Chicken' s Or Ducks

I was wanting to get a couple of chickens or ducks to keep in my back yard and was wondering about over wintering and the good and bad of the idea. I want them for the crickets and grasshoppers I have a very large back yard and I have a few out buildings I could make into a roost for bedding and heat lamps for the greenhouse for warmth. I love the idea but was wanting to hear from someone who has done this to see if it is a good or bad idea. I am the worst about coming up with what looks like a good idea and it turns out to be a disaster. Any help, idea or tip would be most appreciated. By the way I do live in the city and I know it is ok with the ordinances. If anyone know where I can get a few if I end up doing it I want some of the fancy ones black and white with feathers on the legs and head. These are probably the worst ones they probably don’t even like grasshoppers and crickets with my luck.

Lori

You might find an answer here also Poultry and Livestock Discussion Forum

I say just go for it I would love to have some but I also have a bird dog so she would make short work of any animal with feathers,Ithink if they just have shelter that would be enough for winter protection ..My neighbor has chickens and it has mostly ended his problems with ticks as to where to get them check for livestock autions that also do chickens ,,Up here in Okieland we have a chicken aution that also has pigs and goats ...

I don't know about ducks, but supposedly the bigger issue for chicken is the heat in the summer, they don't have any way to cope with that. With some shelter from the wind and some nesting material, they can huddle up and be pretty ok with cold.

Contact North Haven Garden www.nhg.com they have lots of programs on how to raise chickens.
Actually it is your lucky week.
Look at the FREE classes they are giving tomorrow, saturday 18th:

11AM - 2PM • Backyard Chicken Sale Buy juvenile hens & ducks for your backyard flock

2PM • "Winterize" Your Backyard Hens by Dan Probst, Bageniece Farms. Keep your backyard flock safe this winter from the elements with expert tips from Dan Probst.

I wish I could raise chickens ... I removed all the grass on my back yard to give room to flowers and veggie garden. ouch

Good luck !
Trust NHG they are the best in DFW area

Indian Runner Ducks might be an interesting option.

Just remember they poop everywhere, you should see my front porch. They can be noisy ducks more so, and chickens peck at everything and scratch too. I sowed zinnia seeds 2 years in a row and only then did I realize the chickens were eating the seeds before they germinated.
Make sure you have a place to lock them up at night, I've never lost any to extreme temps but I've lost many to predators.
Lisa

Most chickens are good at chasing and eating grasshoppers and crickets and I have had several types of chickens in Celina and really enjoyed watching them chase the bird wing grasshoppers. I do know though that when they scratch they will and always end up in your flowerbed or garden and they are to dumb to remember being shewed off from day to day.

Well, here they are. I call them the girls. "I hope!!" They are the cutest things. I have built a chicken pen for them and will put some kind of bedding in there. Not sure what is best. I know the poop and scratching and all but I see the devastation that the grasshoppers, snails and caterpillars make. I am willing to combat them with chicken ammunition. In time I will see which is the lesser of two evils and hope the good out weights the bad as for as the chickens go. I have been told the silkies make a better pet I just smile every time I see them. I have named them Stella, Winnie and Chocó. Thanks for the advice and tip as I will need all in the help in raising them.

Lori

Well! they sure are adorable, I hope it works out just great!!!

Very cute! Let us know how it works out. There are quite a few people in Colleyville that raise chickens. Now you will have unlimited poop for compost too!

Who cares if they're useful they are soooo cute.

If you go with chickens are you much concerned about how many eggs you get? I can give you a small list of better hustlers and better egg layers if you like too?

Michael

LValdez-They don't really need bedding. Just a place to roost. If you let them out they will find a spot in your yard to lay eggs.

Love the peach colored one! Have fun!

Well, how are they doing?

Well one has meet it's demize. Not for sure what got it. I think it was a coon. We have 2 in the area. What ever it was tryed to pull it through the wire got one leg and ripped it off. I have had to make some changes in the pin and will be putting up a hot wire. It was the yellow one it got I have replaced it with one a bit older but they seem to get along. My son was upset. I made them a rally cute pin I will post a picture of it. I would like to think it won't happen again but I am sure it will. That was not something I considered. Lori

In my area Hawks are always circling and then there is the stray cats from neighbors that won't take care of their animals. The doves and squirrels fall prey to the hawk quite often.

Lori-What you discribed sounds like a coon, I've had that happen too. The coons will reach right in and grab what they want.

I'm so sorry this happened. I hope the hot wire helps.

Here is a picture of their chicken coop. The hot wire has been installed and I do sleep better at night knowing that if anything tries to get them they will get the shock of their lives. It is low voltage. It won’t harm them but it will deter them. Having them has been a blast so far. I can see some mischief with them and my plants. In this week’s DG news letter there was an article on a lady and her chickens. It was a cute article.

Lori

I must say that is an adorable chicken coup, any chicken would be proud to live in there.

I would be proud to live in there. It looks great, I won't let my chickens see that they would be jealous. You did a great job.

It is a lovely coop. I especially like the shutters!

Lori you have over done it!!! That is adorable! I want to be a chicken at your house.

Been a long time since we have heard any more on the Great Chicken Saga so what has happened lately

Look how much they have grown. I could not remember when I first got them but with this posting this is the exact date. So it makes them about 3 1/2 months. Give or take a week or 2. I am just starting to kind of tell what they are. I am still not 100 % but the black one the other morning was trying to crow but has not done it again since. The buff one we think is going to be the only hen the black & Gray are roosters the gray one has not shown any signs of trying to crow. I am hoping that it turns out to be anther hen or I will have to get rid of one of the roosters they are lots of fun. I hope I can keep them warm enough this winter. I was looking forward to some small eggs & no babies. I have found some really nice people on the poultry site that have given me some idea of their sex and they have lots of experience with birds. I will defiantly be calling on them for more advice as these guys get older. I might not know 100% until they are around 6 to 8 months of age.

Lori

another pic

Thanks for sharing ..I will try to hustle up some pix of chicks in my neighborhood (lots)

Lori,
Where did you buy them at? Hopefully we will be moving the end of January and I want to get some chickens.

Where are you moving to? I bought them for $3.00 each from a lady in Alvarado. Her daughter and son in-law raise them to show they live about an hour west of Weatherford. I forget the name of the town. If the gray one in the pictures is a rooster and you don’t mind a rooster I will be looking for him a new home. The black one is already crowing and it is comical His crow is not loud at all. I will keep him and buff I hope she is not a he also but if she is I will be ok with all roosters. They say one hen with 2 roosters would be to hard on her. If you want I can give you her information.

They also have a web site I will get it and post it here.
Lori

We are trying to buy a house in Caddo Mills. Right now we have a tentative date of Jan 21 for closing. Can you keep him that long?

Oh yes he is still to little to be any problem. Let me know when you are ready. I am not sure how far Caddo Mlls is from Benbrook but we can figure that out when you get moved.

Lori

Thanks so much

Like I said earlier there are lots of chickens in our neighborhood ,this is from accross the street from my house ..rodney has since reduced the numbers some but there are still quite a few ,,This is the answer for insect control we are no longer plagued with ticks and chiggers but they seem to be on the uprise since the chickens are now penned 24/7...

Another showing the old barn that is my favorite photography subject..

I just love roosters. They are so majestic and rule the farm yard. I agree that makes for a great photo. I would like to have that many roaming around my yard. So they were free range chicken's and now they are pined 24/7. That is sad but for predators I can understand that is why I only let mine out when I am at home and can keep an eye on them.


Lori