buildachickencoop101.blogspot.com Learn how to build the chicken coop of your dreams, even if your hopeless at DIY projects. This is just an examp...
buildachickencoop101.blogspot.com Learn how to build the chicken coop of your dreams, even if your hopeless at DIY projects. This is just an example of what you will get with access to full video plans. For complete video guide and plans visit the link above construction build …
Heres a tour of the coop I built using plans from thegardencoop dot com. It has many nice features for raising backyard chickens.
Author: Carol J Miller
The commercial breeders have devised a strain of birds that grow up in only six weeks of living on chemicals during which time they never have a chance to be chickens. They live in a totally controlled artificial environment. They never breathe fresh air or feel the warmth and health-giving rays of the sun. Then they are sent off to market. No wonder they don’t taste like anything. Home-grown chickens live a full chicken life, as they were meant to. And they taste like a chicken should without using any flavor enhancers.
In choosing chickens for raising, there are five basic types to choose from:
For Eggs - The egg producers are White Leghorns and are white-feathered, skinny temperamental birds. They will lay some 200 large white-shelled eggs in the egg factories in their sixth through nineteenth months of life. After that, they give up laying eggs and are sold for cat food, as the meat they do have on them is pretty stringy.
For Meat - The meat producers are bred to fatten out rapidly with a maximum feed economy. Most of these are hybrids between a cross of White Cornish and White Rock breeds. They are slaughtered at four weeks of age and sold as Rock Cornish game hens.
For Meat and Eggs - Hybrids of several kinds are common in New England where they produce jumbo-sized brown-shelled eggs and develop into roaster size. If raising chickens for eggs, the disadvantage to this breed is that they show more of a maternal instinct than other full-sized breed. If the hybrid eggs are hatched, the offspring will be all different colors and if left to breed themselves, they would probably revert back a generation or two and become unproductive, multicolored and scrawny wild creatures.
Fancy Breeds - This is a breed kept for show or hobby. Some will have odd coloring or plumage or lay odd colored eggs. As far as meat and egg production goes, this breed isn’t worth their feed bill and are only good for a hobby. Bantams are pint-sized and seem to have more sense than the larger chickens and they will do a good job of keeping the bug population down in the garden.
Best Choice - According to the hatcheries, the main flock should be a variety of Purebred Multipurpose chickens. These would include the heavy-bodied breeds such as the Rhode Island, New Hampshire Reds, the White, Plymouth and Barred Rocks. These breeds will produce good brown eggs and fine meat. Most importantly, they will produce good strains. The Barred Rocks have black and white feathers and are reported as being of calm temperament with good meat and eggs.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/raising-chickens-for-food-812929.html
About the Author
For more information on eggs, raising chickens and building your own chicken shed, please visit the author’s blog.
Author: Charlotte Winslow
Raising chickens at home for eggs okay with community powers that be? – Check. Planned where you will keep the chickens in your back yard? – Check.
Decided to give this “raising chickens at home” business an honest go of it? – Check.
Now that these important questions have been answered you get to the fun part of this endeavor – selecting the chickens. You must decide your reasons for raising chickens. Is it for the eggs, meat, for pets or for all of the aforementioned reasons listed here? Since I’m not a big fan of butchering anything we selected a breed that lays large, beautiful brown eggs. Rhode Island Reds were our choice.
For your consideration I am listing the 3 most popular brown egg layers:
These American chickens are quite popular and are one of the most all-time famous breeds. There isn’t another heavier breed of chicken that lays more eggs than a Rhode Island Red. A mature male will weigh around 8.5 lbs. A mature female will weigh in at 6.5 lbs. The chicks are a rusty reddish-brown color. Adult birds color out into a beautiful variety of mahogany red. The hens will lay a nice large brown egg once they get started.
This breed originated in Australia and is one of the best layers of light brown eggs. The feathers are a glossy black with a beautiful greenish-purple sheen. The adult birds weigh about the same as mature Rhode Island Reds. Adult males weigh between 6-8 lbs and females, 5-7 lbs. The females mature early and start producing eggs between 5-6 months old. They are a gentle breed and stand confinement well.
The Barred Rock is an American all-time prolific brown egg layer favorite. The cold doesn’t seem to bother them. They also make a great roasting fowl if you so desire. A Barred Rock is a sturdy and reliable breed to own. Baby chicks are gray to black with some white patches. Adult birds are black and white and have prominently colored red combs.
There are many other breeds available but we have raised these 3 with much success and would recommend any one of them to you. They are reasonably priced and easily accessible. Check at your local tractor and feed supply stores for availability. You can also purchase breeds through mail order catalogs and will receive your peeps via US postal service.
Raising Chickens at Home Guide
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/raising-chickens-at-home-for-eggs-3-most-popular-brown-egg-layers-1312342.html
About the Author
Charlotte Winslow has lived on a farm for over 20 years and enjoys her chickens. Do you need a jumpstart in raising chickens at home for eggs? Grab the information you need at http://raisingchickensathome.info and get ready for some fun!
Author: Carol J Miller
The commercial breeders have devised a strain of birds that grow up in only six weeks of living on chemicals during which time they never have a chance to be chickens. They live in a totally controlled artificial environment. They never breathe fresh air or feel the warmth and health-giving rays of the sun. Then they are sent off to market. No wonder they don’t taste like anything. Home-grown chickens live a full chicken life, as they were meant to. And they taste like a chicken should without using any flavor enhancers.
In choosing chickens for raising, there are five basic types to choose from:
For Eggs - The egg producers are White Leghorns and are white-feathered, skinny temperamental birds. They will lay some 200 large white-shelled eggs in the egg factories in their sixth through nineteenth months of life. After that, they give up laying eggs and are sold for cat food, as the meat they do have on them is pretty stringy.
For Meat - The meat producers are bred to fatten out rapidly with a maximum feed economy. Most of these are hybrids between a cross of White Cornish and White Rock breeds. They are slaughtered at four weeks of age and sold as Rock Cornish game hens.
For Meat and Eggs - Hybrids of several kinds are common in New England where they produce jumbo-sized brown-shelled eggs and develop into roaster size. If raising chickens for eggs, the disadvantage to this breed is that they show more of a maternal instinct than other full-sized breed. If the hybrid eggs are hatched, the offspring will be all different colors and if left to breed themselves, they would probably revert back a generation or two and become unproductive, multicolored and scrawny wild creatures.
Fancy Breeds - This is a breed kept for show or hobby. Some will have odd coloring or plumage or lay odd colored eggs. As far as meat and egg production goes, this breed isn’t worth their feed bill and are only good for a hobby. Bantams are pint-sized and seem to have more sense than the larger chickens and they will do a good job of keeping the bug population down in the garden.
Best Choice - According to the hatcheries, the main flock should be a variety of Purebred Multipurpose chickens. These would include the heavy-bodied breeds such as the Rhode Island, New Hampshire Reds, the White, Plymouth and Barred Rocks. These breeds will produce good brown eggs and fine meat. Most importantly, they will produce good strains. The Barred Rocks have black and white feathers and are reported as being of calm temperament with good meat and eggs.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/raising-chickens-for-food-812929.html
About the Author
For more information on eggs, raising chickens and building your own chicken shed, please visit the author’s blog.
