one still sitting is on nine eggs. As soon as one goes broody I mark the eggs and move her to a more isolated area. I check daily to be sure no extra eggs were added. After they hatch I let her raise them. It’s been so much easier than incubating or buying chicks then trying to integrate them. As of this morning my five new babies who are six days old are out with mama scratching and pecking away with the flock. I feel good that at least in this area I’ve become mostly self-sustainable.

I sell eggs by donation only. They give what they can which goes toward the costs.

 

[Sherrynboo]

I dont like Wyandottes. Wont ever have those again@

 

[Griz3752]

May want to expand the chick buying. Just saying.

The Bacon and Egg diet is taking hold.

For people who are interested, you can substitute other meat, and add in some veggies, but it's eggs as the main course in every meal. No potatoes, noodles, rice, no bread.

People are loosing tons of weight, and it's catching on.

If you add a Hog Parlor, you could corner the market, on the diet.

The diet is for real, but I'm just poking at you. Glad your egg business is doing good.

My first job when I was 12, was separating eggs by size.

Bacon and Eggs have always been my fav. breakfast and/or lunch. Addcheese, a bisuit or whole wheat & I'll eat that anytime of day.

20Guage, if we were closer I'd be angling to get on the egg list.

Glad your max security unit is working out

 

[zeker]

It has been over a year with the chickens at this point. We first got them in May 2022 and at the time we had a total of 18 over two trips to the seller. Two died shortly after we got them ( 24 hours ) and we expect it was due to being in a box over an hour drive. Yet it was the closest we could get and still get the chickens we desired.

At the time we purchased several breeds and one of those was a filler breed called Wyondette I believe was the name of the critters. We did get 5 of them and they were supposed to be a calm productive breed.

NOT!!!!!

They were bullies.

The good news is the neighbor lost his to a Bobcat in the area and needed a few new chickens. So guess what he got. 4 of the Wyondettes and 1 of another breed that was beautiful, but kept getting broody. They are now the neighbor's issue.

Overall our 1st year has been great!

We averaged 78 eggs per week from the point they started to lay. Which was at 5-6 months. The excess eggs that we have not eaten are given to other families. We currently are providing eggs to 5 other families. Though the price has dropped, food budgets are still tight and so far all have been happy to get them.

Perhaps it was the no tolerance to BS policy. The wife says the eggs are at no cost and you get what you get. If you don't like it, buy your own. People have been surprisingly good with such a policy. It did surprise me.

After the loss of 5 chickens we are still getting 5 1/2 eggs per day on average or about 39 eggs per week which is perfect for us.

Some of the production drop is that we are now in the 2nd year of production and we did have 6 of the chickens go broody but only 1 stayed that way which we gave away.

Next up is a plan to expand the coup to have a run that is 3 times larger. Why?

We do plan on keeping chickens and was enough room to have a 2nd coop to raise babies ( we buy 4 week old chicks ) until they are large enough to mix the flocks.

Thanks for listening / reading.

I have been looking for a rooster for next spring

friend offered a ayam cemani roo

I researched and found the females to be not very eggy or broody

dont want that genetics in my girls.

hoping for a astralorp or barnvelder or orphington

 

[West]

Np and that is actually what we did to begin with. Then we noticed that she decided to gather ALL of the eggs and sit on them. After a couple of days, we said no more. She kept adding to the pile.

Mark the eggs your okay with her having
Any new eggs harvest.

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

congrats on the chickens. I ended up with my dad's old chicken coop and am slowly getting concrete poured around it and smoothed out so clean up is easier. Trying to tame a mountainside and make flat spots to work on something that is level is slow and painful...