Raising baby chicks

[dreams_in_color]

I presently have 14 hens and 3 roosters that are 9 weeks old they are in a coop 8x8 and a yard 25 x 30. I have Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. I was thinking that I would get rid of the 2 BR roosters and build a chicekn tractor and move the RIR and 2 or 3 of the hens in with him. These 3 or 4 would be breeders and I would just let the eggs hatch. *The other hens I would leave where they are and use these for fresh eggs.

After they start laying at 17- 20 weeks do the hens need to be a certian age to start brooding? How big would the chicken tractor have to be to house 3 or 4 hens and a rooster with chicks? *What are my other options?

[bee_pipes]

Lots of good questions, but like everything else in life the answer is "depends..." If you want hard numbers on square foot per bird, etc., Storey's book on chickens can provide some guidelines. If you want ideas on chicken tractors, this link will get you thinking:
home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/tractors.html

We have the luxury of letting ours run loose during the day. We lock them up at night to protect them from predators.

Most likely you won't see a hen go broody until next year. There again, it depends... our breed (BO) didn't start laying until December, and that was in fits and starts. They got down to business in January and we had a steady stream of eggs from February on. Results will vary with breed.

Ours have food and water available all the time in their quarters. During the day there is a creek and anythng thay can catch and eat in the yard. They seem particularly fond of baby snakes and grubs. When ever I start digging dirt they come around and scratch through it looking for bugs. They also seem to like clover and other plants growing in the yard. I have no doubt they are finding stuff to supplement their diets and the quality of eggs and meat are better than anything available at the grocery store.

Letting them run loose has some drawbacks. There is chicken poop all over the property. When we hit a period of extended dryness, the stuff just sits there and fossilizes. When the rain comes it all melts and the bugs in the manure reactivate. They try to get on the porch and would be happy roosting there, leaving their little calling cards everywhere. We keep them off the porch and they are pretty good about it. The only time of day it's a problem is evening, when they are waiting on their scratch (which we use to get them back into their pen). They get kind of pushy about that.

Letting them run loose also has some benefits. There is chicken poop all over the yard. Who needs fertilizer? They also keep down ticks, snakes and other things in the yard. I wish I could find a breed that eats japanese beatles. The litter from the chicken house really sets the compost bins on fire and the quality of the compost is excellent.

Best of luck to you. Chickens are an excellent way to raise your own food.

Regards,
Pat

[dreams_in_color]

Thanks Pat,

I am worried if I let ours free range that our dogs will kill them. I am not real sure the best way to introduce them. 2 of the dogs will walk up to the electirc fence and bark when we are paying attention to the chickens. The other one totally ignores them. And she is actually the one we think would do them the most harm.

I do not think I would mind a little chicken poop if I was able to let them roam free. I guess that is something we will have to work on.

The chicken tractor site is great. I really like the one with the roost on one end and the nesting area on the other.

Susan

[MadTripper]

I wish I could find a breed that eats japanese beatles.


I'm not sure if you want to go that route but I believe Guinea's will eat Japanese Beatles.

Tripper

[Funkhouser]

Guinea poop = great fertilizer

But boy are those things loud! And skittish... :D

[walls0stone]

Some time in the history of this farm, the hen house was built around the grain bin, or the bin was put down threw the hen house....any how, they grain that did work it's way out..was on the ground for the birds to eat.