Chicks !!!

Twelve days = a dozen (maybe), $1.00-$4.00 worth... Yeah go for it if you are sure they are only 1 year old, buy at least 2.

Rancher

 

Look at the VENT to see age

 

You will get a year of eggs before they molt so yes that is a decent price.
A decebt write up for telling chicken ages

How Do I Tell the Age of a Chicken? | Cuteness.com

 

Chicks will feather in & then on the breed you got they will semi pin in their breeds marking & then after that they might start laying eggs. Just under a year for many birds , ours are an egg every other day . they were just refreshed with new blood line 2 years ago .
Euskal Oiloa - Marraduna Basque

 

I will add this to Cruisin Sloth post on the layer..That is a Great price on a one year old hen..For some strange reason, here in south Georgia, the cost for layers goes from $10 to $20 depending on the breed. Right now Rhode Island reds and Buffs are bringing the best prices. And don't get me started on selling game roosters for $25.00 or more.

 

This is start of Week #2, big chicks, no losses so far, still 52, and the hatchery sent me 2 females for extras according to the NPIP certification. A couple of days ago I had to do a vent cleaning, if you don't know... don't ask.

Barred Rock Chicks Week 1a by azrancher posted Dec 14, 2016 at 13:57

Rancher

 

Vent cleaning !! Try an arm up the heifers / cow to see if the placement is correct , you feel the layment / if it will deliver well .
Once the size has grown to large , You don't have room . Oh By THE WAY , The other hole can & will spray from you being in the front door .

Just so you know AZ

Sloth

 

Oh I understand, our vet is an itty bitty lady, probably 5' & 100#, she takes care of our horses... I don't know how she does it!!!

Rancher

 

This is start of Week #3, huge chicks, going to have to split the 2 brooders of 26 into 4 brooders of 13, still got 52, no losses, they eat like pigs, started the second bag of 45# of Starter/Grower.

Barred Rock Chicks Week 2b by azrancher posted Dec 21, 2016 at 18:37

Getting body feathers now. Oh and notice that I've gone to 1 gallon waters, thirsty chicks.

Rancher

 

This is start of Week #4, huge chicks, I split the 2 brooders of 26 into 4 brooders of 13, had 52 until today, 1 loss, broken neck... don't play so rough kids. Now have 51.


Rancher

 

OK start of week #5, outside birds, 2 separate cages 3'X5' 500 watts of heat in each cage, I did add hay and hanging feeders, last picture is how they are protected from the wind-rain and cold, this is supposed to be a mild week, lows in the mid to low 40's, you can tell the difference between the hens and the roosters at this point.

 

Them are Egg Layers ?
Not meat birds & if they are sharpen yur teeth .

 

Them are 4 weeks old, they should start laying around 20 weeks, i.e. May, they should be in full swing all Summer.

You could eat them they will be full sized chickens, probably about 45 hens 6 cocks, probably need to grill 2 of the cocks, more than 1:10 is not necessary if you are hatching the eggs, if you aren't hatching you don't need any cocks. I'm not sure what you mean by sharpen yur teeth?

Rancher

 

Them old birds get tough !!
I know & were letting the dog get them after the dog has finished guarding all of them.

 

OK this is the chicks at about 2 months old, no longer caged up, but is a 25X35 foot aviary.

Barred Rock Chicks Week 8b by azrancher posted Feb 11, 2017 at 15:13

Rancher

 

A good hen will lay 300 eggs a year. At $2 a dozen that's $50. After the SHTF, priceless. My 15 hens have been laying 10-12 eggs a day since December after they started at 6 month old in November. Good feed, shelter, water and light and they will produce year round. I start a new set of hens ever spring. 20 eggs went in the incubator yesterday.

 

TX is warmer than here & I'll start 70-150 in total of Duck & Chicken .
Duck are a better egg , but they are trainable & messy .
I need enough sun hours to support the systems , If not Im paying to heat !

Sloth

 

We had three days of winter this year. 82 today. So, heat didn't set me back much this year.

 

We have 25 Red Sex-Link pullets and 2 cockerels due the 1st week of March. While we all will lend a hand whenever it's needed these will be under the care of my DiL. This will be her first experience with farm type animals. We plan to sell/barter off any excess eggs to help with the feed bill.

 

OK here we are at 16 weeks, I told everyone they would be mature at 16 weeks, some didn't believe me...

Two large eggs, small "first" egg in the middle.


Roo on the left, pullet that is probably laying on right standing.


The 2 older hens that laid the bigger eggs, Roo standing in the egg shell supplement.

Rancher