Chickens Anyone?

I want to get about 4-5 chickens to keep us in egg supply. Right now I get them from a friend. Nothing like home grown brown eggs! Frank is wanting to build a Chicken Tractor which can be moved around the lawn. Does anyone else have chickens?

 

Ooooooh, a chicken tractor. For us city slickers a chicken tractor sounds....... I'll bet John Deere does not make chicken tractors. Please explain a chicken tractor. Lots of members have chickens. This should be interesting.

Jerry

 

Jerry, A chicken tractor is like a giant wheelbarrow that you puck up and move around that has a chicken coop on the end of it and a fenced in area on the other end.

John Deere had nothing to do with it. :'(

I have chickens as well as many others here do. I have only pictures of my eggs in "my garden" section of this forum if you would like to see them. They are fun.

Barb in Pa.

 

You have touched on a subject dear to my heart! We have 11 Australorps (a cross between an Australian breed and Buff Orpingtons) that are adapted to our heat. They lay big brown eggs (see my blog "Cackleberry Harvest") and are docile, big and beautiful, and not very bright. I love my hens!
We tried a chicken tractor, and found that getting the ladies in and out was more trouble than it was worth. We now let them free range when I can be out with them. To get them back in the coop I simply put some goody in a metal plate, ping on the plate with my fingernail, and we form a procession to the coop. Neighbors stop to see the "chicken parade".
If you are serious about getting chickens, make sure you get a breed that is adapted to your climate, that lay a goodly amount of eggs, and are friendly. I highly recommend the book Chickens in Your Backyard by Rick and Gail Luttmann from Rodale Press.
Feel free to ask any questions about chickens. I'll try to help, and others on the forum who have feathered friends will add their knowledge.

 

I have them also. right now they number 35 and lay about 20 eggs a day. Six(i think) are roosters. some are beautiful and some got hit with the ugly stick, but all the girls are gorgeous. they are great snake killers and will also kill mice if they get the chance. Get a rooster for your flock when you get the hens. they are great at watching over the flock. Mine have saved them several times from the hawks. They will also watch over them to protect them from any other predators also.


thirsty ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



Americauna "chick" hatched Aug/2011 ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



RIRed/ carolyn keiper, wadsworth, ohio ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )

 

One day I think I'd like to get some chickens. We have the room, I just don't have the time (or energy!) just yet.

 

I've been hinting to my brothers about getting some chickens. They have discussed where to put the coop... but that's as far as it has gotten.

 

We have always had a few chickens.At present we have 4 hens. We had more but a weasel got some. Those varmints are awful because they can get in the house through an unbelievably small hole.Hub shuts them up every night. I don't let them out in the garden because they ruin the mulch. They have a very large fenced pen.The neighbor's lab might be a problem,too,LOL Our dog knows they are off limits.
Doris

Carolyn,What a flock you have! You must have enough eggs to sell. I loved the pictures. Ours are the red ones. I admire the fancy ones
One time my neighbor told me he'd buy me some new ones if his dog ate the ones we had.I said"not going to fly,cause I like "these" chickens".
Doris

moderator's note: removed double posting see point 3.6 of usage rules

 

Here's a chicken tractor. There's many different styles.


( photo / image / picture from okietriker's Garden )

 

Okie, that's one fancy chicken tractor! we found that having a secure coop with a high (7' off the ground) perch was safer for our ladies.
And speaking of our ladies, here are a few:


Nothin' like a nice bath ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden )


All together now ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden )


Blue plate special ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden )


A bird in hand . . . . ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden )
This is what they look like when they arrive from the hatchery, and as you can see, they develop into big, black, full-bodied ladies.

 

My husband just thought it might be cool to be able to move them around the yard and keep them contained.
Other dogs do show up in the yard at times.
Nice looking chickens!

 

A chicken tractor is great for hens, and for you--you get an area scratched up, weeded, and fertilized. I only meant it is not a permanent home for hens--they need a secure place at night.
Neighbors' dogs usually just bark and upset hens, unless the dogs get into the coop, or can get at hens that are free-ranging. Feral cats, skunks, opossums and raccoons are more of a danger, which is why a secure nighttime area is needed.

 

Hey Carolyn and Marlingardener, those chicks are beauties! It makes me think of my neighbors across the street. They have two chickens in what is very similar to the cage thing you posted a pic of. It is quite unusual for people in the city to have chickens,but I've known a few. I envy their fresh eggs.