Chickens

Just learned there was a chicken thread on TW...

Made them a picnic table the other day.

 

Here's mine.
Barbie, Skipper, Violet, Olivia and Tulip.
I have an aviary net for them because we have a few hawks in the neighborhood.
Along with racoons, skunks and possums.
Like hanging out with them in the evening, call it chicken tv.

 

How.many eggs does a chicken hatch in a day? 1

 

Some will lay 5-6 per week and others less maybe 1 or 2.
They lay less as they get older.
Think they may like 400 eggs in their lifetime.
We don't use a light, think they lay more regular with a light.

 

We have eleven laying hens. Six to eight eggs per day (now, will see more as it gets warmer) We do see a dropoff during winter months. We use a light more for heat than eggs as they still lay more than enough for us. Now a pic.

She patrols the property every day then sits by the back door waiting for us to socialize.

 

Stay as natural as possible, I won't use any chemicals when raising them. Me and my friend made everything them need on our own.

 

This is so cute. Sent it to my girlfriend and now I'm pretty sure I got a project before the silkies arrive in August

 

I enjoy reading the posts. My nephew (staying with us for a year now, grad from college) wanted a break.
We live on a Coffee farm, Feb)/March? 2022 he order 60 chicks USPS, ship to Hawaii. 57 survive.
In a couple of weeks maybe less , waiting for the eggs (purchase egg layer feed)

We slaughtered 7 chickens, froze some , ate the rest. First time for him and my son. They found stepping on the chicken head, holding the body and pull. Head comes right off, NO sufferings. Then we use a cone to drain the blood. They were surprised how easy to remove the chicken heads, fast ! To removed the feathers, dip in hot water, (not boiling) pull off, quick and easy. Gutting from the bottom up.

We do let the chickens roam, but we watch for the Hawaiian Hawks & mongoose. Loss two too the Hawks, one to the mongoose. Chickens loves scraps foods too. We also feed them fruits from the farm, bananas, mangos, papayas, guavas,and some how the chicken are getting into our fence garden’s, feeding there too.

it has been fun for sure, so far! The amount we spent on feed, fencing , etc. we could have brought 40 Costco chickens by now. Lol

 

We've been raising chickens for eggs for about 17 years now and they are a constant source of amusement and pleasure. Many of the chickens have distinct personalities and can be quite endearing. We usually keep from 20-30 birds at a time with 1-3 roosters.

A couple of years ago we had a Speckled Sussex just up an disappear. No sign whatsoever. We loose birds to raptors (Eagles, Hawks) and Ravens (they are huge around here...stand about 2ft tall) and usually there is evidence of a scuffle but there was no sign...she up an disappeared.

Two weeks later we are sitting in our hot-tub in the evening and I hear some chirping coming from under the deck. I had to unscrew some board and sure enough the Speckled Sussex was under there with about 12 baby chicks. She had made a nest of the weed barrier cloth and hatched all but one egg. We transferred her and her chicks to our "nursery coop" set aside raising chicks away from the flock.

 

Raising chickens is fun , each chicken do have there one personality. We are slowly getting eggs almost daily. We let them free roam, often having to search where the eggs are layed.

We also enjoy eating fresh chicken meats. Free roaming , no chemicals.
There has been a hawk coming around a few times this week, Amazing how all the birds hide. The wild parrots will harass and chase the hawks away.

when the Myna birds are around they will squawk loudly , giving a warning the hawk is around. I hear them now.

Raising your own chickens for eggs and meat, is a good thing. Plus nice to watch them roam around.