I was supposed to pick up four new hens like two weeks ago, but the seller flaked on me. She said something about “bird flu” and was hesitant to have anyone who is around chickens, come on her property. Said she would instead meet me halfway with some girls.
Why? Hell no. That’s weird, besides, I want to see where they’re coming from. So next week we are going to another ranch that is open to the public to pick out chickens. In the meantime, one of my old girls, 8 years and one month, is sick. Started her on clavamox, but have to wait until Tuesday to get her in to the vet to get more. I don’t have enough for seven days and here, you have to get a prescription, which means they have to see the patient.
We've been talking about getting a few more also, but I think our current gals are destroying the rest of the garden pretty sufficiently on their own, and they provide more eggs than we and the lady across the street need.
...Still, though. The missus even thinks maybe we should get a rooster and then we'd have a regular chicken factory!
Thanks man. I’ve saved a few chickens by tending to them right away when something is wrong. I’ve thought about a rooster to protect the girls,but have you ever seen chicken sex? It’s full on rape. It’s awful. They tear the feathers off the back of the hen. Besides, roosters crow all daY, not just in the morning. I live on acreage so it would matter, it’s just that I don’t want to hear it.
[ - ] 1Icemonkey [op] 1 point 2.0 yearsMay 16, 2022 19:59:17 ago (+1/-0)
Update: had to bury Penny chicken Saturday. She was eight years old and had a great life. She really hung in there, just wouldn’t give up. It was a long three weeks watching her wind down. 😞
Do you have chickens just for eggs or too eat as well? I know nothing about that but have always been curious. How many chickens would you need for an average family for eggs and meat?
I have had about 65 chickens at one point. I raise them for meat and eggs. A good number for a family is 6-9 if you eat eggs every day. We have a lot of eggs with some extra for my parents. As for the rest of the birds, they end up in the freezer. They are a little smaller and taste much better than store bought. 15-20 birds is like one every other week which is plenty for a small family. The biggest expense is the plucker and it will pay for its self after the first 20 or so birds. Mine cost maybe 450? All the pots you can get on websterauntstore for not that much. I have always had a rooster and I will them if they crow too much or peck the other birds. We have a pretty high rooster turn over but have a pretty good barred rock right now. He was spared the knife last summer and has been keeping everyone safe.
[ + ] lord_nougat
[ - ] lord_nougat 2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:19:57 ago (+2/-0)
We've been talking about getting a few more also, but I think our current gals are destroying the rest of the garden pretty sufficiently on their own, and they provide more eggs than we and the lady across the street need.
...Still, though. The missus even thinks maybe we should get a rooster and then we'd have a regular chicken factory!
[ + ] 1Icemonkey
[ - ] 1Icemonkey [op] 3 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:32:07 ago (+3/-0)
[ + ] account deleted by user
[ - ] account deleted by user 2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 15:17:55 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] 1Icemonkey
[ - ] 1Icemonkey [op] 2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:30:26 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] account deleted by user
[ - ] account deleted by user 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:50:18 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] 1Icemonkey
[ - ] 1Icemonkey [op] 1 point 2.0 yearsMay 16, 2022 19:59:17 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] lord_nougat
[ - ] lord_nougat 0 points 1.9 yearsMay 16, 2022 20:33:17 ago (+0/-0)
Squawk on in bird valhalla, Penny!
[ + ] WhiteCollarCriminal
[ - ] WhiteCollarCriminal 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:25:28 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:40:03 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] diggernicks
[ - ] diggernicks 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:43:29 ago (+1/-0)
You can't teach experience
[ + ] Steelerfish
[ - ] Steelerfish 2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:52:15 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] diggernicks
[ - ] diggernicks 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 15:04:42 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] gimpyoldman
[ - ] gimpyoldman 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 15:10:41 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] TheViciousMrPim
[ - ] TheViciousMrPim 2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:08:23 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Laputois
[ - ] Laputois 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 17:53:56 ago (+0/-0)*
[ + ] lord_nougat
[ - ] lord_nougat 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:32:37 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] MaryXmas
[ - ] MaryXmas 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 17:00:02 ago (+0/-0)
A good number for a family is 6-9 if you eat eggs every day. We have a lot of eggs with some extra for my parents.
As for the rest of the birds, they end up in the freezer. They are a little smaller and taste much better than store bought. 15-20 birds is like one every other week which is plenty for a small family. The biggest expense is the plucker and it will pay for its self after the first 20 or so birds. Mine cost maybe 450? All the pots you can get on websterauntstore for not that much.
I have always had a rooster and I will them if they crow too much or peck the other birds. We have a pretty high rooster turn over but have a pretty good barred rock right now. He was spared the knife last summer and has been keeping everyone safe.
[ + ] Merlynn
[ - ] Merlynn 0 points 2 yearsApr 25, 2022 20:14:54 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 15:28:16 ago (+2/-1)
[ + ] Hobama
[ - ] Hobama 1 point 2 yearsApr 25, 2022 13:56:07 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] deleted
[ - ] deleted 0 points 2 yearsApr 25, 2022 14:20:36 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon -4 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 14:36:46 ago (+2/-6)
[ + ] Vrbllpollushin
[ - ] Vrbllpollushin 1 point 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 15:34:28 ago (+2/-1)
[ + ] 1Icemonkey
[ - ] 1Icemonkey [op] 0 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:32:13 ago (+1/-1)
[ + ] bosunmoon
[ - ] bosunmoon -2 points 2 yearsApr 24, 2022 16:41:17 ago (+0/-2)