Brewer chickens?

[Carryion]

Hello I'm 100% new to chickens.

A tornado come throw a small town here And I picked up some chickens for 1.00 enc they are Brewer leghorn chickens from a chicken farm that they sell to Tyson( I'm not sue but I thing for meat) because that's all we have around here are Tyson meat plants and Egg hatchery's) I was wounding if they would lay eggs. I guess there about 2 months old may be 3. This is my first time even trying to rise chickens and I want eggs I just started about 3 weeks ago on feed that would help them lay eggs.

I believe they where going to be raised for meat. But at 2 week old they have been range feed they are from 8 to 12lb now and are very tame and smart. Iv been told they make great egg layers and others told me they would developed problems and die. Others say they are unisex chicken and are only good for meat and will not lay eggs.

I can say they are very active and they are keep on a 1/2 ac of land in free range conditions A lady that works at Tyson called them F1 or F3's what every that is.

They are coming up on 2 months old give a week or 2.

here are 2 pics of them

 

[chicmom]

Hello there. Meat chickens are genetically engineered to gain weight and be processed into food in a very short amount of time. So it's quite possible that your chickens will also gain weight and and then, since you're not processing them for meat, they may develop problems like trouble breathing and physical injuries to their legs because of the excess weight.

Then again, your chickens are free ranging and getting exercise, whereas, in a processing plant, they really wouldn't have that. So maybe, with the physical activity, your chickens will be OK. I doubt it though........

I think, perhaps they may lay eggs, since they will be allowed to reach laying age. At these processing plants, chickens never lay because they don't get to live beyond two months. The quickest I've had a chicken begin laying eggs is 17 weeks. It can take longer.....for larger breeds.

Your best bet is to start with some nice laying hens, or chicks if you'd like them to be friendly. But it's totally up to you.....You could just take your time and see what happens.

Good luck to you,
Sharon

 

[Carryion]

So in 5 months Ill know, I would love to own laying hens but the lowliest I found is 35.00 each and I just cant afford that. after my bills are pay for I have 80.00 to live off of, Is thy I basily live off the land Only meat I get is fish and a game meat now and then. Or some on I know bucher a pig or a cow.. I give them 5 months if not they make it to my plate. I kind of hope they will be ok even my Pitbull like there company.



This is my Pitbull mix bead bed there out sunning there self after a rain.