Raising Chickens

[alarosalpn]

I have entertained the idea of raising chickens in the past..
I have one big problem... Most of my "usable" yard is on top of a hill and isn't accessible in the winter...
Here's my questions..
How old are they when they start laying eggs?
Can you raise them until the first snow and then,um, prepare them for the table? (not sure what that's called)
I want them for eggs too though...
Town ordinance says we can have up to 25 as long as they are 3 feet away from property lines so I wouldn't be able to let them roam.. I'd have to confine them to an extent...
My understanding though is that they are fairly cheap to raise..
What kind of shelter do they need?

[bonnotsm9]

I might be able to answer a few of your questions. We have a flock of chickens that we keep in our yard. They have a coop and a fenced yard where they can go outside. We do get below freezing at times during the winter, so the coop has a heat lamp for warmth and a heated waterer during those months. In the summer, we don't run any kind of electricity out there.

They start laying at about 20 weeks of age.

There are breeds of chickens that are good for both meat and eggs , but others are raised primarily for either eggs or meat.

What you could do is order a straight-run of baby chicks, then butcher the cockerels when they are about 8 weeks old and keep the pullets for eggs. If you wait much past 10 weeks to butcher the males, their sex hormones will kick and give the meat a gamier taste than the chicken you'd buy at the store.

[ladytoysdream]

Hi
When you get a few minutes, check out my chicken thread on this forum about our adventures with how we got started.
Bert the bad chicken

They need a good shelter that protects them from the weather and from predators. We were lucky the first year and lost none. This summer we lost a hen and a young pullet to raccoons. So far 4 coons dead and 1 possum. Our coop is very secure. Our tarped run was not. It is now however beefed up and has a wooden door.

Feed is not what I would call cheap. You can feed them whatever but if you want eggs year round, they need a layer mash. We also feed cracked corn. A mineral type block which is a Purina product called a Flock Block. Acess to a lot of water.
I used to shop at TSC a lot but found the better prices at the Country Max store. Ours get quite a few treats, and some leftovers from the garden. We like to let them free range but even though we have 2 acres, they seem to like being in the ditch and in the road, and wherever they took a notion to wander. They also love the garden bugs and the garden veggies that the humans want for their meals. Our chickens now have their coop, their tarped old car port, and a fenced in yard. WITH A WIRE ROOF over that section.

Our main group is buff orpingtons, which are a dual purpose breed and Winter hardy. Our new group of pullets that are 4 months old are just starting to lay.

Check your town ordinance about having a rooster, depending on how close you live to your neighbors.

And let us know about your chicken adventures