What is Chicken Fever.....? And I Bet Your Chickens Gave it to You

What is Chicken Fever.....?  

And I Bet Your Chickens Gave it to You

Actually do not worry. Chicken Fever is NOT a disease. That is unless its a disease to want more and more chickens to add to your coop. 

Over the years at Blue Star Ranch I can see the "Chicken Fever" look in peoples eyes when they come to see chickens for their first flock. Most of the time, customers are glassy eyed and say...... "my coop holds 3 chickens but I really want 5!" 

And then the "disease" begins. Some people call it chicken math... when one chicken leads to another and another and then even more. 

Be sure to build your coop TWICE or THREE TIMES bigger than you want for the 3 chickens that will soon become twelve fluffy friends before you can say "poached egg" 

I have see wives that ACTUALLY buy chickens BEFORE the coop is finished in order to hurry up the husbands even faster. (now I'm not saying that there wasn't encouragement here LOL) 

Further, I want it to go on record that it should be a CRIME to sell chickens in public where children can see baby chicks and just won't let parents leave without a few, (or 6 or 8 !) 

So be prepared when you start your chicken flock for a big case of "chicken fever!"

How to Be Prepared For Your Own Chicken Business & Make $$$ Really!

How to Be Prepared For Your Own Chicken Business & Make $$$$ Really! 

Raising chickens for our family has been well.... "my nest egg" for our families future. Raising chickens is a secure business model for steady income. There is a steep learning curve to raising chickens and running a business at the same time. So are you thinking about entering the field of agriculture? You must have a secret desire to work hard in all kinds of weather from dawn to dusk seven days a week, AND be broke at the same time! Seriously, raising a flock of chickens IS hard work. BUT with experience raising chickens can be profitable.
 
To get started for the first 3 years or so until you can get automated machines plan on a 10 hour day working in one form or another for your poultry farm by; purchasing, growing or delivering feed to chickens and or constant repair of your coop is actually common place if you want a great coop and healthy chickens. Not to mention the accounting aspect.
 

Just ONE Phone Call:

At 281-627-8009 

Can Save You Many THOUSANDS Of Dollars. 

Let the "Chicken Lady" at  Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas help get your business advise to avoid many start up problems. 

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Join local poultry clubs or forums to meet people in your same field. Consider spending time helping poor or a charity. 

If you "breed" chickens, will you have a market for roosters? Many people plan on breeding but forget the time, money, space and food that lots of roosters can cost your business.

Consider joining market days or garden clubs in your areas and meet like minded nature enthusiasts.

You MUST have a predator control plan in place before starting your chicken business.

Think of profits in "pennies" not dollars as much of your income will go right back into your business.

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Unless your barn, coop or buildings are equipped for year round production (indoors) do not try to raise chicks in winter or late fall or a cold spring because cold wet weather is not good for the chicken business.

If you want to increase you business, treat customers right, sell them only quality chickens, and always tell the truth. Your business will grow on its own! 

Which Predator Control Is Best For Your Coop? Below are a few of the most common methods for predator control. Included are the "pros and cons" of using each method. There are no "perfect solutions" for your coop, without testing several  methods to see which works best for your coop.
 
Predator proofing your coop against animals is as individual as each chicken coop is different.. Some animal proofing works for some chicken owners, but it may not work for you. In MOST cases you may have to try several of these methods and or a combination of methods to see what is best for your coop to prevent predators.
 
In ALL cases building the BEST and STRONGEST coop and predator proofing your coop BEFORE you get started is the best way to have chickens in the morning. Remember, predators may still try to get into your coop.

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What is the BIGGEST MISTAKE people make when building the coop. Well its AFTER the coop is built that you need to be aware of predators too! 

Remember, just because you do not find dead chickens in the coop does not mean that there are possible break ins that can happen every night. Predators are STILL there looking for a way inside. So check your coops for any openings BEFORE break ins and before your chickens are a raccoons dinner! 

At least once a week check your coop for predators trying to open a small hole usually in the corner top or bottom of your pen/run or coop

Follow up page next report: Chicken death: What killed your chickens? 

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This is How to Barter with Chickens & Eggs for Profit

This is How to Barter with Chickens & Eggs for Profit


Over the years in raising chickens I have discovered that chickens, eggs and baby chicks are a real valuable commodity. Chickens cannot be replaced with technology and therefore actually retain their value. Even as much as real “money.” One chicken can produce hundreds of dollars in eggs and be used for meat at the end of productivity. A small flock will produce very valuable fertilizer for your garden. 

So why barter? Why not? There are lots of things that you can get by trading that is worth MORE than money. Usually if you are a good horse trader (or chicken trader) you will come out far ahead in swapping and make regular trading partners for almost everything you want or need. 

Most of the time my trading skills award me more than I ever hoped for or even needed.

Bartering is even older than money and a real useful skill to learn and to pass on to your family. 

We at Blue Star Ranch in Austin Texas will trade for almost anything we need or want of value. Garage sale items, groceries, pet foods, frozen foods, movies/dvds, hay, firewood, home made items soaps, candles or crafts, or services from your business, farm labor, lawn mowing, garden items, tools, electronics, video games, working appliances, furniture, clothes or any storage or unwanted items.

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Craig's List is the BEST place to put free advertisements for barter.

Be sure the items that you barter are useful to you or someone that you know who can use them. Its not a good idea to trade for garage sale left overs or you will have a lifetime supply of plastic lids and junk you do not need. 

One year for Christmas we traded chickens with a lady who closed down her toy store. Now my grandson DID get ELEVEN toy remote helicopters that year, ha! and the kids had a Christmas that they will NEVER forget with a huge toy haul. I have received more kitchen appliances than a restaurant can ever use, clothes for my family, shoes, boots, art work, antiques, you NAME it. Anything you want or need. Plan your ads and just wait for the stuff to be delivered to you from very eager people that otherwise may not have money to pay for chickens and eggs. 

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I've traded for 1/2 a slaughtered frozen calf, vegetables, home canned foods, soaps and such! 

There is even a saying that I am famous for repeating that makes the family GGRRROOOAAANNN when I say the phrase:

"I traded chickens for that!" 

My family SWEARS that one day this saying will be on my tombstone.  (I am currently seeking a funeral home that needs chickens for an eager sales person LOL)

Chicken Misters In The Summer - Are They Really This "Cheep?"

Chickens need cool water in the Summer and a cool pan of water to stand in to cool off their feet! 

(Note make sure the water  about 2 inches is in the shade to remain cool and you change  water daily.)

Our chickens at Blue Star Ranch Austin Texas are very spoiled.

I have learned over the years that sudden weather changes causes bacteria in the soil to go from dormant to active and this is what can get chickens to become ill.

With your purchase of $50 or more One Hour FREE "Eggspert" Advice from Blue Star Ranch with your purchase of gift, farm or home and garden items from Cheep Chicken Store!

Chicken Lives Movement Humans Vigil - Considers What Is Meaningful For Chickens

Chicken Lives Matter: Vigil to be held outside Perdue Farms in Milford  

Lets consider that if chickens have a life of hardship only to be raised for slaughter, then lets make some changes to give these creatures some comfort in their short live of 8 to maybe 11 weeks at the most before they are rapidly slaughtered for the money making poultry industry.

Better living conditions are a MUST for all creatures, pork, beef and chicken. Look at what people are saying about a large commercial farm in Milford. 

With your purchase of $50 or more One Hour FREE "Eggspert" Advice from Blue Star Ranch with your purchase of gift, farm or home and garden items from Cheep Chicken Store!

Don't Underestimate the Amazing and Hungry Raccoon

Predator proofing your coop against animals is as individual as each chicken coop is different.. Some animal proofing works for some chicken owners, but it may not work for you. In MOST cases you may have to try several of these methods and or a combination of methods to see what is best for your coop to prevent predators.
 
In ALL cases building the BEST and STRONGEST coop and predator proofing your coop BEFORE you get started is the best way to have chickens in the morning. Remember, predators may still try to get into your coop.

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Intelligence

Zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described raccoons as "clever beasts", and that "in certain directions their cunning surpasses that of the fox." The animal's intelligence gave rise to the epithet "sly coon".^[120] Only a few studies have been undertaken to determine the mental abilities of raccoons, most of them based on the animal's sense of touch. In a study by the ethologist H. B. Davis in 1908, raccoons were able to open 11 of 13 complex locks in fewer than 10 tries and had no problems repeating the action when the locks were rearranged or turned upside down. Davis concluded they understood the abstract principles of the locking mechanisms and their learning speed was equivalent to that of rhesus macaques.^[121]

Studies in 1963, 1973, 1975 and 1992 concentrated on raccoon memory showed they can remember the solutions to tasks for up to three years.^[122] In a study by B. Pohl in 1992, raccoons were able to instantly differentiate between identical and different symbols three years after the short initial learning phase.^[8] Stanislas Dehaene reports in his book The Number Sense that raccoons can distinguish boxes containing two or four grapes from those containing three.^[123] In research by Suzana Herculano-Houzel and other neuroscientists, raccoons have been found to be comparable to primates in density of neurons in the cerebral cortex, a neuroanatomical indicator of intelligence.^[124][125]

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Over the years I have heard every story from my customers about predator break ins but be sure that even if you build a "solid wall" for a coop, Raccoons can figure out a way to unlatch a nest box and kill your chickens. Be sure to visit us at Blue Star Ranch in Austin or at our website.