One of the first things my husband and I dreamed of doing when we moved to the country was to start raising chickens. Neither one of us has done this before, so we are learning.
First, we researched the different kinds of chickens. Did you know that there are over 100 breeds of chickens? We narrowed it down to the breeds known to be friendly and good egg layers. I consulted my 91 year old grandmother, who raised chickens as a child. In her opinion, Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks were the best layers. Not wanting to go to our local farm supply store, my husband located a breeder close by. After talking with the breeder, we decided on 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Speckled Sussex.
Before we could bring the chicks home, we had to set up a brooder. A brooder imitates the warmth of a mother hen. We repurposed a large plastic tote we had used for moving. First we put down pine bedding. Then we set out the chick feed and waterer. For a heat source, we chose to use a heat lamp, because we already had one. (Many online resources for raising chickens recommend using a heat plate instead of a lamp because of the fire risk. So please be aware!) https://amzn.to/3K8eDOG
The chicks grew so fast! At about 6 1/2 weeks old, they had outgrown the brooder box. So we needed to move them out to the chicken coop.
While the chicks were growing in the brooder box, my husband and I were working on the coop. Our new property came with a small garden/tool shed. The previous owners had used it as a playhouse for their children. We ripped out the old flooring and laid cheap linoleum. (My husband found discounted scraps from a flooring store.) We also installed 2 roosting bars for the hens. The chick feeder was suspended from the ceiling, hanging slightly above the ground, to prevent bedding from getting into the food when the chickens scratch around. Chickens can be really messy!
Here’s a link to a similar feeder and waterer. https://amzn.to/3OnrEGI
The chicks stayed inside the coop for a few more weeks while we put the finishing touches on the chicken run. (plus, it was still pretty cold here in Indiana.) We fenced off an area of the yard for the chickens, connecting it to the back of the coop. Then my husband installed an automatic door. It has a sensor where it will open the door when the sun comes up. And the door will automatically close when it gets dark. So convenient! https://amzn.to/3DoUboV
The chicks are 4 months old now and based on their breeds, we should be getting eggs soon!
But…
From only 5 hens. Because…
One of the Reds is actually a Rooster!!!
Stay tuned for more stories about how to start raising chickens!
