The Chicken Journy Pt. 2- The Research

                    Researching Chickens

How to Raise Chickens

 

    This Blog post is going to be just my research on chickens from three years ago.

    You have decided to raise chickens and maybe have read about raising them, and are thinking about getting them. Well now you have a source to answer all your questions such as how to avoid death in your flock, purchasing them, caring for them, coop requirements, and some breeds of chickens.

    Ways to avoid your chickens’ downfall is the most important knowledge to keep chickens. Covering the broad subject of keeping predators from the air and ground away from the chickens could go on for a long time, but the basics are simple: CCC (combat, confront, counter). Combat – call your game commission and ask what they can do. Confront – when you see the predator near the coop get out and chase it away. Counter – use all other options, which are: natural barriers, scents, traps, walls, chicken wire, and ditches.

    There are many coop requirements you need to consider before you get chickens: Do you have the right size run? Are the laying boxes big enough? Where do you keep their food?

    It is good to have a big run (a fenced out side area) so your chickens stay entertained. Runs can be movable or permanent, but, either way, make sure that the chickens have something to peck at such as seeds, scratch, or grass. Laying boxes are just a 12”x12”x14” box that's dark. You will want it easily accessible for both you and the chickens. A tremendous way to store your feed is to build a storage box onto the coop.

    Getting the chicks is the most important step to getting the eggs or meat. When you are picking out your chicks from a supplier, make sure that none of them are sleepy, lethargic, hunched into a ball, sitting by themselves, reluctant to move, or have any nasal/eye discharge as this could mean they have a disability.

    Felicitations, you’ve got your chicks. Put them in their new pen, which should be a 100-110 gallon Rubbermaid container with their water, food, and heater. Now, one by one dip their beaks in water. If they tilt their head up that means they can drink, which is a good sign. Check in on your chickens to make sure they’re well and are eating and drinking. You should spend ten minutes a day with your chickens at any age, so they get to know you. For the first couple of days, the feeder should be a small lid. At five days old you should introduce them to grit. Grit is anything hard like small rocks. Don’t panic, they will probably eat it all. Egg shells are OK grit and a good source of calcium, but you should bake the shells before you give to them to kill any bacteria on the egg shell.

    If you like eggs, then the ISA brown will be a fantastic breed for you. The ISA brown has a great egg production rate at about 315 eggs/year. They are a mix between the Leg Horn and Rode Island Red. This hardy bird is perfect for families and is calm around kids, while others breeds, like the Malay, are VERY aggressive.

    If you like chicken meat and eggs, then a white leghorn is another good, hardy chicken. It has a large comb that is easily frost bitten; rub Vaseline on it to help prevent frostbite. Leghorns are friendly, busy, and love to forage. They also bear confinement well, and are well-suited for any temperature. These chickens will roost in trees if given the chance.

    For the last 2 ½ years of being around chickens has revealed that chickens aren't just some farm animal. They are smart, resilient animals that can fend for themselves, and are more valuable than dogs or cats. If you eat a profuse amount eggs, then you may save thousands of dollars in eggs and some money in meat!

    In my next post, I will tell you what we did to build the coop and get the chickens. Thanks for reading!