Ok, I got the main features of my chicken coop and run finished. I was inspired to get some chickens from someone here saying that chickens are fairly easy and you get fresh eggs...so I went for it.
The chicken run is what is called a "chicken tractor" because it can be rolled to other parts of the yard. The coop is open on 3 sides with hardware cloth covering the openings. It's a Florida coop so everything has to be open. I just finished the connector from the coop to the run. In the morning I just open the door and they come out on their own, at night they line up and I kinda have to coax them up the ramp (it's only been 2 days, they're still getting used to it) then I close the door for the night.
Way cool. We have about 100 birds and while yes, they are "easy", there are things you will have to learn.
I've had a raccoon walk up the ramp and get on the nest box and I've had a possum trying to figure out how to get into the run at night. But my bedroom sliding door is about 10 feet away from the coop and my dog hears everything and can see what's going on. I had some leftover fireworks from the 4th of July and threw them toward the critters when they came out...they haven't been back since.
They will return. You may not like this idea but you
must kill them. Racoons and possums will wipe out your birds in no time flat. In the late summer we lost a bird a day for a month. Ollie (dog) finally treed the good for nothing sumbitch 'coon and I shot him. I don't like killing anything, but I have come to the realization that they need to be killed as rapidly as possible in every case. You need to be especially vigilant for mink. If they get into your coop, they will kill every bird you have in one fell swoop. It is the way they operate. They do not eat the birds, only drink the blood by slitting the throats. If one gets in your bird house and you don't discover it, you will discover all your birds dead. Minks are the worst.
If you do not have a gun, get one. Easy in FL, thank heaven. If you have only one, get as 12 or 20 ga. (depending on how recoil sensitive you are). Keep a clay load (7 1/2 bird shot) in the chamber and #4 buck for the backup shot. If your gun is a cylinder bore, the shot will scatter nicely, getting the critters attention and slowing him down. Finish him with the buck shot and you are done. I'm not a hunter and I don't like killing, but this must be done if you want to keep any of your birds alive.
The girls are about 17 weeks old so they should start laying eggs any time now.
Don't expect too many eggs just yet. It may be too cold, and hens need light to lay.
Another thing you will need are antibiotics. Go to your local feed store and ask for "LA-200". This is injectable. Your mainstay, however, will be Baytril. Buy a 100cc bottle - it is good for 2 to 3 years shelf life. It is given orally, about 1cc/10 pounds for 5 days. Do NOT stop just because the bird looks better. It is excellent stuff. If you observe a bird looking a bit too still - if it is "huddling", it is sick and you need to get Baytril into it IMMEDIATELY. By the time birds start showing signs, they are already circling the drain and you must act quickly.
Do you have a rooster? If not, you should get one. They keep law and order, so to speak and are important in this respect. A young rooster will go through a period of being a real asshole, but most of the time they outgrow it. I've been tempted to shoot one or two of mine because they were so obstreperous, but they all chilled down in time and they are all very good stewards of the girls.
I strongly recommend you not have any Bantam roosters - they are cute as hell and can be stunningly beautiful to behold, but they will drive the hens absolutely crazy with chasing them and the girls will stop laying altogether. We had to get rid of 8 Bantys because of this, which was difficult for me because I am one of those blithering idiots who gets all attached and fond of my animals.
If you are going to eat them, DO NOT name them. Unless you have a very hard heart, you will not be able to kill them. Take it from me.
The eggs you get will be
very different from those you buy in the stores. The yokes, rather than being pale yellow, will be a deep orange. The eggs will have flavor, too. You can sell the extras.
Feed: whole and cracked corn should be given daily, but not in excess. They will scratch about and the need greens. All of your food waste should be given to them. It is good for them, they love it, and it brings your waste to almost zero. They will eat anything, including chicken.
If you have an injured bird, you must separate it from the rest. If you do not, chances are high that the rest of the birds will kill it. That is just the way they are.
If you find a bird's face all swollen, especially around the beak, look for splinters in the mouth. At times they peck at something and stab themselves in the mouth. They will need Baytril and you may have to go into the wound with tweezers and dig around and extract the foreign body. The bird will not be happy about this, but it is necessary or they will die of infection, Baytril or no. Be
gentle with them. Their hearts cannot take a lot of pain, so be careful.
Finally, if you have the space to let them range freely and do not have any severe predator problem, then do so. They will be very happy birds and will give you lots of very good eggs.
I love my birds - they are good girls and boys and we eat very well.
We also have ducks, geese, and guinea fowl. Guineas are the best watch dogs you will ever have.
Anything that doesn't belong in the area will be readily and immediately discovered by them and they will start raising a racket. They are funny-ugly to the point I find them beautiful.
Geese and ducks can be desctructive of your lawn. Ducks like Muscovies are monstrously strong as are geese. Our dickhead neighbor sold us a "bonded mating pair". Turned out to be 2 boys and they are NOT gay. One day they got into a fight and like an idiot I got between them. By the time Spencer got through with me I was convinced I had 2 broken hands and a broken arm. Turned out nothing broke, but the pain was something worthy of note. They are capable of breaking a human's femur by hitting with their wings- that is how strong they are. They lay huge eggs.
Anyhow, take good care of your birds and they will take good care of you.
