raising backyard chickens- chanteclers?
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Processing 280 Chickens – Cornish Cross & Red Bros at Pete and Jen Backyard Bird’s Mobile Poultry Processing Unit
Question by melaniecampbell: raising backyard chickens- chanteclers?
I am seriously considering raising some chickens– we have a half acre semi-rural yard, and we love chickens. My fiance has serious allergies to the antibiotics used in commerical chicken farming, but he has eaten local organic chickens and eggs and had no problem (that is why we want to have some chickens ourselves).
What do I need to know about raising chickens? I have ordered a few books online about raising chickens in your backyard, and I’m still waiting on their arrival…
We are in central Ontario (canada). I am looking at the Chentecler breed of chicken, they seem suitable to where we live. What is their temperment like? I am also interested in getting chickens that will show well at local competitions, as well as lay eggs. I like dark eggs. The chickens we raise will be organically fed and raised, purchased as chicks from a local organic farm…
So, some hints and tips on it would be great, AND are Chenteclers a good breed to start with?
THANKS !!!
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
6 Responses to raising backyard chickens- chanteclers?
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Dan Martin
Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World… Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY… All With Just One Click of A Mouse…For more info Visit:
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July 21, 2012 at 5:30 pm
I have chickens and they are easy to raise. First you must get some kind of shelter for the chickens so they won’t get wet and can stay warm in the winter. With only 1/2 acre of land you should probably only get a few hens (Roosters will crow and may annoy your neighbors and they don’t lay eggs) . The hens will start laying after about 5 months and will lay about every 2 out of three days. They will need food and water.
I have heard that Chenteclers are very good for cold weather so they might do okay, but I don’t know how well they are at egg-laying and as show birds. If you would like to read about certain breeds go to this link:
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/category/day_old_baby_chickens.html
Recycle Please
July 21, 2012 at 6:05 pm
first make sure there are no bylaws preventing you from raising chickens in your area
second they will need shelter especially when young heat lamps (2) to prevent over crowding under 1 lamp
you will need to start them on a medicated chick feed for starters to get their immunities up then cracked corn is good
protection from raccoons and skunks is vital also dogs cats mink
you will need to give them a roosting place in their shed(barn) lots of clean fresh water,good ventilation especially in summer,protection from the elements,fenced in area to scratch and some old fashioned TLC
as a kid on our farm in the Desboro area ( Owen Sound) my job was to raise chickens for the dinner table every spring I would get 50 chicks to raise usual mortality was 2-3 a year which is still good brought back some fond memories
big nickel
July 21, 2012 at 6:08 pm
You’ve got some great answers here already so I will only say brava to you for choosing a home flock.
Nothing beats their eggs, personalities, bug-catching abilities. Plus those of us who have home flocks know how sweet and entertaining hens can be.
Welsummers lay DARK eggs so you may want to look into them.
WinterBorn
July 21, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I had never heard of this chicken breed before, so I did a quick web search. The first thing that came up, was a picture. From the picture I could tell these are a good cold weather chicken. The smaller the chickens comb, the better they do in cold weather. Larger comb chickens do well in hot areas. The breed will probably do well for you, since they originated in Canada.
They will probably NOT be a broody breed. That means they will probably never sit a nest of eggs and hatch them themselves.
I have no information of real value to give you on the Chentecler, since I’ve never seen one.
Chickens are wonderful. I’ve owned them on and off again over the years. My favorite breed are Austrolorps. Austrolorps are an all black chicken, with the green ting to their feathers. They are a broody breed, and will hatch their own young (excelent mothers).
I will tell you this about domestic livestock….the darker the animal, the healthier and more disease resistant. The lighter colored the less healthy, and disease resistant.
When I start baby chickens, I like to use a childs small waiding pool. I put wood shavings in the bottom, and a circle of good stout wire the chicks cannot get through inside the pool. I then run a wood dowl through the wire, and suspend a heat lamp from it. Lots of room for the baby chicks.
Baby chicks grow fast, and at a certain age they become quiet good flyers! Once they become adults, some are rather like feathered bowling balls when they fly.
Put up your fence, and shelter FIRST, before you get those baby chicks. they grow very, very fast.
As for color of eggs, you just have to read about the breed. You can get light brown, to dark brown eggs, white, pink, even blue or green!
oops….I live on a farm…more baby goats just born. I have to cut this short!
~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
bohemian_garnet
July 21, 2012 at 6:48 pm
If you want chickens for meat consider the hybrid cornish rock cross which can be raised organically and will be ready for slaughter in 6 to 10 weeks (do not let them get more than 12 weeks or they have major healthy issues because of their excellerated growth which has nothing to do with hormones or antibiotics).
Chanticlers are good for eggs but like all heritage breeds it takes 17 to 25 weeks to grow the cocks to table size and than these birds MUST be slow roasted or stewed in order to be edible (and they are fantastic if cooked properly).
Before the hybrid Cornish rock cross came into vogue people caponized their cockerels they wanted to raise for meat. capons could grow to full size (about 5 to 6 months) without becoming sexually mature and making the meat taste really gamy. These days there few to no vets that know how to caponize a chicken and from what I hear caponizing at home means killing about 80% or more of your birds.
ohiorganic
July 21, 2012 at 7:41 pm