Raising chickenz

[Moltke]

I prefer to raise boneless chickens as they bring the best money at the store. (^;

[varon]

Do they need a male chicken around to "prompt" them to lay eggs?

Not sure about that but I think they need a bunny around if you want colored eggs at Easter time.............

[Dacula]

I have been raising Golden Comets for several years now and just recently started branching out to bees.

My queen (Italian) arrive tomorrow from California.

Does anyone have any good tips and advice? I have a hive and necessary equipment already in place.

PS - Not trying to sidetrack this thread.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

Be careful of Araucanas or their relatives, Ameraucanas. They lay green or blue shelled eggs and tend to lay more during colder weather. but they are very subject to getting blown vents. I’ve had to bury two within the past two weeks. I’ve been raising backyard flocks for more than 25 years.

Also, if you add to your flock, the older biddies will be merciless to the newer ones. Pecked out feathers, bloody vents, the works.

God made no crueler animal than the chicken.

[Daffynition]

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Might. Probably not.

The top of my chicken yard and chicken tractor both is chain-link fencing.

They may get my chickens but by gum they are going to have to work for it!

[AppyPappy]

We call this endeavor “feeding hawks”.

[djf]

Lol!

Fortunately, the coop is enclosed and set up in an area right under a bunch of Doug firs out back.

So hawks would be challenged to circle above - there would be some accidental broken birds if they try!

The eagles, on the other hand...

[Daffynition]

Also in NYC, April 1994, Chinatown, New York City, New York, USA --- A business in New York's Chinatown challenges customers to play Tic-Tac-Toe with their chicken for fortune cookies. New York City, New York, USA.

I believe, the Tic-Tack-Toe chicken is long gone, now. She never lost the game.;(

[AppyPappy]

There are locals who believe you should free-range chickens IF you have woods nearby. The chickens learn to hide from predators. Cooping them up just means they are all going to die if anything gets in.

A coworker had some type of hens that she free ranged. Her neighbor complained about them and she had to shoot them all. I would have taken them and just cut them loose in the woods. The crows keep the hawks at bay. My wife feeds the crows.

[Teflonic]

What a great thread, lots of interesting information here.

[SaveFerris]

Little Jerry was bobbin' and weavin'....

[Larry Lucido]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“I gave them all names but they keep taking their name tags off and so confusion now reigns.”

I’ve named a few hens through the years. The two ‘survivors’ of my last batch were, ‘Cagney & Lacy.’

I did name our beef steers. They were named ‘Dinner’ and ‘Supper.’ The next one will be, ‘Weber.’ ‘_

Beau allowed, ‘Dinner’ to graze in the house yard so he didn’t have to mow as much. I distinctly remember saying to him, ‘Dinner! Do NOT eat the Hosta!”

He ate the Hosta...so it was justifiable homicide, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

LOL! Is there ANYONE funnier than Gary Larson? Nope!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Everything I love, or have loved, in one handy snapshot.

[Rebelbase]

Poultry crop circle?

[Rebelbase]

Little Jerry!

[right way right]

Hopefully your neighbors are far enough away that they won't complain about the smell.
My dad kept chickens in our urban neighborhood and the neighbors would complain so, he just kept them supplied with eggs—it shut them up.

Mm-mm, fresh eggs are so much better than supermarket eggs.

[Daffynition]

Eggsactly! >:)