Chickens
Chickens are very common on a farm. They have been raised for meat and eggs. There are numerous breeds of chicken. Some better for meat production and others better for egg production. Also some breeds are a great all around bird, both meat and egg production.
Our Breeds
We have had a few breeds that worked out great and others not to well. Currently the majority of our flock is made up of Red Cross chickens. We choose Red Cross on the ability to sex the chick at hatch. If they are red they are a pullet, female. If they hatch mostly white they are a cockerel, male. At the time we were looking to expand the flock we had 6 roosters! So it was a must to only receive pullets.
Our current breeds:
- Red Cross
- Black Australorp
- Buff Orpington
- White Silkie Bantam
- Black Copper Maran
- Rhode Island Red
I would like to add Houdans, White Leghorns, Polish, and Plymouth Rock chickens. Adds more color and character to the flock.
Purpose
Our chickens are used for egg production. We do not raise chickens for meat, but I do love hot wings! Just not from our birds. We collect eggs every evening and every day is Easter as the chickens find new places to lay eggs every several weeks. Our birds are free range so they are out of the coop during the day. The birds seem to enjoy the storage room for straw over the dozens of nesting boxes available to them.
Another great use for the chickens is bug and grub control. Since the birds are free ranging during the day they chase down all sorts of bugs and grubs. They find all the little caterpillars in the garden, snails, slugs, and mice! But they do cause issues with new seed beds or even seeding a pasture. They will dig up a seed bed or pick all the seed out of the pasture. A small deterrent fence is all it takes to protect the seed beds or area that will seeded.
Fertilizer, yes chickens are great pooping machines! There waste is high in nitrogen and make for great compost. Most of their waste is found under the roosts so this makes for a quick clean up and additive to the compost. But the free range does has it downfall in this aspect as around the chicken barn and by the coops we find lots of mush piles in the yard. Always wear shoes! The great thing is that is washes away fairly easy with a light rain or a heavy dew.
Entertainment
If you have the chance sit back and watch Chickens. They can be hilarious at times. With the skipping across the driveway or wings out looking for a take off, yes they do not fly but their little hearts love to think they can. Also the occasional dive bomb form the rafters to chase scratch grain/corn. But at the end of the day they sit on their roosts and give us the biggest smile that you cannot help but return the favor and smile back.