Chickens

A few weeks ago we were down to 6 lovely ladies- "Bumble" went missing- probably to a fox. We decided to get 3 more so we will have at least a few eggs this winter. We bought 3 sex-linked pullets which are now in quarantine to make sure they aren't carrying something that could infect our flock. Bill even built a special quarantine coop and pen that is somewhat moveable. We'll store it in the shed this winter and use it the next time we get more chickens.



Our history with chickens:
Last summer we acquired 6 laying hens and 6 chicks (a few weeks old). Bill and I built a chicken coop (4'X8') with an enclosed pen. We have a deer fence around the back yard as well, but it's not totally animal proof. After a few weeks, we realized that 2 of the chicks were roosters, and since we live in a neighborhood, we couldn't keep them. Over the past year we have lost 3 birds to predators and one to egg peritonitis. This summer before we went to California for 2 weeks, we enlarged the outdoor pen so that they have a luxuriously large space to wander when we are away. Most of the time they free range in the back yard looking for bugs, taking dust baths, and eating anything we throw in the compost.

My favorite gals are Sheila, a barred rock bantam, and Meredyth, an Americauna. They are some of our older birds and aren't the best layers anymore, but they sure are entertaining. Sheila is the top bird and calls the others into the coop at night. The new birds are rather skittish, but are starting to learn that the treats we provide (fresh corn, yogurt, watermelon, etc.) are good to eat. In a few weeks, we'll put them in the coop at night so that they can wake up with the older birds, and hopefully there won't be any major issues.

The eggs we get are delicious, and I feel much better eating them and feeding them to my family. We love having the ladies, and after the initial effort to get things set up, they're pretty easy to maintain. It helps to have neighbors to help when we go away, but the fresh eggs make them happy too.

Earlier this summer the young hens started laying their eggs under the hostas and other plants around the yard. By the time we realized it one nest had 19 eggs in it! Now we have to do an egg hunt every once in a while if it seems like we're not getting very many eggs.

Later this week I'll start getting the coop cleaned out and ready for winter. I'll also start putting the light on in the mornings so that they will keep laying into the fall.