Anyone raise chickens? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cockerduchess · 03-02-2008, 12:10 PM

What kind do you have? We are going to be getting some in the next few weeks I am leaning toward Long Island Reds. Designs for chicken coops/tractors? I have been looking at some on the internet but would like to hear 1st had experience. What vaccinations do I need to get? Where do I get them? Who gives them? Thanks

tjdmom · 03-02-2008, 12:30 PM

We used to years ago. Actually, my grandfather had the chickens but we bought the incubator and hatched the eggs. I do it know too every few years. It's so exciting and really a miracle to watch. Don't know much about the different kinds or what testing but I do know how to hypnotize a chicken. Good Luck!

a2luckygirl · 03-02-2008, 12:39 PM

One of our Farm and home store just ran an ad for Chick days! Also I think MFA has baby chicks every once in a while- contact a local feed store- or County Tractor- is a chain- that might have info anyway!

fannie · 03-02-2008, 01:16 PM

We used to. We had several different breeds. All of ours came from Orscheln's when they had their chick days. We never vaccinated them for anything but we fed them medicated feed.

Graleyne · 03-02-2008, 03:09 PM

Ok how the heck do you hypnotize a chicken?

My grandfather used to raise them, but I fed them once and ended up being chased (I was around 4 or 5 at the time) and I've been terrified of them ever since. They only chased me because I was dropping a trail a food as I was running. But I still don't trust 'em. lol

I remember that he had a nice little house built for them with a large "front yard" type area that was fenced in. (that way stray dogs/coyotes/etc couldn't get them)

fannie · 03-02-2008, 03:14 PM

Yeah, you have to have them in a VERY secure pen. And I mean Fort Knox secure. We had 30 some chickens killed in one night by a skunk. I was devastated. He burrowed under our chicken house and got to them. We tried to let them free range and the raccoons and coyotes got them. Snakes go after the eggs and chicks. We thought we had everything secure. Dug the fence down under ground, lined it with bricks... and the skunk still got through that. So my dream of having all these farm fresh eggs and beautiful chickens running around was shattered.

Never mind that the yorkies LOVED to chase them and pounce on them!

yorkiekist · 03-02-2008, 03:31 PM

Yes!!!! Definately a SECURE pen! Hawks, owls, ferrets, skunks, neighbor dogs, coyotes, barnyard cats, wild cats, roadrunners and foxes ALL know when you have baby chicks!! (not to mention Yorkies!!)

My favorites: speckled sussex and black astralorps(sp). Great brown egg layers and setters!!!

Good luck!!!

BubblPopElectrc · 03-02-2008, 03:40 PM

I used to love raising chickens. I always got them from Murray McMurray Hatchery. I hatched them myself once but that was such a hassle but a neat one-time experience. My favorite breeds include Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, and Dark Cornish. I also like a lot of bantams.

Whenever I bought them I never paid to have them vaccinated.

My brother built me a really nice chicken house that was raised off the ground.

jencar98 · 03-02-2008, 04:02 PM

For my sons FHA project we helped raise several varieties, Black Astralops (they were show chickens), Phoenixes (gorgeous, but a hassle with the long tails) and a variety of the miniature feathery footed ones (don't remember the name) The astralops were my favorites for eggs, great producers! In fact the rooster was more like a pet and could be carried around, he loved the attention.

You can't be too careful with the pens though. Something was always trying to get the poor things. After 5 years of having them, we gave our remaining ones to the boy that lives behind us for his FHA project.

Check with your local schools FHA/Ag teacher, they should have contacts for the best healthy chickens.

HallTx1203 · 03-02-2008, 05:49 PM

We used to have chickens...I loved them.....We started out with them in a wading pool then moved them to a tractor that my daughter's BF built....Then we moved them to one of the barns out in the pasture that we had enclosed....I sooooo miss living out in the country....

We got them as 1 day old chicks from the local feed store....They laid the best brown eggs...Everyone loved them....

We had Buff Orpingtons.....

Joyce

03-02-2008, 12:10 PM	#1
cockerduchess Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,473	Anyone raise chickens? What kind do you have? We are going to be getting some in the next few weeks I am leaning toward Long Island Reds. Designs for chicken coops/tractors? I have been looking at some on the internet but would like to hear 1st had experience. What vaccinations do I need to get? Where do I get them? Who gives them? Thanks __________________ Emma GraceTia Bella Maddie

03-02-2008, 12:39 PM	#3
a2luckygirl YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: HASTINGS, NE- 4 NOW!!! Posts: 2,208	One of our Farm and home store just ran an ad for Chick days! Also I think MFA has baby chicks every once in a while- contact a local feed store- or County Tractor- is a chain- that might have info anyway! __________________ :I PLAYING....THE BANJO........ AND KISSING MY MOMMY:kiss3

03-02-2008, 01:16 PM	#4
fannie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,693	We used to. We had several different breeds. All of ours came from Orscheln's when they had their chick days. We never vaccinated them for anything but we fed them medicated feed. __________________ Steph, Mama to 6 skin babies and beautiful yorkies!

03-02-2008, 03:09 PM	#5
Graleyne Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,563	Ok how the heck do you hypnotize a chicken? My grandfather used to raise them, but I fed them once and ended up being chased (I was around 4 or 5 at the time) and I've been terrified of them ever since. They only chased me because I was dropping a trail a food as I was running. But I still don't trust 'em. lol I remember that he had a nice little house built for them with a large "front yard" type area that was fenced in. (that way stray dogs/coyotes/etc couldn't get them) __________________ Aerrica, and Norman RIP my sweet Poopanut

03-02-2008, 03:14 PM	#6
fannie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,693	Yeah, you have to have them in a VERY secure pen. And I mean Fort Knox secure. We had 30 some chickens killed in one night by a skunk. I was devastated. He burrowed under our chicken house and got to them. We tried to let them free range and the raccoons and coyotes got them. Snakes go after the eggs and chicks. We thought we had everything secure. Dug the fence down under ground, lined it with bricks... and the skunk still got through that. So my dream of having all these farm fresh eggs and beautiful chickens running around was shattered. Never mind that the yorkies LOVED to chase them and pounce on them! __________________ Steph, Mama to 6 skin babies and beautiful yorkies!

03-02-2008, 12:30 PM	#2
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 5,847	We used to years ago. Actually, my grandfather had the chickens but we bought the incubator and hatched the eggs. I do it know too every few years. It's so exciting and really a miracle to watch. Don't know much about the different kinds or what testing but I do know how to hypnotize a chicken. Good Luck!

03-02-2008, 03:31 PM	#7
yorkiekist YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: HOT, HOT, HOT AZ Posts: 3,150	Yes!!!! Definately a SECURE pen! Hawks, owls, ferrets, skunks, neighbor dogs, coyotes, barnyard cats, wild cats, roadrunners and foxes ALL know when you have baby chicks!! (not to mention Yorkies!!) My favorites: speckled sussex and black astralorps(sp). Great brown egg layers and setters!!! Good luck!!!

03-02-2008, 03:40 PM	#8
BubblPopElectrc Kyle Plus 3 Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 6,929	I used to love raising chickens. I always got them from Murray McMurray Hatchery. I hatched them myself once but that was such a hassle but a neat one-time experience. My favorite breeds include Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, and Dark Cornish. I also like a lot of bantams. Whenever I bought them I never paid to have them vaccinated. My brother built me a really nice chicken house that was raised off the ground. __________________ Kyle (me), Britney, Brooklyn, and Coral

03-02-2008, 04:02 PM	#9
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,435 Blog Entries: 3	For my sons FHA project we helped raise several varieties, Black Astralops (they were show chickens), Phoenixes (gorgeous, but a hassle with the long tails) and a variety of the miniature feathery footed ones (don't remember the name) The astralops were my favorites for eggs, great producers! In fact the rooster was more like a pet and could be carried around, he loved the attention. You can't be too careful with the pens though. Something was always trying to get the poor things. After 5 years of having them, we gave our remaining ones to the boy that lives behind us for his FHA project. Check with your local schools FHA/Ag teacher, they should have contacts for the best healthy chickens. __________________ ~Ruby, Reno, Razz, & Jack~ Last edited by jencar98; 03-02-2008 at 04:04 PM.