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Tony P
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 Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 3:10 am Post subject: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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Ok...seems like there are a bunch of folks on this NG that have a ton
of experience. I>d like to tap some of that.
I>m thinking of starting a small flock of layers. I do not want
roosters...just layers. I have read the Storey>s book, I>ve read a ton
of websites....and I>m still undecided on what exactly I>m going to
do. I>ve decided to research this to the max before buying one chick.
I have two options:
1: I have a 10 x 12 foot shed with a high ceiling that I can convert
to a coop that is currently in my backyard. It>s a wooden structure,
and would not require too much to convert it to a decent house for the
hens. It has electricity, and there is about 20 feet around it on
three sides to make a fenced yard of some sort. They cannot have any
larger of a yard near this shed because of it>s proximity to my house
and woods. The hen house will be appx 40 feet from my house. From what
I>ve read, I>ll need to build nesting boxes and roosts inside of the
shed to make it "home". The soil is sandy, but has some grass cover as
of now.
2: I have 2.5 acres across the street from me. There is no electricity
or water on that side of the street. The lot is 275 by 1300 ft or
close to that. There is an appx 1-1.5 acre clearing in the middle of
it that is mosly tall grass and small scrub trees that could easily be
removed. The entire lot is surrounded by woods with the exception of
the driveway into the place..there is a cornfield on one neighbor>s
side, and woods on the other. Also very sandy soil. Obviously, I>d be
able to create a much larger yard on this side, but no electricy and
water.
Theortically, I could get the shed to that side if I really wanted
to..but it>s a long hike from one side to the other dragging a shed on
rollers.
Here are some other sitpulations:
I may only be able to attend to the flock once a day on certain
days..I>m a single working guy...
I don>t plan on having more than 20 birds...at the most...
I have two trucks, so getting water to the other side of the street
isn>t a big problem, but may be in the winter...I>m in NJ where it can
get down to the teens, but mostly stays in the high 20s and 30s in the
winter.
I guess the question is....what side of the street would you choose
and why? I plan on feeding the chickens bagged feed, and supplements.
Is there an advantage to a larger yard outside of what is available on
the smaller side of the street?
While I>m here....What breed would you recommend as a mild tempered,
decent-good layer for the climate that I>m in? Summers typically get
in the upper 80>s with high humidity here...and I may have to ask
family/friends to come feed/collect eggs from time to time.
Thanks for your time!!
Tony P |
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shannie
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 5:04 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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"Tony P" <stocker1042@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c2645977.0307181410.676d53c5@posting.google.com...
[quote]Ok...seems like there are a bunch of folks on this NG that have a ton
of experience. I>d like to tap some of that.
I>m thinking of starting a small flock of layers. I do not want
roosters...just layers. I have read the Storey>s book, I>ve read a ton
of websites....and I>m still undecided on what exactly I>m going to
do. I>ve decided to research this to the max before buying one chick.
I have two options:
1: I have a 10 x 12 foot shed with a high ceiling that I can convert
to a coop that is currently in my backyard. It>s a wooden structure,
and would not require too much to convert it to a decent house for the
hens. It has electricity, and there is about 20 feet around it on
three sides to make a fenced yard of some sort. They cannot have any
larger of a yard near this shed because of it>s proximity to my house
and woods. The hen house will be appx 40 feet from my house. From what
I>ve read, I>ll need to build nesting boxes and roosts inside of the
shed to make it "home". The soil is sandy, but has some grass cover as
of now.
2: I have 2.5 acres across the street from me. There is no electricity
or water on that side of the street. The lot is 275 by 1300 ft or
close to that. There is an appx 1-1.5 acre clearing in the middle of
it that is mosly tall grass and small scrub trees that could easily be
removed. The entire lot is surrounded by woods with the exception of
the driveway into the place..there is a cornfield on one neighbor>s
side, and woods on the other. Also very sandy soil. Obviously, I>d be
able to create a much larger yard on this side, but no electricy and
water.
Theortically, I could get the shed to that side if I really wanted
to..but it>s a long hike from one side to the other dragging a shed on
rollers.
Here are some other sitpulations:
I may only be able to attend to the flock once a day on certain
days..I>m a single working guy...
I don>t plan on having more than 20 birds...at the most...
I have two trucks, so getting water to the other side of the street
isn>t a big problem, but may be in the winter...I>m in NJ where it can
get down to the teens, but mostly stays in the high 20s and 30s in the
winter.
I guess the question is....what side of the street would you choose
and why? I plan on feeding the chickens bagged feed, and supplements.
Is there an advantage to a larger yard outside of what is available on
the smaller side of the street?
While I>m here....What breed would you recommend as a mild tempered,
decent-good layer for the climate that I>m in? Summers typically get
in the upper 80>s with high humidity here...and I may have to ask
family/friends to come feed/collect eggs from time to time.
Thanks for your time!!
Tony P
[/quote]
Hi Tony,
Im not even going to attempt to discuss breeds etc because, quite honestly,
apart from my RIR>s I know little about them. I would, if it were me, keep
the chucks close by, especially if you feel your time is limited, will you,
for example be bothered if your tired or it>s cold and icy out, to treck
accross the road with water and feed and collect eggs, first thing before
work or last thing when it>s dark in winter?... Also if they>re close to the
house and some predator sniffs around you>ve more chance of hearing the
racket disturbed hens make.....just my twopence worth ;)
Have a look at the group site Jill set up (link below), lots of pics of
peoples hens plus descriptions and different houses and yards, may help to
give you some ideas. Lots more experienced people here will be able to help
more Im sure. Good luck with it, and welcome from me :)
http://groups.msn.com/sciagriculturepoultry/homepage
--
Shan (Ireland)
http://ukdiscus.com/main.htm |
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Robert Plamondon
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 6:12 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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Do both!
If you stick with chickens, you need at least two sets of housing anyway --
one for your older birds and one for your chicks. One way of setting this
up is to have a brooder house for your chicks and one or more henhouses for
your hens.
Chicks need extra attention, don>t take much space, and are generally
brooded in confinement, so the shed near your house sounds perfect. It
really helps to have baby chicks close at hand. Hens need less care and
benefit from lots of space, so the lot across the street sounds good.
You don>t really need electricity for hens (though lights from
September-March will help egg production). If there>s a culvert across your
road, you might be able to snake a hose through it, depending on whose road
it is and how they feel about it. Or you might be able to run a hose from
the adjoining farm. Or if the water table is fairly high, you might be able
to drive a sand point and put in a hand pump that would water your 20 hens
with less labor than carrying a bucket across the street.
-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon
36475 Norton Creek Rd, Blodgett OR 97326
robert@plamondon.com
* See the books I>m publishing, including "Success With Baby Chicks" and
"Genetics of the Fowl":
http://www.plamondon.com/nortoncreekpress.html?referrer=sn
* Sign up for my poultry tips newsletter!
http://www.plamondon.com/newsletter.html?referrer=snews
* See my Poultry Web Page:
http://www.plamondon.com/freerange.shtml?referrer=sf |
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Tony P
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 2:15 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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Two great opinions....I agree that the chicks should be close to the
house..makes sense...
The water level is very high here..so I suppose a cheap well and hand
pump isn>t that hard, and a good option.
Anyone else want to chime in...how about the breed question?
Thanks!
Tony |
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Krys Francis
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 4:03 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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In message <c2645977.0307191315.13434660@posting.google.com>, Tony P
<stocker1042@hotmail.com> writes
[quote]Two great opinions....I agree that the chicks should be close to the
house..makes sense...
The water level is very high here..so I suppose a cheap well and hand
pump isn>t that hard, and a good option.
Anyone else want to chime in...how about the breed question?
[/quote]
Have you looked at the breeds on Jill>s site & Feathersite?
[quote]
Thanks!
Tony
[/quote]
--
Regards
Krys
www.lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk |
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Hankinson
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:18 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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Hey,
If you are not concerned with getting absolute max production, why don>t you
consider keeping a less common breed. I>m trying to keep a Welsumer line, for
example, and an Americauna line. Maybe you could keep a nice line of Jersey
Giants (I have one, a big, beautiful hen)...big birds like that would be
hardier in winter weather that some others. All these breeds need us to look
after them, the ag corps don>t. Just a thought.
Burl |
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Robert Plamondon
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 7:03 am Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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[quote]Anyone else want to chime in...how about the breed question?
[/quote]
You can>t go wrong with Barred Rocks. They were the American farmer>s
favorite chicken until the hybrids took over. They lay better than most
breeds with an equally good disposition.
When I go to the local poultry auction, it>s clear that the favorite breeds
of old-timers who have been keeping birds forever are Barred Rocks, Buff
Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds.
I have had bad luck with Reds, which I have found to be aggressive in every
possible way -- the roosters tend to attack me, the hens peck at me when I
collect eggs, and they are cannibalistic among themselves. I>m sure that
there are strains of Rhode Island Reds that aren>t like this, but all the
one>s I>ve tried are.
Buff Orpingtons have never been of any commercial importance in this
country, which probably means that, 50-100 years ago, the Orpingtons
available here were not as productive as our Barred Rocks (the reverse was
probably true in Britain). Nice birds -- but not any nicer than Barred
Rocks, as far as I>ve seen.
There are tons of low-producing breeds to choose from, many of which are
just as nice as Barred Rocks. I>d include Wyandottes, Orpingtons,
Australorps, the other varieties of Rocks, and Jersey Giants in this
category. I>ve had at least some birds in all these categories, and they
have the same docility as Barred Rocks, and are a pleasure to work with.
Some of the commercial hybrids are also quite nice. I like Privett
Hatchery>s Black Sex-Links and Gold Sex-Links. I don>t know how the others
pan out.
-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon
36475 Norton Creek Rd, Blodgett OR 97326
robert@plamondon.com
* See the books I>m publishing, including "Success With Baby Chicks" and
"Genetics of the Fowl":
http://www.plamondon.com/nortoncreekpress.html?referrer=sn
* Sign up for my poultry tips newsletter!
http://www.plamondon.com/newsletter.html?referrer=snews
* See my Poultry Web Page:
http://www.plamondon.com/freerange.shtml?referrer=sf |
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Jay
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: What would you do? I>m just starting...(long) |
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"Tony P" <stocker1042@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c2645977.0307191315.13434660@posting.google.com...
[quote]Two great opinions....I agree that the chicks should be close to the
house..makes sense...
The water level is very high here..so I suppose a cheap well and hand
pump isn>t that hard, and a good option.
Anyone else want to chime in...how about the breed question?
Thanks!
Tony
[/quote]
Welcome to chicken keeping. I think you>ll love it and, just like I did you
seem to be reading up on lots before taking the plunge. Now>s the time.
Although I have pure breeds now, I started with six hybrids - RIR x Light
Sussex and Speckaldys (based on Marans). This was because they are a lot
cheaper than pure breeds so (I reasoned) any mistakes would be cheaper. I
didn>t make any mistakes though and the birds were lovely (I moved and had
to give them away). The hybrids do also lay more but probably die sooner.
But good to practice on.
I also think it might be easier for you to start them in the converted shed
near the house. It will mean less work for you. If you really get the bug
then you>ve got the room to expand over the road. Electricity is useful for
electric poultry netting if you need to have protection for your flock -
battery powered is not so ideal. But you might also want to consider resting
the ground so I don>t know how easy that will be. If you set things up for
yourself so it>s easy then you are more likely to keep on top of everything
and enjoy your introduction to chicken keeping.
Good luck and keep us informed on your progress. I think this is a really
friendly group and there is so much help when you need it. I>ve learnt
masses from everyone here.
Jay |
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