Sandy Brown . . . The Chicken Lady • Born/raised in Oregon • Favorite HS Subject: Biology • Retired RN • Began raising chickens after a life crisis • Owns/operates Rancho Arroyo, “Happy Hens, Wholesome Harvest”. • Named by my grandchildren as “Farmer Grandma Sandy”
Chicken Math (is usually multiplication) Start with 15 hens Now 50 hens plus and a few eggs/day guineas and turkeys
How Many Hens Do You Need? Winter Spring, Summer, early Fall # of chickens # of chickens X .50% (or less) X .66% # of eggs / day # of eggs / day
Challenges: Feed wastage My hen’s diet: better than organic without paying the organic price. It is pasture bugs and greens supplemented with a peanut based, non-gmo, non-soy, non-medicated feed from Texas Natural Feeds, a GoTexan company. 1. The hens “bill” food out of feeders 2. Wild birds eat as much feed as the hens 3. Rats and mice feed at night Solutions:
Challenges: Predators 1. Stalkers 2. Flyers 3. Diggers 4. Two legged Solutions:
Challenges: Heat Anatomy of chickens and other poultry • combs and waddles • no sweat glands • some breeds more tolerant of heat Solutions:
Challenges: Cold Anatomy of chickens and other poultry • Feather fluffing • Huddle together • Some breeds more tolerant of cold Solutions:
Challenges: Broody hens • Don’t lay eggs when broody • Don’t take care of themselves • Some breeds more prone to being broody Solutions:
Challenges: Sickness and injuries • Fowl pox • Respiratory illness • Trauma Solutions:
Resources • Avian Vets: Dr Kelly Macmanus (Valley Animal Hospital- Pharr, on poultry board at Mercedes Stock Show, excellent teacher). Dr. Kathryn Dittman, DVM (Altas Palmas Animal Clinic) • Facebook groups: Poultry Natural Living and Herbal Care, Raising Chickens Naturally • Youtube: Justin Rhodes, John Suscovich (Farm Marketing Solutions) • Websites: www.the-chicken-chick.com, Moonlight Mile Herb Farm (natural herbal medicines specifically for poultry), www. Themodernhomestead.us (article- Using the clan mating system: low-input breeding for maximum genetic diversity in small flocks) • Magazines: Backyard Poultry, Chickens, Hobby Farms Guide to Chicken Breeds • Books and DVD’s: The Chicken Health Handbook ( Gail Damerow), Permaculture Chickens, (DVD with printable notebook by Justin Rhodes, abundant permaculture.com), How To Raise Chickens (Christine Heinrichs), Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks (Gail Damerow) • Supplies: MacMurry Hatchery, Randall Burkey Company, Premier One Poultry Supplies, Stromberg’s Chicks and Game Birds Unlimited • Hatcheries: Ideal Poultry (Cameron, Texas), MacMurry Hatchery, My Pet Chicken, Stromberg’s
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