War is coming, buy chickens

Seriously, it takes six months before they are old enough to lay eggs.

And you won't be able to get them in the fall. Hatcheries are selling out now.

I have a six foot chicken wire fence with a hot wire from the fence charger on top. Concrete poured on the base of the wire.

I wish I had video of the day our tomcat decided to bite the hot wire. He was frozen there pulsing with the current until Wifey pried his jaws off it with a broomstick.

Cat used up at least 3 of his 9 lives, but he survived.

BTW, we have hawks and owls that want to eat my birds as well. I have a giant net bought if that becomes a problem. However, my chickens know to hide under trees when they see such birds about.

Only real predator problem is the Texas Rat Snake eating eggs. When I catch them I cut them up for the chickens to eat.

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Many local jurisdictions have made it illegal to raise and keep chickens. Seems like a great plan until big gov't comes to euthanize your birds. Search "California birds euthanized"..... The gov't does what they want. Plus, most can't take care of a dog well, let alone a chicken....

Broody Hen types (50 % rule)

Brahmas – cold and heat hardy breed, decent layer, frequently goes broody and makes a good mother.
Chantecler – an extremely cold hardy breed, decent layer, often broody and good mother.
Cochins – a cold hardy breed that lays few eggs, makes an excellent broody hen and mother.
Cubalaya – an aggressive breed that lays few eggs, is tolerant of heat and often goes broody.
Dominique – a decent layer and cold hardy breed that is fairly broody and makes a good mother.
Dorking – a decent laying breed that is often broody and makes a good mother.
Marans – a decent laying breed that is often broody.
Orpington – a decent layer, very cold hardy, frequently goes broody and makes an excellent mother.
Silkies – a very docile breed that lays few eggs and are more likely to go broody than most hens.
Sussex – a cold hardy breed that lays well, often broody and makes a good mother. [link to newhomesteadersalmanac.com (secure)]

One of my best broodies was a Black Australorpe. Great mother to raise the chicks. Very attentive and taught the chicks well. Some broodies are not good Mama's. I've had to take chicks away from a bad mother hen before.

FWIW-My Brahma has never gone broody.

Buff Orphingtons and Lavender Orphintons are are my favorite. They come in many colors.

Seriously, it takes six months before they are old enough to lay eggs.

And you won't be able to get them in the fall. Hatcheries are selling out now.

Cool thread. My buff orpingtons always turn out to be the best broody hens, but you can never tell which ones will take to it and which ones will just keep on ignoring the clutches.

Famine; search GLP for adapt 2030

Ice Age Farmer: Catastrophic Growing Seasons Worldwide - Grand Solar Minimum "Trainwreck"
[link to www.youtube.com (secure)] (16.3 minutes)(published June 18)

Seriously, it takes six months before they are old enough to lay eggs.

And you won't be able to get them in the fall. Hatcheries are selling out now.

quail can be raised inside a garage. they don't smell as bad as chickens. they produce eggs daily at about 8-12 weeks. delicious eggs.

No cocks needed for chickens or quail to lay eggs, lots of people don't know that.

Our oldest boy has asked for 3-5 chickens to up his flock.

We feel good about that.

We'll be down to a more manageable circa 20 laying hens.

Coup will be tight but OK.

People really like my wife giving them a dozen farm eggs with beautiful bright yellow yokes.

We all need friends in tough times.

They also do well in cold climates. Orpington love! It's a good idea to separate breeders with a higher brooding drive, from egg layers and meat birds.