anyone here raise/take care of chickens? Teach me LOL - Big Big Forums

jasmine · 10-24-2009, 05:54 PM

ok, I would really love to have some chickens, I think it would be fun and an experience for the kids. I live out in the country (5 acres). My neighbors have chickens, cows, emu's, goats......
Would it be a bad time to start this since it is becoming winter, should I wait untill warm springs summer? How much does it cost to feed them? What kind of shelter do they need? A pen??

I found this on craigslist for chickens and it sounded pretty good to me, he is asking $10 a piece.

Quote:

I have lots of chickens that need to go! Need to down size and they need new homes! I have Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, Sliver Laced Wyandottes, Welsummer, Rhode Island Reds, mostly pullets (90%), some cockerells of each breed. These were all hatched the first of June 09, they are 4.5 months old and will be laying soon. These breeds are all good winter layers and are considered to be winter hardy. If you buy more then 15, I will cut you a deal. There will only be so many of the Rhode Island pullets for sale! They have been wormed and medicated for coccidious.

TIA!!

skyrider · 10-24-2009, 07:34 PM

what do you need to know? I have raised them and very easy

YankeeMary · 10-24-2009, 07:59 PM

$10.00 for one chicken??? I think that is a bit high. I know I use to have a couple (for pets...lol). That was like 10 years ago and they were only like $1.25 a piece. I know down the road from me now they sell them and they are "fancy" chickens and they are only $2.00 a piece. I think if I were you I would pass on the $10.00 chicken.

Vee030473 · 10-24-2009, 08:06 PM

Yeah that is way more than what I paid for my RIRs,I have 2 and they were $2.40 each.

jasmine · 10-24-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyrider

what do you need to know? I have raised them and very easy

well, like since the cold is coming on, do I need a small shelter/building with a heater?
DO you just basically get the chickens, throw them some food and water and let them go LOL??

thanks for the advice on the price of them, I didn't know if it was high or not.

Airbuswife · 10-24-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasmine

well, like since the cold is coming on, do I need a small shelter/building with a heater?
DO you just basically get the chickens, throw them some food and water and let them go LOL??

thanks for the advice on the price of them, I didn't know if it was high or not.

yes, you need an enclosed building for them. heat not really needed, but you will need a heated base for their water to keep it water and not a huge ice ball, lol! also you will need a feeder, but the size will depend on how many you have and how often you want to tend to them. if chickens dont get water they will die. that is way too much to pay for one chicken. we have about 18 now and were also hatched in june. we are getting about 6-8 eggs a day. (which is very hard for me to keep up with!) they are too old to eat, but the eggs are worth it.

memawang · 10-25-2009, 09:07 PM

I have 5 that I got in Oct 2008. Last winter was kinda tough on them. We held them alot. Put tarp around their coop, main thing keep water for them, we go through a bag a feed a month. I live in the city so they really can't roam. We have what we call a play pen for them. We move it around the yard for them. They love scraps,bugs,green stuff. Also they will kill and eat a snake in a second. I have bard rocks(sp).Look on CL or post that you want some.

***ahippiechic*** · 10-25-2009, 09:12 PM

They are very easy to care for. I grew up on a farm and when I was 5 the chickens were my responsibility. All 20 of them. I hate chickens and they're stupid.

DBackFan · 10-26-2009, 01:26 AM

You need an enclosure...we use a shed converted to a chicken coop and we keep a heat bulb in there to keep the worst of the chill off. If you keep them warm they will keep laying throught the winter. You need a higher place, just a board will do that they can roost on and some nice straw or hay for them to make there nests tp lay is nice too.

I have raised them for a long time and rarely have to buy feed or layer crumble. Chickens will eat almost anything and really love meat bones etc..lol. I used to give them the scraps from our restaurant but now they get peelings, scraps, old bread etc along with their feed. The love fresh water so change it often.

They are missing my garden and all the tomatoes!

Hetty · 11-02-2009, 04:21 AM

the only thing good about a chicken is the taste....sorry i have a thing about birds

jerseybarb · 11-02-2009, 05:00 PM

Nothing like fresh laid eggs.