Backyard chickens

[Stewie]

Probably been discussed before, but looking for information.

My neighbor has a coop to sell cheap. It will handle up to 8 birds. I'd need to add a runner, etc..

Looking at overall costs, I'm not sure it's worth it.

Stewie, the possible chicken tamer...

[Buehler445]

They’re pretty tough. But you probably will need to supplement with some grain. If there are fields around go see if you can pick up any combine loss. Be sure you talk to the farmer so you don’t get shot. If that’s not possible talk to the local coop and see if you can buy some small batch lots of grain. I’m guessing if you are buying corn at the hardware store it won’t pay.

I don’t know anything about chicken nutrition to know if they need any protein supplements or anything.

Just a heads up my **** sister has them. I’ve done well in life by doing the diametric opposite of her. Just saying.

[dmahurin]

You won't save money on eggs with only 8 birds, but they do taste better than store eggs. You will want to supplement with feed and whatever they scratch up and eat. A positive to having them roam the yard is you will have virtually no bugs around. They eat bugs, snakes, mice, etc. They are fun to watch.

[Zebedee DuBois]

If you let them free range your back yard, they will eventually eat or scratch up every blade of green grass.
They are pretty self reliant. We have a solar powered automatic door on the coop, that opens at sunrise and closes at dusk, and they all get themselves in at night. We have a 5 gallon bucket of feed with access points on the side so they can feed themselves, and a water dispenser. You can go days without having to check feed or water

They quit laying when the days get short, also when they molt, when the get broody. They are kind of entertaining to watch, little dinosaurs. That pecking order is a real thing, they can be quite bitchy to each other.

[Titty Meat]

I'd kill them with my bare hands and eat them. I'm on my paleo shit

[Rainbarrel]

Wet feather aroma get the horn juices flowing

[El Lobo Gordo]

Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois

They quit laying when the days get short, also when they molt, when the get broody. They are kind of entertaining to watch, little dinosaurs. That pecking order is a real thing, they can be quite bitchy to each other.

When the pecking order is known there is peace. When it is ambiguous there will be fights to sort it out. Humans and chickens are the same in this respect.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Is this a new STD?

[TribalElder]

Chickens are ****ing filthy and everything wants to kill them and eat them

like everything is the chickens predator

You would be better off just buying yourself some eggs

[Iowanian]

You will need oyster shell and sand grit, or cherry pit grit as well as feed.

Everything around you will try to kill them. Dogs. Cats. Raccoons. Opossums. Fox. Coyotes.

If you think it’s cheaper eggs, you’re wrong….but if you want BETTER eggs you can’t go wrong.

Give them something to entertain them, they’ll eat some table scraps and they will lay better if you give them old cheese or yogurt.

Oh…and they shit alot. Compost it before using because it’s too hot and will burn your garden.

[Indian Chief]

I've always wanted chickens. Would really help with the ticks and spotted lantern flies. But unfortunately I have a family of foxes on my property. Which is cool in its own right, just won't allow for chickens.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I'd kill them with my bare hands and eat them. I'm on my paleo shit

So you choke your chicken to death?

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

You will need oyster shell and sand grit, or cherry pit grit as well as feed.

Everything around you will try to kill them. Dogs. Cats. Raccoons. Opossums. Fox. Coyotes.

If you think it’s cheaper eggs, you’re wrong….but if you want BETTER eggs you can’t go wrong.

Give them something to entertain them, they’ll eat some table scraps and they will lay better if you give them old cheese or yogurt.

Oh…and they shit alot. Compost it before using because it’s too hot and will burn your garden.

****ing Oppossums will kill chickens? WTF?

Iownanian is right about the litter. It’s high in urea.

[Otter]

Lizard brains, fun to watch, and you can't beat the eggs.

I found them fairly cheap. Make sure you have a high fence for keeping what you want out and what you want in. Mother nature does not play favorites.

[tooge]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I'd kill them and ass **** them and eat them. I'm on my paleo shit

Fyp