What all is needed for starting fancy chickens?
Image by Marji Beach
Peepers are called broilers by the industry – they are the six-week-old birds killed by the billions annually. This was an accidental, surreal shot of a peeper belly and her leg.
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Question by Becky ♀♀: What all is needed for starting fancy chickens?
We are starting a flock of fancies and before now the only chickens I have raised are broilers. Do fancies, like broilers, need to be put on grower/starter?
Is there anything else needed? I am getting a polish rooster and polish hen, then possibly hamburgs.
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2 Responses to What all is needed for starting fancy chickens?
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ok kool
ron
August 7, 2012 at 5:07 am
I like the color variations and plumage of Polish – nice choice for a fancy. We raise silkies and mille fleurs, plus layers.
Your feed requirements are going to be slightly different for fancy breeds. Chicks are still on starter feed and grit, but I prefer a layer crumble with at least a 12% protein for their standard feed. You don’t need to keep them on a grower. We use crumbles instead of pellets for bantams, as they are often too small to eat pelleted feed. Make sure they’re getting free access to crushed oyster shell for calcium as well. They also benefit from scratch grain and fresh vegetables and fruits, and we feed ours scrambled eggs on a regular basis as well.
Polish are smooth legged, but if you get into a feather legged breed, they usually need to be kept indoors during the winter months. Feathers on legs and feet collect snow and can result in frostbite. Our birds know better than to set foot outside after a snowfall.
Also, if you intend to breed, I’ve found that roosters with good plumage (i.e. full top crests) sometimes have difficulty seeing, therefore may seem uninterested in the hens. I have used little girls’ hair clips or small rubber bands to keep their crests out of their eyes. This can also be a problem with them watching for predators, so as you breed for better quality birds, keep in mind that they may have problems seeing around those feathers.
Make sure you’re treating them bi-annually for coccidosis and parasites, and the fancy breeds are sometimes more prone to external parasites as well. Keep their bedding clean and dust regularly (especially in winter) to prevent lice or mite issues.
Hope this covers most of the basics for you – and enjoy your new flock!
stonefieldhill
August 7, 2012 at 5:50 am