Raising backyard chickens- chanteclers?

Question

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 !!!

Answer 1

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 c***s 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.

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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...

Answer 4

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

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

We also built many green small cabins on the ranch that we offer to family, friends and our on-site off-grid workshop guests, including one straw bale, one papercrete, earth bag and adobe, one cob and cordwood, one underground and rammed earth, one log and post and beam and one rock. Each one actually started as a test for what the main house would be and were later finished and turned into guest cabins. I later wrote a guide on how to build with alternative materials using alternative methods for next to nothing.

We raise meat and milk goats, chickens for meat and eggs, ducks for meat and eggs, trap havilina (wild boar pig), rabbit, quail. brew our own beer from home grown products, preserve our fruits, vegetables, etc. smoke and jerky the meat, make our own soap, cheese.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

my home has all the comforts listed above plus some. we live very comfortable without effecting the environment. just saying that tol et you know it's possible. you may not want to go as extreme as me and my family but anywhere in between is something.

Without getting to in depth here, Using alternative fuels in your vehicles and harnessing your own electricity from the sun, water, earth and wind are the 2 are key elements in making a green transition and erasing your carbon footprint.

here's a calculator to find out how much of a green impact your making (carbon footprint)

http://www.conservation.org/act/live_gre...

if you'd like to make your next step feel free to contact me personally at www agua-luna com

I've been installing home made Solar panels. Solar stoves, Solar batch and inline hot water heaters. Solar radiant heating. Solar home heating and AC, along with home made wind gens and other alternative energy items for the last 3 years.

You can even make the above projects on site with simple parts from the local hardware stores or auto stores or junk yards. For more info check out some guides I wrote / compiled on how to DIY www agua-luna com

Again these projects can be accomplished anywhere by anyone.

if you absolutely can't do anything in your home at least you can put alternative fuels in your car. most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

as for recyling the best way i've found without taking money from your won pocket is to join a free freecycle group in your area or visit the habitat for humanity.

If you’d like help in making your self sufficient steps, feel free to contact me directly. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com

on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others “help the environment”.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

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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