Starting Chickens

[kib]

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1450&stc=1

So, when we purchased our new house, we were treated to this dubious structure (hot tub not included). It has slightly more than 5' of headroom, just enough for me to walk under it. While I could turn it into a tiny house, Packy would disapprove and so I've decided to go with the world's snazziest chicken condo instead. It will probably be a multi-use open building for potting, worm bin and general outdoor workspace, since we're only planning on 3-4 chickens.

I'd like any advice you can give on starting out with chickens - breeds, advice on the structure, whatever comes to mind. We can only have hens here. They'll have a "run" along the right side of the building, I'll let it get weedy for them if that's a good idea. We live in the hot southwest. Not sure what else is pertinent, so please ask!

(Eta: yes, it's listing just slightly to the left, we're in the process of setting concrete bases and replacing a corner post.)

[nickycat]

We've kept chickens for 30 years. There are many factors involved, but here are a few important ones, from our experience:

1. Make sure your coop is truly predator-proof. This is the biggest commitment involved with keeping chickens. Research the predators in your area and find out how to enclose your structure to keep them out (the local feed store is a wonderful resource). The work, expense, etc. will pay off long-term both financially and emotionally. There is nothing quite as sickening as finding your sweet, well-tended hens mauled by an invader.

2. Address rodents. No chicken feeder that we have found is rodent-proof, so count on dealing with them at some point because rats love chicken feed. Rat poison unintentionally kills other critters (like owls) so you'll need to consider non-toxic options.

3. Decide what you want to do when your hens stop laying, which can be 2-3 years. We don't have the heart to butcher ours, so we keep a large flock of aging hens. We have lots of space and use the manure in our garden, so it works for us, but in small yards, that won't be possible. If you're willing to cull the non-layers, you'll probably be able to keep a viable small flock. But this is tougher than it may seem... It's easy to become attached to laying hens.

[kib]

Thanks Nickycat. I'm a little worried about the ladies in their old age, too. I have butchered chickens, but only anonymous birds in a large flock, I don't think I could do it or even hire someone else to do it to, well, family members, no matter the natural course of life. How long do chickens typically live beyond their laying years? We could probably fit eight birds and still have adequate space for them, adding two new layers every couple-three years ...

ETA, I should add that I live midtown Tucson now. Not high-rise, but more urban than the suburbs. Coyote and Hawk are possibles but never seen either here in our neighborhood. One lonely squirrel, and a javalina madly dashing through rush hour traffic, poor thing, but wildlife is scarce here.

[awakenedsoul]

You've gotten good advice so far. I have a lovely chicken coop that the previous owner of my cottage built. He used all recycled French doors and windows. It has a porch, with an old fashioned hanging wooden porch swing. I agree about the predators. I've had a couple of close calls with red tailed hawks here. Racoons are really dangerous, too. I make sure to shut mine in at night. Also, one time my German shepherd worked her way in through the chicken wire one time. She pulled out a chunk of flesh and feathers from my chicken. Thankfully, I saw her hind quarters sticking out of the coop from my kitchen window. I was doing the dishes. I ran out and rescued the hen. (I think she almost died of fright. She looked dead and mangled when I got in there. I picked her up. Her eyes looked like a stuffed animal. Once I crooned to her, her body wriggled back to life!)
She's an lady now. I got her in 1998! They are wonderful pets. I can't butcher them. They are my babies. But I do buy chickens to eat a few times a year from a local organic farmer.

[Float On]

That will make a really cool coop. Have fun! Chickens are a lot of fun. I free-range mine during the day and they are really good about staying close to our property but I have to constantly worry about fox, coon, stray dogs.

[nickycat]

The better you treat your hens, the longer they live... we had a hen that was at least ten years old when she finally died, and we have one now that's probably that old. As far as laying years go, it seems to vary between birds. We've had good luck with Rhode Island Reds. Still, any hen laying eggs past 3-4 years is pretty rare.

[CathyA]

Hi kib!
I got 17 hens over 12 years ago and 2 of them are still living! 2 of them were killed by a coon and the others had various illnesses/accidents. Mine quit laying around age 10.....but of course, it was nothing like when they were younger.
As has been said, the important thing is safety. I have a completely safe coop (locked door with windows that are covered with 1/2" hardware cloth on the outside. The ridge vent is also secured on the inside with the hardware cloth.
The run sides are covered with utility wire with 1/2" hardware cloth over that. The roof of the run has utility wire and 2 sizes of netting. I didn't have the utility wire on top when a coon got in. :(

Maybe you don't have the wildlife that we do........but coons LOVE chicken. They love to just kill them too. Sometimes they reach into a fence and just pull their heads off....... I'm not trying to scare you........well, actually I am! hahaha You just can't be too safe. Some people free range and are willing to take the chance of predators getting them, but all my chickens have been "prisoners of love" haha. We have coons, possums, roaming dogs and cats, hawks, owls, mink, weasels, etc.....

I had black australorps, buff orpingtons and easter-eggers. The australorps and orpingtons are big heavy birds. In my experience, they have more health problems.......but they are docile and get along with each other.
The easter-eggers had the most personality. I loved their assortment of blue-green eggs. I wouldn't mind having all easter-eggers (these are sort of a mutt version of Americanas). Maybe it's because they are a little smaller, but they had much few health problems.
There's lots of good breeds out there, depending on what you want. Have you looked into Bantams? You might want a smaller chicken, since big chickens might have trouble keeping cool in your climate. You will need shade, and also a fan at times. How cold does it get there in the winter?

My chickens have been a lot of work.......but that's been of my own choosing. I open the coop up every morning and close it in the evening. Hardly any vets know anything about chickens, so I learned to do a lot of the doctoring myself. It isn't always easy. Check out "Backyard Chickens" online. It's a great source of info and support.
Have fun kib! I always loved finding eggs. Haven't had any for quite awhile. I like to say my chickens are in "henopause". :)