Poultry Heaven...
Ok, maybe poultry is just inspiring for ME today as I've spent the entire day running around and ordering what I need for my chicken coop. I've been reading Mother Earth News and the McMurray Hatchery catalog on-line, and educating myself entirely on raising chickens. YES, my plans are going forward (only because I made them the man's plans first...LOL), and I will be ordering 6 Rhode Island Reds to start our flock. I'm definitely starting with pullets (females only) as I have been forewarned about roosters and how mean they can be... Guy is working out the details of the chicken coop while I work out the details of being a "Chicken Mom" as I'm sure they will think of me as such with no chicken mom on-site. Ok, I'm not going to be sad about that! They are chickens afterall. Heck, I've even read that they need grit in their food as they don't have teeth (duh) or stomachs that can digest without grit. I've read the percentages of protein they need, that only mature pullets should have greens in their diet (duh, again, just like a human baby on formula in the beginning). I've also learned that I should not name them as they will only be really great layers the first year, 10% less the next year, and so on I assume. I admit, the first outlay of cash was not giant, but you know, I might as well act business-like about it (though Guy was nervous about the idea of "harvesting" as am I when the chicken has fulfilled it's purpose. Let's not be squimish here--I am a farmer afterall. There will be no names!). Rhode Island Reds are my choice for the nice brown eggs along with superior laying as I have read. If anyone knows any differently, please fill me it! I'm new and I'm not that proud; I'm just digesting any information I can find. Guy has done this before (as a kid), and I never have. I can hardly believe that the former Gallery Goddess is going to be a "Chicken Mom" soon...
Replies
theres one that lays green eggs. Anaconda chickens I think....or something to that affect. The green eggs are great....very rich.
many hugs
Kim
Lol Cj!! You can put things in to such funny words, it makes me smile when I read some of your journals. Thank you!!
Congratulations on being a chicken mom!! Maybe you shoudl change your profile name.
Anyways..I know nothing about chickens other than how to kill them because that is what I use to do on my Aunt\'s farm back in Europe as a kid. That was some fun times I\'ve had on that farm.
So good luck with the chicken farm!!
hugs
you are so funny and i am so impressed.now you know in your head,your gonna name them though.good luck with your babies or chickens as the case may be!
Good for you CJ. So glad you feel up to taking on this project and happy the weather is getting nicer for you to start. It sounds interesting, educational and fun all at the same time. ENJOY it =) Hugs Carla
Cj, i\'m so very happy, and excited for you all! :) This is going to be a wonderful experience, and great addition, to your\'s and Guy\'s farm. :)
my dad, has been around farm\'s, when he was growing up, and i believe he does some things about chicken coops, and i will definitely ask him, if he can share any knowledge, memories he has, of when he use too spend time on the farms, while growing up. my dad, has many aunts, uncles, from Maine, where my dad grew up, and they had farms, and he shares stories about farms. There was even some information my dad recieved, about one of his aunts passing away, and possibly leaving some farm land for him. he hasn\'t looked into it. Maine, is where many of our family roots are, and we have lots of family up there. We plan on visiting up there again soon. my dad drove us around there, back in 1996, and showed us place where he use too fish, and i\'d love to visit those farms, where he spent time growing up. :)
i will definitely ask him, if he has advice, or tips. :)
sending lots of good luck wishes! please keep us updated. :)
Hi Cj, This might be a strange question to ask but is theyre a difference in taste with a fresh egg from the chicken right off or do they taste the same when you get the eggs from the store. Stupid question huh?? Dah. I have had other things from a garden fresh but not eggs. I was just what you would call \"Curious Mary\" Ha Ha--LOL :-) xxxooo
My family had chickens when I was in elementary school. I was in charge of collecting the eggs. You cetainly have educated me on chickens.
p.s. If you need some ideas to name those chickens, let me know!!!
Hey girl I can\'t believe that you are getting chickies!!! I\'m so thrilled. You will them and they are so much fun. Although if feed and loved right they will lay for years. I\'ve raised them from babies and yea the roosters are nasty lil creatures!! Oyster shells is what I use to add to my feed for the grit. Also if you keeped them penned up for three weeks or so then you can turn them out in the mid morning to free range. I so want to get me some this year! Rhode Island Red are really so good strong chickens. Ah they way I see it you need to name them so you can chat with them and they lay so much better. Yea I know sounds crazy but it really does work.
Oh I just love that Mother Nature Mag. Use to get it a few years ago and kept every copy I got. Really have so neat stuff in there. Before long you will have so many eggs you will be selling them to the neighbors. Oh you will have so much fun with this adventure. Any questions give me a shout!
XO
D
I think to see a chicken mogul in the works. Move over Colonel Sanders, CJ will soon set up fried chicken joints all across the United States.
Rhode Island Reds is what I fist started out with when we had chickens. They were excellent layers. I didn\'t know anything about raising chickens but it was alot of fun learning. Good luck. I didn\'t name my chickens only the rooster cause he was so mean!
If it all goes wrong are you going to \"Blame it on the Man\" LOL