Tractor Supply “pullets”

[chrissynemetz]

You definitely have one cockerel, and I agree, you very likely have two there.
I personally know I will never make back the money I've spent on my flock of chickens. But when I watch my grandkids out collecting eggs, or walking through the yard talking to the chickens, I consider it money well spent.

 

[Folly's place]

x2! And I agree about the two cockerels.
Mary

 

[CindyinSD]

You can free range the birds and also give your leftovers to them. They can eat anything you can eat, up to and including (well-cooked) chicken. When I make stock from the leftover bones, etc., I give the spent veggies & bones to my birds. I’m always surprised at just how little gets left behind.

You can grow things for them. If you want to grow things in the chicken yard, you can make a deep frame and cover it with stiff fencing—a fairly large mesh hardware cloth would work—big enough holes for the greens to grow up through but small enough for the birds to walk on. Millet, alfalfa, clover... lots of things including of course, just plain grass.

If you make compost you can build your compost pile inside the run. The chickens will help aerate it while finding loads of delicious goodies you may not even be able to see.

If you garden, the squash, etc that get away from you and get a little seedy, etc., will be welcomed by your flock. Some things will need cutting up or at least cutting open.

While they’re growing, in particular, you’ll want to give them a balanced developer feed to make sure they’re as healthy as possible but you’ll think of all sorts of ways to supplement them with “free-ish” food if you try. You don’t have to wait for them to get big. You can give them treats now... a dandelion plant with roots & dirt, live grasshoppers (SO fun to watch), scrambled eggs, soft (not spoiled) fruits... it’s good for them to get used to eating different things.

Keeping chickens is usually expensive but honestly it doesn’t *have* to be, especially if you live somewhere where they can forage all year round. It’s certainly possible to blow the budget but it’s not a requirement. I talk to lots of folks out here who laugh at all my poultry accommodations. They tell me their chickens just live wherever they want to (barn, equipment shed, etc.) and feed off what they can forage, or clean up from food other livestock have wasted. It does make collecting the eggs interesting of course...

You might enjoy Justin Rhodes’ YouTube videos on raising chickens. His children often appear, helping with chores, etc. Lots of good ideas there.

 

[CindyinSD]

Oh yes... TSC is famous for not knowing what variety and sex their chicks are. If you have a different farm store within reasonable distance, you might want to check them out. Also, You can usually place an order with your local farm store for breeds you’d like to add to your flock.