A POULTRY MINI-MANUAL
(Page 5 of 6)
When we finally got the chicken fence built (ask someone
else how to put up chicken wire . : . apparently we don't
know how), the chicks came pouring out the door like a
flood. They wanted to be outside and they needed
to be outside for vitamin D from the sun, grit and minerals
from the ground and whatever bugs and green leaves they
could find.
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At about four weeks, we started adding wheat and cracked
corn to the chicken's diet and slowly eliminating the mash
(which is expensive). Then we added some oats and soybean
meal and a little meat scrap (bought in 50 lb. bags). In
addition, we now feed the birds the yellow, fat cucumbers,
rotten or buggy tomatoes, squishy squash and pumpkins, old
lettuce and other spoiled vegetables from our garden. They
also eat most of the kitchen waste, even crushed egg
shells.
We've now built a roost out of 2X2s that were beveled with
a planer. Just under the roost is a piece of screen wire to
keep the chickens out of the droppings and to catch any
eggs laid from that vantage point. At the front is a hinged
door to facilitate the mining of that garden gold.
Although we haven't constructed one yet, a feeder and
waterer platform would save a lot of labor since the
chickens scratch around a lot and get litter into these
self-serve utensils. A four-inch high platform covered with
screen wire could be made big enough for the waterers and
feeders and rows of chickens around each one.
When our chicks were six weeks old we bought six Araucana,
or Easter egg chickens, from a lady who lives near us.
These are the beautiful little birds with a gamey
appearance (developed by the Araucana Indians of Peru) that
lay either pink, blue or beige eggs. About the same age as
the other chickens (but newcomers), the Araucanas are
considered at the bottom of the pecking order by the
original flock. There's no need to worry about the perky
little birds, though. Araucanas can dodge, fly, flit and
skitter out of reach in a way that makes the other chickens
look clumsy.
We paid 75¢ each for the Araucanas and the lady had
started pullets (birds about ready to lay) for $1.50
apiece. Buying such pullets is a good way to start a laying
flock for those who have the money and inclination.
At the same time we bought the Araucanas. we enlarged our
poultry holdings by one pair of two year old geese that
cost us $6.00. Geese are really fun to have around. Ours
walk haughtily around the yard eating grass and an
occasional handful of corn. Otherwise they need no care . .
. except a simple shelter in the winter. They take a daily
dip in what used to be the kids' wading pool, but really
need swimming water only at breeding and nesting time.
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