If our chickens do not vote like progressive democrats in the next election, I will be very surprised. Well, Vermont is a very pro-everything state (guns, privacy, orientation, religion, etc …) so we are not quite as simple as that and it’s a better place for it, but wait that’s not my point.
I have read and heard from others that radios do a very good job of keeping curious scavengers and predators away and we have a LOT of those lurking around our house, as you may know from Abi's blog. So, I have strung up a radio in the garage to test the wisdom. The garage is pretty secure as it is and the brooder is secured as well, but if a raccoon or fisher made it in somehow he would make short work of my meagre defences and the 61 chicks.
My choice in the fight: VPR. The station is mostly talking, so it sounds like there is a human presence, without giving the chicks PTSD by playing ‘new’ alternative or something where they would jump up at every new chord change, drum beat or bass line, though they do seem to like classic & 80’s new wave rock for some reason.
It has been eleven days now and the chicks are really doing well. They are already feathering out and attempt to fly around the brooder. We are already debating doing meat birds as well and building a hoop-house in the field for them. There is a great farm in the area that is moving shop to the Dakotas and there will be a great need for fresh organic chicken, especially in winter.
Meat birds are a whole different ballgame to layers. They are only around eight weeks as opposed to twelve months and are selected for quick maturation. They do not free-range like the layers, but you can keep them comfortable.
I can already hear their music selection – punk, rave, and hardcore. You know - for the live fast ... die young.
