Re: Another chicken chicken newbie

From: Debra Schwinn (dmschwinn_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/17/05 

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 19:57:31 -0800

Wow...that was intense...and Hi Hal...welcome...I will do my best to
help. Pretty much a neighbor to you...Klamath Falls, Oregon. Will snip
where I can, but this will end up being a long one :D.

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:10:21 -0700, <hal@nospam.com> wrote:

> I have not found good example plans for coops. I have seen some
> structure ideas, but I am more interested in internal structures, like
> arrangements and spacing for nests and roosts.

> some more ideas about internal layouts, windows, and ventilation. I
> have a nice south facing slope so will have lots of sun. Should I
> have south facing windows for lots of light in the coop, or keep the
> south wall mostly solid and dark color to absord heat in the winter
> and shade in the summer?

Ok...yes, windows are necessary for light in the winter time...this will
greatly improve your egg production. Chickens can handle cold, as long as
it is dry and clean. For the summer temps, I would not be too worried
about it as long as you put in some nice ventilation windows. Ours are
just open spaces (with a latching 'door' for the winter time) with chicken
wire over them to keep the nightly preditors out.
>
> How many birds would typically provide a family of four with plenty of
> eggs?

Leghorns...although flighty, will lay an egg almost every day. Barred
rocks lay every to every other day. Araucanas (Easter egg chickens - blue
and green eggs) will lay every other to every third day. The hens lay
their most eggs in their first 'laying' year. And then slowly taper off.
My spring chicks start laying in fall and lay all winter. So I am never
without eggs. You need to decide how many eggs you want a day for your
family.

   If you start breeding and producing your own chicks, can one
> reasonably expect to produce enough to be self sustaining (I have lots
> of land) ? How many hens and roosters would typically be expected to
> provide a self sustaining flock?

I have 63 hens and one rooster. Works just fine. But...I would not count
on being 'self sustaining' without the use of a good incubator (that is a
whole different topic for a different time). You can not count on a hen
to go broody, sit properly and be the perfect mum. They can...don't get
me wrong, but mother nature also can play tricks on you.

> I understand layers are not year round producers. What kind of long
> term production can you expect and how can you maximize this? (I am
> thinking about Rhode Island Reds)

If you keep enough young ones coming up through your flock, you will
always have eggs. Not as many as in the summer, but you will still get
them. Rhode Island Reds are a good stable breed. They are good layers.
I do have some of them. I do not use my layers for a meat source...too
big of a soft heart for that. We raise cornish crosses every year for
that. We have a family of 3 and butchering about 20 birds usually keeps
us with chicken for the year...but we are also not big meat eaters.

> I live in Montana USA. Winter temperatures can dip sub zero (F)
> although not for very long. Typical temperatures are 20s-30s (-10 to
> 0 C) . Summer temps typically not over 80-90, and very rarely over
> 100 F. According to Storey I should build an insulated coop. Does
> everyone agree? Will electric pet bowls work for providing water
> during freezing temperatures?

I am at an elevation of approximately 4500 feet. An insulated coop would
be fine...but mine is not insulated and the girls survive quite nicely,
mind you...there are no drafts, etc. and it is kept clean and dry. An
electric pet bowl will work just fine for water. We hang a heat lamp over
ours. Keep the water fresh and clean and it will be fine.
>
Are
> chickens homing enough that they will stick around or return to their
> pen, or am I going to have to keep going and rescue my neighbors from
> my chickens? Am I going to end up running around like an idiot trying
> to herd my chickens back into their pen? (my family would bust a gut
> laughing at me over that one)

Yes at some points you will look like and idiot running around while your
family busts a gut. But for the most part, they go to their coop when it
starts to get dark. Mine free range over our 10.73 acres and the
neighbors pastures. I have never had to go off of our property in the
evenings to get the girls to go to bed...but I have had to run around the
outside of the coop looking like that idiot you mentioned, trying to get
the last determined stragglers in.
>
> I have three labrador retrievers that are pretty docile, and fairly
> well behaved. If I can let my chickens roam, should I expect
> dog/chicken altercations?

Expect it. It is the way of animals, no matter how well trained you think
they are. When our dogs are out, they are under our supervision at all
times.
>
> Can you really order chicks through the mail and get them to show up
> alive? How well and quickly will they adapt to new surroundings?
> Seems kind of cruel to box the little buggers up and put them in a
> mailbox.

Yes you can...yes I have. They will be fine. They are boxed up in a way
to keep them safe. Hence the minimum order. Newly hatched chicks can go
with out food and water for 3 days...as they absorb their yolks prior to
hatching for the initial nurishment.
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide. Links to proven and trusted
> stock providers and suggestions on varieties for my situation greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Hal

Have a look at www.mcmurrayhatchery.com and www.strombergschickens.com

Good luck neighbor!
Deb 

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