Can I raise two Black Bottom hens together in a cage rather than letting them free-range roam? Or should I modify a large wooden refrigerator shipping crate with wire and screening, etc. with wheels to move the crate/coop around, in the crowded, grassy, filtered sun yard.
I don't want to make too much of a fuss over them, but they are so beautiful, young hens, and lay great eggs, according to owner. Does the cost to raise them for your own family's organic egg needs justify the time and expense of food and maintenance and/or protection, etc.?
My grandson is excited and I have already "ordered" two from a local farm, being ready to pickup on Tuesday. Do hens make as much noise as roosters that crow? I don't remember a thing about the two white "Easter" chickens I raised as a teen, and need to know what I'm getting into. Do they get diseases, illnesses easily? Are they really hard to clean up after? Any shortcuts?
I have a newsletter coming about them started, but it says less than I hoped about them as "pets" and for beginners. Any basic help ASAP is appreciated.
Thanks a bunch. God bless you.
By lynda from North Texas
Hens are quiet, only roosters crow. A portable chicken house/run is preferable so they can get fresh grass, bugs, etc. Yes, it is worth the effort. We started raising chickens two years ago and now that I've enjoyed fresh farm eggs daily, even through the Indiana winter, I wouldn't go back to store eggs ever. Once the coop/run is made, the maintenance is very low. Just give them lots of sunshine, feed, fresh greens, water, room to run, and love. They'll be happy. (05/15/2009)
By Selah
Check out backyardchickens.com We just recently got 8 chickens and my mother found this site for us to look at. Seems to have a lot of info. Good luck. (05/19/2009)
By Misty
We have about 25+ chickens.They are "free range" up to a point as they share their "yard" with our goats. The only time they are "noisy" is when they cackle laying an egg. It would be much better for them to have a roving cage with nest boxes. Chickens need the greens from grass (or leftover greens from the house) and will keep your bug population down. We feed ours grain (laying mash) mixed with leftovers from the house. The only ones we keep in cages are those "setting" (hatching out chicks) and those destined for the freezer. I don't know if it's a proven fact, but uncaged chicken eggs are "supposed" to be lower in cholesterol. I do know we prefer our eggs to store bought. (05/19/2009)
By Suan Boone
Your comments are so encouraging and helpful, as well as the websites you suggested. Thank you so very much. These are not the breed I was told, but are "Barred Plymouth Rock" hens and I have found a photo I hope gets forwarded for you to see. They are so sweet that they are now "cooing" occasionally when I come near, as if a "dove" or something, so I just did my best interpretation response and they stopped cold, turned their heads like a Jack Russell terrier does when trying to understand something. Then as I "trilled" a sound they immediately sat
down and got very still. What in the world have I discovered accidentally? It's unbelievable that I lucked into two with such sweet personalities. What a blessing.
Today, a week after getting them, I began to run low on regular starter food, with maybe 10 microscopic tiny pieces of corn in the whole 4 lbs. of food I bought last week, I went on line to several "chicken feed recipes for DIY" and discovered that I had an unopened Pringles size can of corn flake powder, so I put my thinking cap on, used ideas I'd found/heard, and made the following recipe for my young pullets, not yet adults or ready to lay.
To one cup of crushed raisin bran (minus large raisins), I sprayed butter all over the crushed Raisin Bran then sprinkled with the following foods I have here:
I figured that they are getting some vitamins and minerals from the Raisin Bran cereal as well as the remains of what starter feed I had. As I finished a bowl of sweetened rice for breakfast, I realized the cooked rice might work as well, so I added 1 tsp of it.
I'll get them some regular starter food and keep using my kitchen scraps, etc., as long as there are no outwards signs of difficulties or refusal to eat. It certainly looked healthy, was all approved by online folks, and now I move closer to their getting tiny combs to go with their full feathers and great big feet.
Tomorrow I hope to begin working on that coop I've thought so much about and gathered advice/ideas about. I may have an old patio screen door, spare screen wire roll, and I know I have plenty of scrap wood to make something that should work, as long as it's safe for them and humans. Yet, thoughts of winter protection are in the back of my mind as I begin to plan. I know God will help me design from there since no one can see it or offer further instructions. He has always provided for our needs and a few of our desires. How lucky that we have each others' minds as well as, Him to rely upon, right?
(05/19/2009)
By lynda
I think a few chickens for fresh eggs is a great idea. They eat bugs and vegetable peels and are no real trouble. But, I recently learned they only lay eggs for a few years and live much longer than that. Then what do you do? I wouldn't be able to kill and clean them to eat. (05/20/2009)
By Ginnee
Chickens need space and plenty of grit to digest their food. Egg shells are brilliant to get them to lay better. My grandmother raised bantams and she swore by egg shells. Crumble them and throw them out for the chickens to eat.
You might let them roam. They love bugs and if confined too long, will begin to eat each other.
(07/12/2009)
By Lisa
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