Looking for info on raising egg laying chickens

**alarosalpn** · 02-09-2009, 02:42 PM

I just called the zoning dept today and found out we can have up to 20 chickens as long as they within 2' of anyone elses property and they are enclosed in a coop. DH already informed me that he will build a coop but will not help with the cleaning/feeding of them.
DH and SIL keep telling me that they are dirty and stink. I know alot of you have chickens so I thought you could help me out with some questions and familiarize me with a day in a life with chickens. I normally buy 2 dozen eggs a week just to keep in mind...
Here are some of my questions:
how many eggs does each chicken lay? all year round or just seasonal?
how much does it cost to feed them? What do you use for bedding?
What do they eat? I know they can eat leftovers but what can't they eat from the table?
how often do you have to clean up after them? Clean up the coop. how do you do it? Do you have to have special cleaners for it?
do they attack you when you go to get the eggs?
I was raised in the city and never had farm experience but my dream is to own a homestead and have animals not for meat but for milk and eggs. I want to have gardens to eat from.

But for now I'm happy with the garden I can have and a few chickens.
Thanks for any help you can give me

**_kit** · 02-09-2009, 05:07 PM

I just ordered my first batch of chickens from McMurrays to be delivered on May 4th so I can't answer most of your questions from any practical experience standpoint. I can, however, point you to www (dot) backyardchickens (dot) com as an excellent resource for information. They have tons of information about chickens and a forum where you can ask your questions if you don't get them answered here.

Good luck!

Kit

**sue s** · 02-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Hi! I've had chickens for several years. First, I usually order from Murray McMurray Hatchery too. Always had good luck with them. Minimum order is 25 so you will have a few more than what you were planning. I brood my chicks in one of those plastic storage tubs you can buy at Walmart or Dollar stores. I put sawdust in the bottom and use a brooder lamp for heat. Thats a 250watt bulb with a reflector shield that keeps the chicks warm that you can buy at any feed store. Use a good chick starter feed. When chicks arrive have everything ready (you choose the delivery date when you order) and introduce the chicks each one to food and water by dipping their beaks in each as you put them in your brooder. I leave them in the brooder area until they feather out, cleaning it as necessary. If you keep it clean it doesn't stink (same for the coop). It takes 6 months before the pullets start to lay. As long as you are feeding them a good laying mash, they will lay an egg per day. I'm getting $2.50 a dz from folks who want organic eggs and rarely have problems getting rid of my excess. Clean your coop and put on your garden great fertilizer though high in phosporous so be careful not to burn your plants up. Hope this helps!

**Missy** · 02-09-2009, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by alarosalpn

Here are some of my questions:
1. how many eggs does each chicken lay? all year round or just seasonal?
2 how much does it cost to feed them? 3 What do you use for bedding?
What do they eat? I know they can eat leftovers but what can't they eat from the table?
4how often do you have to clean up after them? Clean up the coop. how do you do it? 5Do you have to have special cleaners for it?
6 do they attack you when you go to get the eggs?
I was raised in the city and never had farm experience but my dream is to own a homestead and have animals not for meat but for milk and eggs. I want to have gardens to eat from.

But for now I'm happy with the garden I can have and a few chickens.
Thanks for any help you can give me

OK, I numbered some to help with answering
1. Mine lay one every other day on average. Some days they all lay together, next day one might lay. Of my four layers, I generally get 18 or so a week. Some breeds are really picky about what season they lay in. It's more an amount of sunlight issue than anything else. And breed..some breeds aren't as good layers as others.

2. I spend about 8 for 50 lbs of feed, last me a good long while. I feed them other things too. sprouts, veggies, some fruits, left over pasta or rice. Heck, they'll even eat chicken. I won't feed them that. It's too...hannibal for me. But tuna and yogurt are favorites. Watermelon too. Don't feed them avacado or tomato plants.

3. Straw, hay, pine shavings, Just not cedar.

4. I change their coop weekly. It may be overkill, but it works for us.

5. I just get a dust pan and shovel it out into a garbage can. Put into the compost pile. easy as pie.

6. nope, no special cleaners. But i do spread out FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth each time i change their coop.

Interesting, I can't count.

7. nope they've never even pecked at me. Raisi them from young, and be confident and they will see you as the alpha. They peck my hubby. It's funny. To me anyhow.

**Missy** · 02-09-2009, 07:25 PM

oooo kit. I was gonna pm her that link, lol. You beat me to it.

**dogmatix** · 02-09-2009, 07:59 PM

McMurray is a great hatchery but if you just want a few chickens to start with you should try www.mypetchicken.com They also have a lot of great advice for first timers. You can order as few as 3 chickens.

**Missy** · 02-09-2009, 08:01 PM

Ideal nursery you can order less too. I was pleased with my order from them.

**redmaples** · 02-09-2009, 08:06 PM

mine like toes, when i wear sandals they go for the toes
they also will peck at shiny things on shoes...
or rivets on back of jeans ...if you are sitting near them

different breeds are more winter hearty than others, others are better egg layers, meat birds. they all have their different characteristics

thats why reading a chicken catalog is entertaining...& fun to pick out different kinds that may suit you or your climate...i've ended up with brahmas here ...they make huge, winter hearty meat & egg laying birds.

some roosters can be really mean...while others can be quite docile & friendly...i am lucky to have 2 of the latter.

homesteading people say that chickens are the best animals to start with ...they are pretty easy & there is a lot of info out there.
people who raise chickens are generally willing to share what they know. different people will tell you different things & then you will have to sort through it to pick what is the best way for you to raise your chickens.

i'd start with just a few to find out if it is for you

if it is you may get the chicken pox & want more & more

**Missy** · 02-09-2009, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by redmaples

if it is you may get the chicken pox & want more & more

It's an addiction, I...I...I can quit any time I want.

They sprout up everywhere in my yard. Least that's what I tell my hubby. I am allowed 10. I have 11 and more in the incubator. ahem, er, looks like i gotta thin the herd sooner or later.

**redmaples** · 02-09-2009, 08:17 PM

oh, Missy,
you have an incubator?
you've got it bad!!

**Missy** · 02-09-2009, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by redmaples

oh, Missy,
you have an incubator?
you've got it bad!!

ROFL, if there's a program for the chicken addiction, I don't want any part of it,

what's worse, is I made two other incubators too! So i have three!!

**sue s** · 02-09-2009, 09:35 PM

Missy - I started hatching my own last year. My neighbor thinks I'm crazy! Chicken addicts unite!

**Debbie-cat** · 02-09-2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the links ladies! This is a project I am planning on starting this year as well!

**CrazyHomemaker** · 02-09-2009, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by alarosalpn

DH and SIL keep telling me that they are dirty and stink. I know alot of you have chickens so I thought you could help me out with some questions and familiarize me with a day in a life with chickens. I normally buy 2 dozen eggs a week just to keep in mind...
Here are some of my questions:
how many eggs does each chicken lay? all year round or just seasonal?
how much does it cost to feed them? What do you use for bedding?
What do they eat? I know they can eat leftovers but what can't they eat from the table?
how often do you have to clean up after them? Clean up the coop. how do you do it? Do you have to have special cleaners for it?
do they attack you when you go to get the eggs?
I was raised in the city and never had farm experience but my dream is to own a homestead and have animals not for meat but for milk and eggs. I want to have gardens to eat from.

But for now I'm happy with the garden I can have and a few chickens.
Thanks for any help you can give me

I was just like you six years ago. Same questions. Same reasons.

How many eggs? One per day. There is one breed that I've heard lays two. I don't know the name. Mostly all year round. When they molt (lose feathers) or when the temp changes drastically, they don't lay.

Cost? I buy laying pellets, scratch grains and oyster shell for about $27 every 1-1/2 months. Oyster shell I buy once a year since you only use a couple tbsp each day.

Bedding? Here, my hens like pinestraw. They weren't too thrilled with regular straw and didn't lay for a while because of the change.

Eat? No potato peels (toxins in the green parts) and no starchy beans like kidney, pintos, blackeyed peas, etc. (chickens can't pass gas) They'll be miserable.

Cleaning? Depends on how many you have. I go two weeks before a cleaning and I have 10 chickens. A shovel, wheelbarrow, broom are my tools. A yard rake to get the leaves and extra pine needles from the chicken yard. I only scrub about once a year with a little bleach in water.

Attack? No. If the hen is broody (wants to sit on her eggs) she'll peck the dickens out of you. Otherwise, no. For the most part, they'll be outside eating and you'll be able to get the eggs with no problems.

Stink? Only if you don't clean the coop and yard.
Smell? Yes. Remember, chicken poo is one of the worst smelling things to get on your clothes or skin. You'll know it! Wash your hands or skin with minty toothpaste if you get some on you. It helps.

Good luck! I LOVE my chickens!

**alarosalpn** · 02-09-2009, 10:27 PM

Per zoning law I am only allowed 20. I was thinking more along the lines of 6 or so. Dh is trying to talk me out of it. He says the start up cost of building a coop and run will be a few hundred $$ and not worth it. I went to the website missy and kit referred me too and it says you need 3-4 sq ft per chicken. so DH said that's 18x18' just for the coop not including the run. He's thinking pressure treated wood and fencing,ect.
Any thougts on that? Is it really that expensive to start up?
My only concern is our back yard is uphill. we have to walk up a "ramp" (its dirt and grass,part of the yard but its the way the property was engineered for the water table and rain fall) and then up about 10-12 stairs. In the winter its pretty much not accessible. I would have to keep it shoveled and sanded so I could safely get to the yard to feed/clean the chickens.
Hmm, I'm really trying to consider every aspect of it. I love the idea and have always wanted chickens. I think it's good for DS to see that our food comes from earth and animal.
It's one more thing that would save us $$ in the long run I would think.
Now, I was told that if you want the chicken for meat it is best to do it by 10 weeks cause after that the meat is too tough. Also that they dont lay forever. So, if the latter is true, why can't you have meat after their egg laying days?
Can anyone show me cost vs. savings with having chickens? I only want the eggs for myself. Not to sell. I don't think people would buy them around here.
I live in CT so it gets cold here also in the winter. How do they stay warm and how do you keep the water from freezing so they have something to drink?
Sorry for all the questions. I am going to check that website out a bit more also.