Raising Chickens, Rabbits, and Goats - Oh My!

New Baby Chicks Arrive

2011-10-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Our new chicks arrived a week ago. I have had computer problems so could not upload any blogs or pictures for almost a month.

We have 25 chicks and they are growing fast. There are in our laundry room in a protected area to keep them warm and away from predators. The first few days you give them paper towels as bedding until they know what food is and isn't. Then you add pine shavings for bedding and grit to their food. We had to drive 2 hours to get the shavings, medicated chick starter and the grit. They should receive medicated chick starter to begin with. The grit is added on the 4th day, sprinkled into their food.

Water with vitamins is also very important. The first day when they arrive add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to their water to get them going. You must dip each chick;s beak into the water to show them how. Remember they were shipped right out of the brooder. If they had a mom, she would show them but you are their mom. They need fresh water daily with a clean waterer. All these elements help to get your little chicks started out properly.

We have had to put the heater in their room on during the night with the weather dipping in the low thirties. The first week or two, the temperature for the chicks should be around 90 degrees. The heat is supplied by a heat lamp in the brooding area. Make sure that the light is about 18 inches above the chicks and is secured so it can't fall in on the chicks. Put a thermometer in the box so you know how warm it is for sure. Cover them so no drafts can make them sick. You can tell if they are cold if the chicks are all huddled up together. They will also issue sharp cheeps if they are unhappy. Watch for picking, for chicks that seem sluggish, and for messy bottoms.

All for now, Kate Freer, the Herbladyisin

Picking Your Chicken Breed

2011-08-31T13:48:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest decisions in starting your flock, is picking the chicken breed. There are so many breeds its daunting. The first step is are you raising them for meat, eggs, or both? Will they be in a cage or free roaming? Some breeds of chickens do better when confined. Is it important that they stay in your yard? If so, you need to pick the heavier breeds.

The lighter breeds will fly even with one wing clipped. Banty or Jungle Fowl are an example. They are really light and will also fly into your plants and scratch. That can really rip up your plants. I had one that was such a pain, I gave her to a ranch. She would lead the other chickens over the fence and into trouble. The lighter chickens do eat less though. My set didn't really eat their chicken mash but were more interested in bugs and what they could scratch up. They did not lay well either. They refused to lay in the next boxes but in my scented geraniums. I went on an Easter egg hunt daily to look for eggs. They were constantly trying to sit on their eggs. That was a problem since we did not have a rooster. If you want chicks, banty breeds are good sitters and moms. They are very protective of their young. You can even hatch other eggs under them as well.

The personality of your chickens is important. Do you want calm chickens? Certain breeds such as the Black Australorps are calm and easy going. Banty breeds are often fiesty and nervous. The heavier breeds are usually calmer on the whole. Research the different breeds as to egg laying, hardiness in cold and heat, and personality. This one issue, researching your breeds, is the first step and a very important one. Here we have very hot summers and very cold winters. I needed a chicken for both weather conditions. There are only two or three that will do well in both extremes. The Black Australorps are the main ones. I had Rhode Island reds before and they did not lay well in the heat of summer. I have had some people tell me theirs did, so that is up for discussion. The Black Australorps are great layers as well.

Look at the breed charts to see their egg laying record. If you are mainly raising them for eggs, that is very important. You need to also read the comments left by customers. That will tell you a lot about that chicken breed.

Go to where they sell the baby chicks, click on the breed you are researching, then read the comments as well. Put your chicken breed into google search, then read the various articles.

If you have friends in the area with chickens, get their feedback as well. People who are raising chickens in your area can be a huge resource for information on what livestock breeds thrive in that climate. It is all apart of the answer you need.

Egg Layer Or Dual Purpose: Do you want just great eggs or chickens for meat too? If you want both, they are called dual purpose chickens. They are usually the heavier breeds. They eat more but you will have a chicken that gives you both meat and eggs.

I have given you some points to think about so will end this blog for today. Have a great rest of the week.
Kate Freer, the Herbladyisin

Keeping Your Bunnies Cool in Nasty Hot Weather

2011-08-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

It real hot here in Mina, Nevada. It was up to almost 100 degrees. I have my colony pen in a covered carport with windows I can open and close. Those windows have curtains that I can use to either let air in or keep it out. The windows are covered with wire to keep cats or birds of prey out. Their colony pen gives them room to move to where ever it is coolest. In a little cage, they have no options. That is why I chose to raise them as a colony. They are in their cage at night to keep them safe from cats.

My bunnies are hanging in there because I have placed a fan to give them air circulation and frozen water bottles. The lie down next to those bottles once it gets hot. Another solution is a mist set up. Another thing with rabbits is to give them crocks full of water, not just a water bottle. A water bottle can have have a problem where either the water runs out or does not flow properly. I give all my rabbits a crock of water for that reason and also so they can put their feet in it if they wanted too. Make sure you clean the water crock daily as well. Clean cool water is important for all your pets and livestock. If it gets so hot, that you will lose them in the heat of the day, bring them into the house. You can put them into cages and keep them in until it cools off or put them in your bath tub. Its cool in the bath tub and hard for them to get out of. These are all solutions to keeping them alive in this heat.

If you have Angoras, take the excess fur off before it gets hot. Their fur is hot and they will suffer if you leave a long coat on. It is important to do what is good for their health and comfort.

If you have chickens, they need cool water in a shaded area. If you don't have trees in your yard for shade, then create a shaded area. They could even need a fan if things really get too hot. You will know when they are hot, for they will extend their wings to help cool their body. You might wet the dirt in one corner of the yard, so they can take cool dust bath. Remember create a shade area for all your animals and livestock.

All for now, Kate, the Herbladyisin

Falling In Love with Angora Rabbits

2011-08-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well instead of chickens, we have ended up with 3 angora rabbits for our first animals in Mina. The lady sheared them for me since it is so hot here now. They have stumps and toys to play with in their colony pen. It has just been too hot to order the baby chickens. Those will come in two weeks.

When we went to San Diego recently, we met a nice woman with too many baby Angoras. So we brought home three. Two are broken brown and white and one is a broken black. I have raised many rabbits in the past, but not Angoras. I picked them because I wanted a rabbit with multiple uses: wool, manure, and food. They are gentle as well. I have found that they are great for stress reduction. They are so soft that your stress seems to melt away petting them. Wool is not my primary reason for raising them. I need the rabbit manure for my earthworms and trees. Rabbit manure does not need to be aged as steer and chicken manure. They are cheaper to feed that big livestock. We have no pasture here in the desert so I feed them hay, carrots, moringa leaves and compfrey. They love to munch the Moringa and comfrey leaves. I have made them a indoor colony pen inside our carport. It has adequate protection from both the heat and cold to come. They are kept in a pen at night because of feral cats in the neighborhood. I spend time getting them used to being held both when I take them out in the morning and when putting them back in at night. With Angoras, you must get them used to being touched and petted so you can pluck or shear their wool. I will have to get some experience at that yet. I love having them in a colony where I can watch them play and jump. Their antics are really fun. They are curious like a cat. I have to say I am in love.

All for now, Kate, the Herbladyisin

Raising Livestock is about Quality Food and Being Self Sufficient

2011-07-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I wanted to let you know that this blog will be on raising live stock for both quality food and for survival.

I do believe we all ought to be doing something to prepare for emergencies and the unstable future. Growing your own food, raising your own livestock, and learning survival skills are part of being self-sufficient. I am a heartfelt advocate of that policy.

We are doing it in our own lives now as we can. Limited or unlimited budget, you can start now. We will be touching on subjects including survival tactics and plans like food storage, water storage, herbal first aid kits, and so much more. If you already believe in this principle or want to learn more, please read this blog for your families future.

Kate Freer, The Herbladyisin

So You Want To Have Chickens? What kind should you buy?

2011-07-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Country Folk,

Either you are one or trying to be one if you reading this column. I was born and raised in the country but my husband is converted. It took years and effort but he is converted. When you are ready to buy any farm animal, there is a lot to consider. When we lived in Alpine, Ca we had bobcats, coyotes, loose dogs, hawks, and owls. Here in Mina, Nevada we have coyotes and chicken hawks. We also have -10 winters and hot summers. We had to leave our chickens in California when we moved.

So this week, I am ordering new ones...babies this time. The kind of chicken you raise depends on where you live. Some breeds do better in cold and some in hot weather. There are a couple of breeds that do well in both. I spent a week going through research on them. I wanted a breed you could eat but layed well. It also had to be hardy in both cold and heat.

The one I have chosen for our situation is the Black Australorp. Easy going, calm, good eating, excellent layers, will sit on their eggs, and hardy for both heat and cold. You must research your breed and if it fits your particular living situation. You must use wisdom no matter what the animal is including pet dogs and cats. That is why animals end up in the pound or dying because they were not suited to the heat or cold.

Even though I am buying them today, I am having them shipped here until after we go to San Diego to see his dad in Aug. I would love to have them right now but we will be gone 4 days. A lot can happen with someone taking care of your garden and baby chicks in four days. What if they forget to water them or they just run out of water early. They could turn their water dish over. What if the temps become excessive? I would not be there to bring them into the house if necessary to save them. During those 4 days our dogs will be unsupervised in the yard. I trust my dogs with grown chickens, we have had them. They have never been around little ones. It only takes one mistake to lose all the time and money you put into that livestock. I will give you an example of how little time it takes to lose them.

In Alpine, we had the chickens roosting in a shed we bought. We closed them up every night at dark. We had an owl or two there. We heard them. One night we went to some friends house, and ended up losing track of time. We were an hour late getting home. When we got there the chickens were scattered with one roosting on our bedroom window ledge terrified. Two were missing on count the next morning. The owls flew in attacking them on the roost. We had left the dogs in the house, thinking we would be back sooner than that. One night, one mistake and tragedy. They were so traumatized from the experience, they would roost as near to the wall of the shed as possible. We were never later again going home.

You must consider your predators from both the ground and air. This time we will keep them fenced, with overhead protection, huge yard but with a wire roof to protect the chickens and ducks from air attacks. We are also reinforcing the wood fence on the outside with chain link, and wood on the bottom 2 feet. Dogs can pull the fence post off enough to get in. We will have the bottom of the fence on the inside protected by concrete pieces so they cannot dig under.

Concrete works well, They can roll rocks. They can pull wood out. Concrete doesn't roll , doesn't move easily, and hurts their mouth and feet. In some areas you need to use hard wire for the pen. Some predators such as ferrets, can get into tiny holes, that you would never realize is a problem. Research your area and talk to your neighbors about what kinds of animals you need to protect your life stock against. Listen to their advice on how they build their pens. If you do the research, then build accordingly, you hopefully will not lose your stock. Even with the best pen, it can happen. Your job is to do your best to prevent that.

Signing off,,,,Kate, The herbladyisin

If you want to learn about growing herbs including Moringa trees, go to http://www.herbladyisin.blogspot.com .
If you want to know more about alternative medicine and therapies visit my blog at: http://www.herbladyisintoday.blogspot.com

Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy A Farm Critter

2011-07-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

The idea of having chickens, rabbits, and goats is very appealing to many people but you need to do some serious thinking before hand. If more people ask themselves questions before they got a dog, there would be less animals in the pound. Farm animals require even more consideration. Here is what you need to think about.

What is the reason for buying that animal? Rabbits are kept as both pet and food. Chickens can be both. If it is a pet, have what you want, if you can take care of it. Don't try to keep larger farm animals in the house. You may laugh but we had a save goose that someone raised in an apartment. Later on they tried to dump it at a park and got caught. We took it in and later gave it to some friends with a flock. It was very unhappy by itself. On the other hand, if its going to be food later, you must either be able to kill it yourself or have someone who will do it for you. Don't ever name something you intend to eat later.

What Kind of Personality Are You? Farm animals are not like cats and dogs. Most of them stay outside and are not cuddly pets. I say most because there are a few people who have house trained chickens, rabbits, pigs, and goats. I have had a house rabbit several times but not chickens in the house. I have friends who have three silkie chickens who come in and out. Overall most are outside animals. Honestly how much time do you have and would you really enjoy it. Most farm animals are either raised for meat or eggs or both. If you could not kill an animal to use for meat, your main choice is chickens. You can have fresh eggs without having to kill the chickens.

What are your zoning and property codes?

In many towns and cities, you may not be allowed any livestock or a few chickens at best. You may only be allowed a certain number of that livestock. If you have chickens, it is best to skip the rooster, if you have close neighbors. Roosters crow often and at odd times which can be irritating. It really depends on your neighbors how that will work. If you sneak the chickens in, you may end up later having to find them homes. In many communities, people have united to appeal the rules. In many cases they have gotten the city or town to reform their strict regulations.

Do you have the budget to afford their upkeep? Livestock takes money for proper housing, water, food, and vet bills in some cases. If you don't have pasture, you must buy hay or feed. Even if you intend to eat them, you must feed them for weeks or months before you slaughter them. If you are raising chickens only, they take 4 to 5 months before they begin laying. They do go through a yearly molt, where they don't lay much. You still need to feed them properly even when they are not laying. Goats and larger livestock take even more work with hoof care and stall cleaning. So really look at your budget. It is criminal to have animals and not care for them properly.

Do you have the time and physical ability to do the clean up? Farm animals require stall or pen clean up. There is clean up involved with all animals including chickens. No animals is really healthy when it is walking around in its own manure. If you have chickens, and mulch the chicken yard, they turn over the mulch with their scratching. You still must clean it all out and remulch with clean straw often. So if you don't want to do the clean up don't get an animal. You must keep things in proper order.

I think I have given you enough to think about for today. If you have questions, please give me an email and I will try to answer them here. Have a great week!

Welcome to Raising Chicken, Rabbits, Goats On My

2011-07-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

We live in Nevada now. I have always been a country girl raising some kind of animals. When I was a kid we had a horse, chickens, ducks, donkeys, cats and dogs. We didn't have them all at the same time but over the years, I have raised most of everything.

In 2000 we had milking goats, bred several kinds of rabbits, chickens and Indian Runner Ducks. It is important to me to raise your own food as you can. So to encourage you on that path, I am starting this blog. I hope to get you motivated and enthusiastic for this new idea. Ask questions. If I don't have the answers, I will find them or find someone who does have the answer. God bless you and have a good week.

Kate Freer