Carla Measer-Costamagna

wow! thank you so much. This is actually the first time I get a reply on a forum like this. My questions always seem to vanish into cyber space.
I will try the organic chick starter in buttermilk for my babies.
Someone recommended McMurray Hatchery. Looks like they have a wide selection of hens.
I also read the entire article about the methods of raising chickens and we decided that we will do a coop for night time and a larger than usual tractor that we will move 1 or 2 times per day, and let the chickens out whenever we are outside to roam free. The only reason we decided on this is because we are afraid of predators while we are inside the house or if we go out. We have a fair amount of fox and also hawk and turkey vultures. We want to make the tractor more like a covered paddock. Hope this is a good idea.
Thanks again to everyone.

Hi everyone, I am so glad i found this website and forum. I am looking forward to sharing my experience with all of you and asking questions that most of you with more experience than me will be able to answer. So here is the first one:
We are going to get chicks this spring to raise for eggs. We are a family of 4 and so just 6 will do, but the guy at the store we went to was very adamant on us either getting them inoculated or buying the Purina feed with medication and use it for 90 days. First of all, I do not want to get that feed because I know for a fact that most of the ingredients will be GMO, and I am a big GMO free advocate. (formed my own group in Buffalo, NY) I want to raise them as healthy as possible but as naturally as possible and 100% organic. He says the Purina is better quality than the organic feed. I just wonder if we have to get feed at all. What do you recommend? Do we have to give them medication the first 60/90 days of life? Also, if we plan on letting them forage spring summer and fall, can we just feed them veggie scraps in winter? And if so how much? I read that they need protein too byt how would they get bugs in winter? If we HAVE to give them feed we will only give them the organic non GMO type, from a local feed mill if possible unless you can recommend a good one. I really appreciate your help on this. I'm so excited to get these hens!

I also have a question about living quarters and what's best for us but I will leave that one for another post.

Thank you!
Carla