Chickens

Hows you flock doing?

I just finished my coop last weekend.

I have 11 chickens. They are about 8 weeks old today.

 

Nice coop. I'm down to 11 layers and 2 roosters. Had 2 beautiful brahmas,think the fox got them. During our drought there's been a gray fox roaming during the day in search of food.

 

i dont miss my chickens. at all. the roaches in my backyard were getting numerous. they would gather around the fresh droppings. i wanted to trap them so i could feed them to the chickens in some sick irony experiment..but never worked out the details

birds gone, one backyard spray down by a pro..and all is better in my world.

they were fun, and the eggs were cool.

 

Nice coop Utard, I like the trees in the middle of the run.

We've only got 5 layers, all Rhode Island Reds. They lay consistently and the eggs are so big you can't close the lid on the "jumbo" egg containers from the store. I'd like to get a couple more layers and maybe one rooster (a Red) in the spring.

We did lose one hen to a red tail last year. They were free ranging without supervision and it was late fall, food was scarce for the hawk at that time. Came out to see it plucking the hen only 30 feet from the front door. Don't blame the hawk, they're easy pickins, we're just a lot more careful about when they're let out.

 

You don't have issues with raccoons coming in down the tree or is the chicken wire tight to the tree ?

 

I am down to 7 now 3 ended up being roosters. Roosters are not allowed in city limits. So had to say by by to them. Everything is fully contained. The wire goes right to the tree. I am in a typical 1/5 acre city lot. So I have lots of neighbors with dog and cats but no raccoons to worry about. So consequently I can't let them roam around. Plus the fact I have a in ground pool. No need for chicken crap in the pool. I made the run with plenty of room and it is fully enclosed. We do have the occasional coopers hawk that loves the doves around here. But with that in mind I sealed it up good. I have 7 layers and hope to get some eggs by around x-mas. So far they are pretty funny pets. Just wish I could let them roam around to eat bugs.

 

Make sure you swing by Afghanistan and pick up one of these sweet bikes so you can take your chickens to the club.

 

^^I'll pass on that. But on a side note I would to have the truck in front of the mobile coop.

 

I've got 15 that we got this spring; 10 hens, 5 roos (soon to be 2; the noise at 4:30AM is getting a little overwhelming). Plus 1 stupid, loud, annoying goose that we inherited from SWMBO's brother. Dominiques and Buff Orpingtons.

Had 6 Red Rangers (meat) that we raised for 12 weeks this summer, too, but they're all in the freezer. The lightest one weighed 7lbs dressed; heaviest weighed just shy of 9. Watching them run around the yard was like watching linebackers run the 100; slightly ridiculous, but funny as hell.

 

I know what you mean. When they get running around they look a little retarded sometimes. Wings a flapping head a wobbling. lol

I ended up eating 2 of my roosters. They were a bit young and small but tasty.

 

They are funny to watch. The roasters were so heavy and unathletic that whenever they had a battle for dominance, they'd hash out who was top bird, and then they'd have to lie down. The layers are much lighter on their feet.

 

No roaches here. Hardly any bugs at all.

 

I never raised chickens where there were roaches but I would think the chickens would eat the roaches? They eat pretty much anything

 

This^^

 

if you are worried about roaches get a couple guinea birds...they are however noisy so if you live in a neighborhood you might get noise complaints.

 

DO EEET.
Zero bug issues here. No ticks, and they're a handy disposal unit for any of the bugs I pick out of my garden. The layers scrounge ALL day for insects and will ignore their feeder completely if they find enough to keep them full. They'll eat anything they can catch. I've even seen mine eat mice.

 

Same here. Bugs. Mice. Frogs.etc.

 

Once we move again my wife has been saying she wants some chickens for the eggs. Her aunt has them in MS and whenever we are there they make stuff with the fresh eggs (esp breakfast). GOOD stuff.

 

My wife sells the ones I can't eat. And there's a lot of those. Here's a pic of some young ones that just started laying. Not big enough to sell but good enough for my late breakfast just now.

 

We just got 12 more. 6 Rhode Island reds, and 6 crossbreed Rhode Island red and Cornish rock. Supposed to have a jumbo brown egg and a bigger bird to eat later.