Chickens . . . .

Build a chicken feeder on the cheep
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/slate119.html

A 2½-gallon bucket and relish tray make a fine chicken feeder for less than $5.

Prior to assembly, gather the following supplies: ---CONTINUED---

We use the galvanized feeders, but if you were in a bind the bucket and relish tray would work out great.

That looks pretty good ReadyMom, I'm going to have to make one. Right now they get their food by way of an old pie pan or like you see in the old cowboy movies (by throwing it by hand).

Tastes Just Like Chicken
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/easterly0707.html

By Allen Easterly

So you want to raise some critters that taste just like chicken? There's no better critter than the chicken itself. Chicken has become the most sought after meat in the marketplace. Raising your own birds can save you a few bucks at the grocery store. Even more satisfying is the great sense of accomplishment that comes with raising your own food from egg to dinner table and providing this healthy meal to your family.

Raising a small flock of chicken tenders is relatively inexpensive, their care is not complex, and they don't take up much space. The birds are easy enough to rear that every member of the family can participate, from feeding to plucking to cooking, and of course eating. The birds you raise will taste better than store-bought, contain little or no chemicals or hormones, and live happier lives. ---CONTINUED---

Includes:
Hefty breeds
Flock management
From Flock to Freezer
Storing
Nutrition

How to butcher a chicken in 20 minutes or less... ...while leaving the carcass and feathers intact!
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/grim79.html

By Dr. Roger W. Grim, D.C.

  When I was 12 years old Grandpa would let me help him pluck whole chickens after we had dipped them in scalding hot water in a washtub. That was the way he sold whole chickens to stores with his family business.

Image Figure 1. With a trash bag properly fitted around the chicken, clean up will be easy.

One day I asked Grandpa, "Isn't there an easier way to dress out a chicken?" He showed me a method with no need to pluck feathers and no smelly stench from a wet chicken. It's just a fast, easy way to put meat on the table.   ---CONTINUED---

Want to raise chickens, here's a good starter from the farmers almanac, raising chickens 101:

https://www.almanac.com/news/home-health/chickens/raising-chickens-101-how-get-started

How to Care For Baby Chicks
https://www.thereadystore.com/diy/18288/how-to-care-for-baby-chicks/

(SNIP) ... Whether you are raising chickens for pets or for a food source, you're going to want to follow some steps to make sure they stay healthy enough to grow into functional chickens. Here are some tips to help you start your newborn chicks in the right direction.  ---CONTINUED---

Includes:
Brooder
Temperature
Approximate Heat Needs by Age
Brooding Lamp
Bedding
Food & Water
Things to Remember

Flies in the Coop How to Get Rid of Them Naturally
https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/flies-in-the-coop-4/?fbclid=IwAR0s_1FzchfTxEinqWYzJtZDiEQZyRqtkMqx_1m4sgXgrhS_X7Uy_zazGuo

  Flies in the coop is something that everyone with chickens deals with. What most of us want is a natural way to keep flies in the coop to a minimum. And I am here to tell you that not all natural fly control works…but some do! Here in the Phoenix summers flies in the coop become quickly out of hand if we don’t take measures to stop them. Something about the heat of summer brings those nasty boogers out in droves!

The first thing you need to know about your chicken coop and your homestead…you’re never going to ...   ---CONTINUED---

Chicken Coop Plans and Tips
https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/chicken-coop-plans/?fbclid=IwAR3T_Hc5RgLPVHxVxPPdM6uQ5Kly_W3SIuGa5MgJCovZfDVj8vNMP-QnDdA

  Chicken coop plans and tips for homesteaders and backyard farmers. Maybe you’re dreaming of a backyard chicken coop and looking for free DIY chicken coop plans. Or maybe you are already keeping chickens and you’re finding your chicken coop is not meeting your needs. This is the article for you! ---CONTINUED---

How To Get Better Tasting Eggs From Your Backyard Chickens
https://www.thereadystore.com/diy/17323/how-to-get-better-tasting-eggs-from-your-backyard-chickens/

  Backyard chicken eggs have the potential to be more delicious and more nutrient-dense than those you can get from the grocery store. But, did you know that with just a few adjustments to your chickens' diet, they can produce richer, tastier eggs?

With a few exceptions, store bought chicken feed is not as effective and nutritious as a thought-out diet for your chickens. Here are some ideas for better eggs:   ---CONTINUED---

How to Make Your Own Chicken Coop
https://www.thereadystore.com/diy/5288/how-to-make-your-own-chicken-coop/

  (SNIP) ... The first thing you’ll need to determine is where you’re going to set up your coop. Portable housing is ideal for chickens because it’s nice to periodically relocate them to fresh land. Many people rotate between three locations. However, this requires more land than normal.

If you don’t have a lot of land to move around on, it’s important to know where you are going to build your chicken coop. A good alternative is to...   ---CONTINUED---

The Prepper’s Guide For Raising Chickens
https://www.askaprepper.com/the-preppers-guide-for-raising-chicken/

  Chickens might just be the perfect survival livestock. They are inexpensive to buy and feed, take little room to raise, are easy to butcher, and provide both meat and eggs for the prepping family.

Poultry are one of the few types of survival livestock that can be kept equally well by both rural and urban homesteaders – and even by urban preppers who have nothing more than a tiny backyard or even a spacious patio.   ---CONTINUED---

How To Slaughter And Clean A Chicken For Food
https://www.survivopedia.com/how-to-slaughter-and-clean-a-chicken/

  Whether you’re raising broiler birds specifically for meat production, or you’ve got a flock of laying hens but some of the older ladies aren’t producing anymore, being able to slaughter and process your own birds for meat is an invaluable skill to have.

This article will review a couple of the most common methods of slaughter, and we’ll go over how to properly dress your birds and process them for consumption.   ---CONTINUED---

  From August Prep thread:

rick1 wrote:Dave58, here's a good article for what type of chicken to raise, everybody has their own preference. I raise the rhode island reds and the plymouth, they do well in the cold PA weather, of course, if you live in a hot, humid climate, you would want a different type:

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-chicken-breeds-that-do-well-in-cold-climates/

Chicken Breeds That Do Well in Cold Climates
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-chicken-breeds-that-do-well-in-cold-climates/

  It’s crucial that when you’re considering which breed of chicken to get, you take into account your local climate in addition to the bird’s natural climate.

A mismatch of the two can prove a deadly combination!    ---CONTINUED---

Thanks for the heads up folks. My wife is going to retire in a few yrs and we are looking into some things that will bring a little money our way over the summer.

We thought hatching some chicks might give us a little bit.. We already have chickens ,but they are mismatched and a motley crew at best.. lol

We will be researching more as time goes by. We are looking for a good duel purpose breed...

How to Build a Chicken House Using a Old Crate
https://www.tngun.com/chicken-house/

(SNIP) ... I saw a really ingenious laying box design on the web somewhere, but for the life of me I cannot remember where.

In this design the builder build a box on the outside of the house with a hinged lid so they could just open the lid and remove the eggs from the back of the laying boxes. ---CONTINUED---

How to Make an Automatic Chicken Feeder
https://www.tngun.com/chicken-coop-automatic-feeder/

  My first chicken coop automatic feeder did not do so well, ... (SNIP) ... I want a feeder that simple to operate, and that does not waste food.  (SNIP) ... I ended up using a Mason jar chick feeder,    ---CONTINUED---

The Ultimate Chicken Meat Processing Guide for Preppers
https://www.askaprepper.com/ultimate-chicken-meat-processing-guide-for-preppers/

  Dressing a whole chicken from start to finish is an essential skill that any prepper should possess.

You may not want to kill a chicken yourself, but in the event that you need to, it helps to know how to do it in the most humane way.

Cutting the chicken’s head with an ax or knife will kill it instantly  ...   ---CONTINUED---

The 6 Best Ways To Boost Egg Production During Winter
https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/boost-egg-production/

 

Includes:
Light
Food
Water
Fodder
Breed

Mystery Solved: Why Did My Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/mystery-solved-why-did-my-chickens-stop-laying-eggs

  Chickens stop laying eggs for a variety of reasons. Hens may lay fewer eggs due to light, stress, poor nutrition, molt or age. Some of these reasons are natural responses, while others can be fixed with simple changes and egg laying can return to normal. ---CONTINUED---

Tips for Raising Chickens in Winter
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/tips-for-raising-chickens-in-winter

Raising chickens in winter can be a lot of fun. Some hens love wandering around the yard and their first snow sighting can be quite entertaining. A bird’s thick feathers are a natural protective coat, so most breeds are well-equipped for winter.

Here are a few tips on how to care for chickens in the winter: ---CONTINUED---

Three Steps to a Peaceful Backyard Flock
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/three-steps-to-a-peaceful-backyard-flock

  Have you ever wondered what goes through a chicken’s mind?

Wouldn’t it be helpful if they could say, “My feathers are itchy!” or “I’m bored!”? Though humans and hens don’t speak the same language, simple changes can help backyard flock conversations go smoothly.

As backyard flock owners, we are tasked with becoming chicken whisperers. Keeping a peaceful flock requires us to interpret behaviors to decipher what our chickens are telling us. ---CONTINUED---

Is My Flock Healthy? 6 Signs of Happy Backyard Chickens
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/is-my-flock-healthy-6-signs-of-happy-backyard-chickens

Healthy hens are strong, confident, alert and strut their stuff. You can see it in her shiny feathers and brightly colored comb. A healthy chicken also consistently produces farm fresh eggs with strong shells.

On the other hand, think dull, lethargic, low performance. No, we’re not talking about you before your morning coffee. These are signs you may have issues lurking in your backyard flock. Happy, healthy birds are confident, strong and productive. ---CONTINUED---

Mapping Your Chicken Feed Program
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/mapping-your-chicken-feed-program

(SNIP) ... Just as humans’ nutritional needs change from infancy to adulthood, backyard birds require different nutrients as they grow from baby chicks into hens or roosters. To help your flock thrive, map your chicken feed program from the start. Select a complete poultry feed that is formulated specifically for your bird’s age, species or stage of production. ---CONTINUED---

Safe Eggs Start with Strong Shells
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/safe-eggs-start-with-strong-shells

Strong shells matter because they impact egg safety. Strong eggshells are better able to keep bacteria out. ---CONTINUED---

Laying Hen FAQs: The Broody Hen, Soft-Shell Eggs and More
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/laying-hen-faqs-the-broody-hen-soft-shell-eggs-and-more

You’ve celebrated the arrival of your first farm fresh eggs and your hens are laying breakfast daily – or so you thought. Have eggs suddenly gone missing from the nesting box? Is your hen moody and taking a vacation from laying eggs? Don’t fret. There are ways to get laying hens back on track. ---CONTINUED---

5 deadly mistakes when raising chickens. When we started raising chickens decades ago, we made more than one of these mistakes. A good video to watch:


https://www.offthegridnews.com/videos/5-deadly-mistakes-to-avoid-when-raising-chickens/

Chicken Nesting Boxes
http://fivegallonideas.com/chicken-nesting-box/

  Egg laying chickens should have a comfortable place to sit and nest if you don’t want them to lay eggs here and there and everywhere. All pre-made chicken coops or chicken coop plans will include 12″x12″x12″ nesting boxes (one cubic foot), which is considered to be big enough for all sizes of laying hen.

A standard 5 gallon plastic bucket has a radius of 5.5″ and a depth of 14″, making its volume 0.76 cubic feet, which is close enough to keep most breeds of chicken happy! ---CONTINUED---

Is raising backyard chickens safe for your family?
https://www.capecodhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease/is-raising-backyard-chickens-safe-for-your-family/

  More and more people are raising chickens and other poultry in their backyards and, with a little effort, this hobby can be healthy and safe for your family.

The danger comes from the spread of salmonella found in the bird droppings, which can be passed along to people, if eggs are not handled properly.

Salmonella can cause fever and diarrhea and abdominal cramps that may last for several days, and most cases don’t need medical treatment. However, an infection can be serious for people under 5 and over 65, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV or undergoing cancer treatment.

Follow These Tips ---CONTINUED---

Everything You Need to Know About Raising Baby Chicks on a Budget
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-raising-baby-chicks-on-a-budget/

(SNIP) .... Below, we’ll talk about how to get started on the most adorable hobby around. Trust me – anyone can do this! This article is long, but it contains basically everything you need to know to get started raising baby chicks. ---CONTINUED---

This site has pages and pages of information on chickens:


https://eight-acres.com.au/blogs/news/tagged/chickens

Butchering Poultry
Using electric fence chicken netting (and chicken tractors)
Why do chickens stop laying eggs in winter?
Five beginner questions about backyard chickens
Organic isn't everything.......
Mobile chicken tractors vs fixed pen

And MUCH MORE!

Hoping you can access this link (I rec'd in via FB):

242 page pdf booklet:

  Chickens-A Backwoods Home Guide
https://www.backwoodshome.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Chickens-A-Backwoods-Home-Guide.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0slbrGgLGgdTuKXT2amlRhy-HLmbhmflJUmW1XdJ9XOmbcAWJ_gSh5kz8

ReadyMom wrote:Hoping you can access this link (I rec'd in via FB):

242 page pdf booklet:

Your link, in your post, works, at this time.

Mistakes of Raising Chickens
https://www.thereadystore.com/blog/the-10-mistakes-of-raising-chickens

Raising chickens can be a very rewarding process. Besides providing you with fresh eggs, it can also be a teaching resource for your children and a way for you to become self-sufficient. There are a few mistakes that people, however, make when they first start raising chickens. Check out this list below and add your mistakes at the bottom to help others learn. ---CONTINUED---

ReadyMom wrote:Mistakes of Raising Chickens
https://www.thereadystore.com/blog/the-10-mistakes-of-raising-chickens

  Raising chickens can be a very rewarding process. Besides providing you with fresh eggs, it can also be a teaching resource for your children and a way for you to become self-sufficient. There are a few mistakes that people, however, make when they first start raising chickens. Check out this list below and add your mistakes at the bottom to help others learn.   ---CONTINUED---

New chicken owners should be made aware the chicken math is a real thing and chickens are the gate way animal.......

7 Reasons You Should Raise Backyard Chickens
https://homesteadsurvivalsite.com/7-reasons-you-should-raise-backyard-chickens/

  (SNIP) ... Chickens are ideal for a garden of any size and are fairly easy to maintain. Even an urban dweller with only a patch of green space can reap the benefits of keeping laying chickens at home.   ---CONTINUED---

7 Simple Ways to Prevent Frostbite in Backyard Chickens
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2019/01/7-simple-ways-to-prevent-frostbite-in.html

  Frostbite can occur in the cold months in your chicken flock if you're not careful.  Although usually not life-threatening, it can be painful for the chicken and also in extreme cases lead to infection and/or loss of the frostbitten appendage (usually combs, wattles, toes or feet).   ---CONTINUED---

Raising Chickens Off the Grid ~ Without Heat Lamps or Lights
https://practicalselfreliance.com/chickens-without-electricity/

(SNIP) ... Clearly raising chickens off the grid is a bit more complicated than a standard operation. It was time to re-learn how to raise chickens without electricity like our ancestors had for most of history. ---CONTINUED---

Raising Chickens: It Really CAN Be All It’s Cracked Up to Be
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/raising-chickens-it-really-can-be-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/

While in general, I think any project that brings people closer to the natural world is a good thing, chickens are a responsibility. I am concerned about how many people bought baby birds without doing the necessary research.
Are you interested in starting your own little home flock?

If you are considering raising chickens, here are some things worth keeping in mind. ---CONTINUED---

Top 10 egg laying chickens from the weekend prepper:

http://theweekendprepper.com/raising-animals/top-10-egg-laying-chickens

Building Plans for Poultrymen
http://blackthorn-usa.com/building-plans-for-poultrymen/

  ... and Practical Methods of Poultry Raising

Direct Link to PDF Document: http://blackthorn-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Building-Plans-for-Poultrymen.pdf

The 10 Mistakes of Raising Chickens
https://peakprosperity.com/the-10-mistakes-of-raising-chickens/

Raising chickens can be a very rewarding process. Besides providing you with fresh eggs, it can also be a teaching resource for your children and a way for you to become self-sufficient.

However, there are a few mistakes that people make when they first start raising chickens. Check out this list below and add your mistakes at the bottom to help others learn. ---CONTINUED---

Hey Dave, what to feed chickens if you run out of chicken feed, check this out:

https://animals.mom.com/what-to-feed-chickens-if-you-run-out-of-chicken-feed-8033821.html

Dave, in winter time, throw in a bale of hay, they'll peck at it just to get all the little critters inside the bale.

https://birdcageshere.com/2021/12/04/can-chickens-eat-hay/

You'll save a few bucks on chicken feed by doing some of the above food items.

Thanks for the heads up brother. I talked the manager into letting me order 40 bags of feed and I get to use my vet. discount...

I am going to start talking to the farmers that live close and see if they will let me pick up the corn that the combines miss this fall... I am going t have enough feed to get thru the winter...

How To Care For Laying Hens: A Beginner’s Guide to Everything
https://104homestead.com/laying-hens-101/

  Are you considering raising backyard chickens? Are you filled with questions? Welcome to your one-stop shop for all things you need to know about laying hens. We’ll cover the whole process from raising chicks, to taking care of juveniles, all the way to laying age and incubating eggs so you can start the whole process all over again.   ---CONTINUED---

I was reading an article in the farmers almanac about chickens, here's how to hatch your own chickens:

https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-collecting-storing-and-hatching-chicken-eggs