[Jacob-list] Chicken Info Please

[Chovhani]

No, you don't need a rooster to get eggs, only if you want them fertile. For
a while we had a wounded chicken in with Arthur, our ram, and she laid in
his hayrack. He waited patiently for me to remove the egg before he rummaged
in his hay:) They got on really well, and he missed her so much after we put
her back with the flock that I'm planning on "giving" him a pet chicken!
Anyway, what I'm saying is, you don't need anything fancy for the chickens.
They need somewhere snug to lay (if you don't provide a box they'll build a
nest somewhere, in a haybale etc) and will drink from the sheep's water
container, eat spilled grain, etc. I have a friend who has 14 chickens in
the barn with his sheep, he never feeds or waters them, they just scrounge,
yet they lay well for him, and he's learned all their egg hiding places. I
would recommend an easy older dual-purpose breed like a Barred Rock. They
don't mind the Winter, they don't eat much, and if you get fed up with them
they're big enough to eat!

Melanie
New animal photos UP NOW!
http://earthhome.tripod.com

http://www.egroups.com/group/Pagan-Farmers


----- Original Message -----
From: athome mom <athomemom36 at hotmail.com>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2000 2:29 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] Chicken Info Please


Hi All,

I've been reading with interest the comments on how chickens will
keep down the fly population. I am seriously thinking about adding
some to the farm, but I'm am not versed in chickenry, could someone
please tell  me how to get started and how many I need.

Also, do I need a rooster to be with the chickens too. Don't laugh
but do the hens need a rooster to produce eggs, somewhere in the
back of my mind I think the answer is yes, but I"m not sure.

I've got some room in the barn to build a few roosting boxes, but
I will need for them to be free range. I have a 4' chain link fence
surrounding my sheep pasture, will they fly over this and escape,
can you clip their wings so they won't fly over it?

What is the best breed of chicken to buy. We know a good auction house
close by where we could buy some, but I want to know the best breed
to use for this purpose and get some good eggs too.

I've been begging my better half for years to let me get some chickens and
after reading the posts the past week he now thinks it's a good idea and is
out in the shop planning some roosting boxes. We have a wayward rooster who
roams the neighborhood, maybe he'll be interested
in staying here if I bring in some hens. I saw a chicken slaughter once and
I don't think I'd be interested in growing them for food, but I would enjoy
some fresh eggs.

Thanks in advance for the help.


Tina Bowman
Azalea Farms

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