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Barnyard Buddies:  Backyard Chicken question  |
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City_Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Christina
Omaha
Nebraska
USA
509 Posts |
 Posted - May 19 2009 : 10:31:27 AM
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So our new backyard chicken coop is just about done and I have narrowed down my list of girls that I would like to have. However, even after extensive research I would love to have the opinions of my farmgirl sisters.
My first question is if you have backyard chicken how many do you keep? I have a 6x6 coop with 3 nesting boxes. I have been told I could have as many as 10 in there. Which seems like way too many to keep them happy and healthy. I was thinking 4-6.
My second question is what breeds do you reccomend based on experience? I would like to have an assortment and McMurray hatchery told me that would work fine especially since I will be getting them all as chicks. The ones I liked based on my area are Black Australorp, Orpingtons, Deleware and my daughter would like Araucanas for their beautifully tinted eggs. Ok I like the pretty eggs too but I can get them from a fellow farmgirl friend.
Thanks for your help girls!
Christina
Farmgirl Sister #195
City Chick & Friends Chapter Mama
http://justacitychick.blogspot.com/
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 10:59:37 AM
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Yay! You're getting closer. :) I have five hens- 1 Barred Rock (because the other thee died), 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons. The Buffs tend to go broody a lot which, if I had a rooster, would be fine because they would make good mommas. I think whatever you are drawn to will make good choices. I get eggs every day from all of my girls, so no real preference there. Good luck with your choice and enjoy your new little flock!
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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paradiseplantation
True Blue Farmgirl
1277 Posts
julie
social springs community
Louisiana
USA
1277 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 1:22:21 PM
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Hi, Christine! I have around 45 chickens, and I love my buffs, my rocks, and all the others -- EXCEPT my black australrops. They're great chickens, but the meanies of the henhouse. They love to pick on the other chickens. My friend has some, and says she doesn't have as MUCH of a problem as I do, but she does have a meanie or two. Good luck with them -- truly, you're gonna love having them!
from the hearts of paradise... |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 5:13:10 PM
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Are you planning to free range or is 6x6 the size of your chicken "yard"? That will make a big difference on how many you can have. 3 nest boxes is easily enough for 10-12 but if their yard is only 6x6 than I would suggest no more than 2 or 3 or maybe 4 if you stick with bantams.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 5:16:48 PM
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How many chickens you keep also depends on the size of your run. I have 11 hens in a 8X8 coop and they free range during the day. My sister started out with 26 hens in a 10x10 with a 12x20 run and she has lost several to "unknown causes" and has a real problem with pecking. I have only lost 1 hen and that was to a wolf and have never had a pecking or feather pulling problem. My dad has 8 hens in a 6x6 with a 10x20 run and has had no problems. My hens are in their 2nd year, my sister's are almost a year old and my dad's are in their 3rd year. Many have said that my eggs are excellent, good size with good yoke to white. My dad's eggs are smaller size but good flavor and good yoke to white. He and I have run of the mill mutt chickens. My sister has Orpingtons I believe and her yokes seem very small for the size egg. I have had Araucanas and loved them they are good hens but the roosters get very aggressive after their first molt.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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southerncrossgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
631 Posts
Gena
Harmony
NC
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 5:20:41 PM
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How many people in your household? We had 6 hens, and it was my husband and myself plus I keep my 3 yr old grandson. We had way more eggs than we could use. Now, if you plan on selling eggs, then the quantity would not matter. Right now I have 2 week old Buff Orppington chicks. We had to get a min of 15 at a time. I plan on giving some of the chicks to my friends, as we don't need half that many.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 9:24:35 PM
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I love Barred Rock. They have to be my favorite. And I just got 20 Buff and a roo. I have heard all good things about them. ANd I am liking my little game hens. They are great layers and good mothers, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 03:42:54 AM
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I think the minimum is roughly 1 square foot per bird. Not really enough as overcorwding can lead to feather plucking, head pecking and cannabalism.
We have 3 coops. The largest is 12x12. This houses 18 birds that free range -so any squabbling just goes on at night when they jockey over choice roosting positions. This coop also has 4 nest boxes.
We have several varieties of sex links, orpingtons and australorps |
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City_Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Christina
Omaha
Nebraska
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 05:47:54 AM
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Thanks for all your wise input!
They will be free~range in the backyard for the most part but we are also adding a covered run to the coop as well, which has about 60-70 square feet. So that if we are gone for any extended time they can go in there. That is a requirement of living within the city. I am a homeschooling stay at home mama so I don't foresee them being confined too often.
There are four of us in the household and my youngest is 13. Then of course if there are any extras my newest neighbors definitly will want some. They are just as excited as we are to get the girls.
Christina
Farmgirl Sister #195
City Chick & Friends Chapter Mama
http://justacitychick.blogspot.com/
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 08:19:32 AM
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Hi Christine- This is my second attempt at responding to you- First time the internet disconnected me! I have both Buff Orpingtons and Delewares that came form McMurrys. Do you have someone to share your order with because there is a minimum of 25 chicks in an order at McMurrys. About the breeds- My Buff Orpingtons will go broody at the drop of a hat, and when they are broody there is no egg. The buffs are however very gentle and quiet, they just go throughout the day minding their buisness.
Delewares- I love the girls, I like to say they have "moxy". I have never had a Deleware go broody. These girls are a little noiser than my Buffs and a little more "skittish", but very gentle (especially my Rooster). McMurry sent us a "mystery" chicken with our order which turned out to be a Aracauna Rooster, he was very mean and went away.
Also when ordering chicks remember there is room for error and you may end up with a rooster (that is where mine came from) in your order. As far as McMurrys goes- their service was incredible. I would order from them again.
Hope this helps. I know you will enjoy your chickens, let us know what you decide on.
Lillian |
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City_Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Christina
Omaha
Nebraska
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 2:27:29 PM
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I will be getting our chickens from McMurray's. We will only need to call in an order for at least 10 because I will be driving up to get them. The hatchery is located just about an hour and fifteen minutes from where I live. I do have a someone that wants to get a few banties so we will be able to combine the order to have about 15 total ordered.
Do you think that the Delaware's have to much 'moxy' for the city?
Christina
Farmgirl Sister #195
City Chick & Friends Chapter Mama
http://justacitychick.blogspot.com/
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 4:38:03 PM
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Another chicken question.. I see you noted about space for chickens and the pecking, cannabalism and etc. Is there any other cause that they will attack one bird. We had a bully tonight pecking so that I had to take the victim out as the bully caused her to bleed!!!!
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
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Onionhead
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Melissa
Oklahoma
22 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 08:17:34 AM
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Hi there! I have 2 girls right now, they are cochin bantam hens. I originally started out with 8, but got rid of 5 and 3 have died....genetic reasons which means I will not buy from a certain hatchery again, but McMurray is a good one, just so you know they weren't from them! My girls are the small breed, which means in your coop you could have a wide variety of them if you get bantams.....standard sizes are bigger, so I would think 4-6 would be the most so they are happy and healthy as you mentioned! Bantams you could have 10-12 I figure...I had orginally two blues, two partridge, one white, one mottled, two barred....they were all so pretty and colorful! I love bantams too they are so sweet and gentle and do well in small yards and coops!
Wish I could post a pic of my girls. but I can't remember how LOL! |
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Onionhead
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Melissa
Oklahoma
22 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 08:21:50 AM
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| Oh yea regarding the bully in your bunch, we ended up giving our bully to someone else because she pecked the skin right off Duckee, one of the hens I still have.....it took her two years to grow her feathers back on her head and I am so glad I didn't give up on Duckee and give her away because she was the weaker hen.....I don't do well with the bullies, so that might be an option for you....I also had to get rid of our rooster and took him to the SPCA and they found him a home.......just some ideas for you if you don't get the bully under control or if you end up with more roosters than you need, because the bantam breeds cannot be sexed when you order them so when we originally ordered them we ordered 16 chickens and only ended up with 7 hens and A LOT OF ROOSTERS! LOL! |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 08:22:09 AM
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I think Delewares have just the right amount of "moxy" for the city.
Lillian |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 08:41:48 AM
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Grown hens need about 1.5 square foot in coop per bird. This is not including "yard" space. 3 nest boxes is more than enough. I have 20 hens and they all lay in 3 boxes even though I have 4 for them. they never use that 4th one...just poop in it.
All your chicks are wonderful choices and will get along well. i think you will find that your Ameracauna's will quickly become a fave as they have so much personality. If you have a question feel free to call me at Meyer Hatchery. or just email me at my "name"@meyerhatchery. com
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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City_Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Christina
Omaha
Nebraska
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 09:55:18 AM
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Dawn is that 1.5 sq. feet based on the floor measurement or the actual volume of the coop. I have heard differently from nearly every different person I have consulted that own chickens. One family even went as far as saying we could fit 18 in our coop!
Christina
Farmgirl Sister #195
City Chick & Friends Chapter Mama
http://justacitychick.blogspot.com/
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 3:04:55 PM
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I'm told its based on volume. However, when advising customers on coop space, I usually do the math for voume and subtract about 30%. I'd hate someone to get over-zealous and have a bunch of problems later in the game. Let me come back to this......
According to what you said the size of your coop is (6x6), and I dont know how tall the walls are, you are dealing with 36 square feet of floor space. I stink at math so if I'm wrong, please correct me. So 30% from 36 is approx 9.8. I'd go with 8 hens (max) to be safe. Six hens will flourish in that amount of space. I hope this helps. I'm not a chicken guru by any means, but I've had a great mentor (my boss) who's owned the hatchery I work for, for over 25 years. And we supply to a lot of other hatcheries as well, so she must be doing something right. Just my 2 cents!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
Edited by - deeredawn on May 21 2009 3:09:58 PM |
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City_Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Christina
Omaha
Nebraska
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2009 : 06:42:33 AM
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Thank you Dawn! All your wisdom is greatly appreciated.
Christina
Farmgirl Sister #195
City Chick & Friends Chapter Mama
http://justacitychick.blogspot.com/
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2009 : 07:08:01 AM
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lol.....wisdom.... or should i say.... wis-"dumb"? Anyhoo, yer welcome!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2009 : 08:50:03 AM
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Any info is very helpful for me!! We put the suggestions together and attempt to come up with a plan, so far so good
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
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KansasCowgirrrl
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Lisa
Linn Valley
KS
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 9:23:47 PM
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There is a lot of great information here about coop size. I found coop plans online that should be fairly easy to build. I can get some use out of all the power tools I've been buying hubby the past 13 years!  When I was growing up, I raised Rhode Island Reds for 4H and FFA. But the roosters were hateful and mean! I also had the cutest little banties my grandparents got me. Now I'm looking at Araucana bantams. Has anyone here had that breed?
Cowgirrrl Lisa
A cowgirl is a woman with guts and a horse |
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Barnyard Buddies: Backyard Chicken question |
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Backyard Chicken question
