noob from Oxford county

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 7:51 pm

Hi Pipes and welcome to the chicken world. I started out with barred rocks from Frey's hatchery. They laid well (5-6 eggs a week) but did have some health issues related to laying. They don't do well being confined (maybe just because I do let them free range) so that may be a consideration for you as well. Some breeds don't care as much one way or the other it seems. Other than that I agree with what everyone has said about building larger than you think you need! I'm 5 years into chicken ownership and really dreaming about a 2nd and possibly third coop. Best wishes in your new adventure!

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:25 am

Hello and welcome! Getting hen's that lay different coloured eggs is fun I think ,especially for the kids so I recommend that. Lots of different breeds to accomplish that, and you can probably get them from members on this forum.

Bayvistafarm · Post by **Bayvistafarm** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 7:47 am

Welcome to our group!! With kids that age... you will soon be looking at incubators..... and making your own girls. Of course, saying that, you will have to either process your boys... or take them to an auction. (usually 50/50 boys to girls... but there is the extreme, and it happens, lol).

Yes, build bigger!! You will certainly wish you did. All of us can attest to that. Chickens are a sickness. A good one, lol. And like Kenya said, most of us can start you off with birds, or chicks!!

Have fun with your 'new' life!

argosgirl · Post by **argosgirl** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 9:47 am

Chickens usually prove to be addictive, so be prepared! I agree with the comments about building as big as you can. I started with a little barn and only four hens. I've since filled that barn and converted an old trailer into a second coop.

For top egg production and ease of looking after, you can't go wrong with White Leghorns. For colour, pick up some Easter Eggers (which are not an actual breed, but a cross). I started by googling chicken breeds and seeing what ones I liked the looks of and what ones were described as good layers. I have a few different breeds here now since I can't decide on a favourite.

I've bought my ready to lay pullets and young laying hens from local breeders (some of whom I found on this site) and paid $15-$20 a bird. I picked up my Leghorns and Barred Rocks as day-old chicks through the feed store.

No matter how you set your coop up to start, you'll want to make changes as you learn more and observe your birds. And never forget, they should be fun to have around! So don't get too worked up about making things perfect. Chickens will exist in a variety of setups :D

Good luck and welcome to the awesome world of poultry keeping!

pipes · Post by **pipes** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:54 pm

Thanks for all the advice. I have pretty much exhausted Oxford county library of any adult chicken books (more words, less pictures). But I will continue to ask questions, as the only dumb question is ... the... how does that go??? lol.

To simplify the property thing, the lot is 175' x 305'. Closest neighbor also has 3 boys similar in age to mine, so if they don't like chickens, I'll just bribe them with eggs...

Not sure if I had the right term, but I saw what I think was labeled a "roost tree" on the internet. It is a 6x6 post with large diameter dowel drilled through horizontally on various angles. Looked like 4 dowels ( 8 perches), in a spiral so birds could hop from one to the next going up. Like an open circular stairway.

I'm not sure on the end of lay, as I have never intentionally killed anything in my life. There were 2 cats that ran across the highway, that I didn't see until too late, so it would be a challenge if I was to kill any birds. Not sure how I would feel about that.

Next question is does anyone know of a PTO member who is in the Oxford county area who might be able to give a little "mentorship" direction? I went to my soon to be place and the 8x12 shed I was going to use stinks of gasoline from the lawn mowers, so I think I'll build new. Barn style with concrete floor (slab on grade), maybe 2 or 3 separate coops with a feed area.

Thanks again for all the advice, and I look forward to reading all the back threads.

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 5:39 pm

Just want to say that you do need to get your head around end of life, because even if you do, it's tough. When you have livestock, you will inevitably have deadstock - sad fact of life.
And if it helps, every time I am up against the "end of life" reality, it's incredibly hard. I am dealing with numbered days for my

chicken at the moment. It's very difficult, but inevitable. I remember all the wonderful times, and the fact that she had a really good life with me, and that makes it somewhat easier.

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 5:50 pm

Hey welcome aboard Pipes! we have all your poultry needs and then some.

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Pipes...if you stick with just laying hens then its only the end of lay that you need to think about...if you only have a few birds you can accommodate letting them live out their lives totally..if not, you will need to get past the 'gotta do the deed' situation...my advice is to just learn how its done properly so that you feel in your heart you did things right and after giving the bird a good life you also gave it a good death and no waste. The folks here all know how that is and have the advice you will need and this bunch of insane enablers will no doubt stumble over each other to offer help.

pipes · Post by **pipes** » Sun Nov 13, 2016 9:43 pm

Think I might hit the Friday night sale in Woodstock come December. Does anyone go to this? Or is it worth the drive (just to look)?

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 5:38 am

ya gotta get over the hurdle of "end of service life". you'll never like it but you must be able to do it. it'll happen that a bird has a major injury or a chick is hatched deformed or disabled and a quick death is the only real option. it's one thing we are close to on the farm; the cycle of life and death. as meat eaters its even closer for us as for us to live an animal must die. the least we can do is see to it that the animal had a "good life" unlike the reality of factory farms.
in some cities laws have been changed so people can have 5 pets max = i.e. a dog, a cat, and three chickens
After three years and egg production drops, or the novelty wears off, people drop off unwanted chickens at humane societies and some are inundated with them especially as the chickens are friendly and they are "no kill" shelters.
so pull out a French cook book and learn "coq au vin" or old bird stewed in wine.
good luck