Re: Ordering Rhode Island Red chicks
- From: "donberry" <don4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 18 Oct 2005 08:08:58 -0700
I bought my birds with the same purpose as I wish to be able to be self
sufficient if the need arises. I bought them from Ideal Poultry on the
internet. Got Black Australorps and 1 Americauna. I have 8 aust. hens.
I get 1 egg every day from the americauna (usually blue, but lately has
a green blue tint) and it is the biggest egg. I was surprised she laid
so much. From the 8 australorp hens I get a minimum of 6 eggs a day,
more of a medium sized egg usually. I may actually get 8 eggs a day,
but they are free range and some do not always use the nesting box. The
australorps are also very good size to eat. The Aust. rooster is bigger
then my one rhode island red rooster. I will eat the aus. first as he
is a little meaner too. A swift kick and the red never bugged me again,
the aus. still likes to get somewhat frisky on occassion. The hens
though are very gentle, always scared. The Rhode Island Red hens seemed
more like pets, but my hens never made it to adulthood so I do not know
about their egg laying ability.I had one RIR that went everyeverywhere
with me, which was it's downfall when a neighboring dog came around.
Rest of the hens ran, this one ran to the dog. No more dog problems,
but no more RIR either.....
Ideal seemed pretty good. All chicks were healthy and lived. I did
have to wait a few weeks, but at the time it gave me time to get things
ready.
I am trying to hatch some eggs now which would mean I need to keep them
warm thru like December. I have a VERY large wooden box I made with two
heat lamps in each corner. They are just the clamp on lights with heat
lamps in them. I put a pole in each corner so I can raise the heat lamp
as they get bigger abd need less heat. I would just make sure they have
a LARGE area. As they get bigger, if they do not have enough room, they
will start pecking each other. It can get ugly looking, so make sure
they have enough room. Don't get 10 chicks and think you can keep them
in an old aquarium, tho a 10 gallaon aqaurium does work for one chick
at a time (I seperated one as she was getting pecked quite a bit- she
is healthy and fine now)
If it gets REAL cold there, you may want to think about some heat in
their coop just for a little bit when they first go out and get used to
it. I would think it would be quite a shock to go from a warm box to
cold winter over night. Maybe stick the heat lamp in there (in a safe
place of course) just for a few days until they acclimate to the cold
weather.
Chicks are not that hard to raise. get them in the mail, dip their
beaks in water, keep them warm and feed them. Keep predators away.
After awhile, enjoy fresh eggs every day. With my 8 hens, I can not eat
all the eggs they make and give away alot. As i have alot of room they
free range on, I am actually thinking about getting more (from my eggs
and purchased to keep them from being inbreed) and selling my free
range eggs(I believe also organic). They have half the cholesterol and
ALOT more nutritious. Maybe make some spare change while I keep my
"just in case" food supply going. They are very easy to keep I will
get some more rir's and stick to australorp hens as they lay so well.
The Americauna is big enough to eat, but not as filled out as the aust.
Love her eggs tho.
.
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