Chicken Update

[shanstress70]

Since someone here asked about my chickens, I thought I would give a brief update...

In case you don't remember or weren't here, we live in the city and have a small yard. We had black widows outside and didn't want to spray chemicals. Someone here suggested I get a flock of chickens bc they eat spiders. I laughed it off at first and then started to read about them. Turns out there are many people who keep chickens in the city (thanks to Martha Stewart!), and especially in my city which surprisingly has no ordinances against poultry!

So I researched them and went searching for chicks of the breed I decided on. I got four hens when they were about 2 weeks old and have enjoyed them tremendously. They are beautiful and fun to watch... my cat loves them too... she needed a friend.

So now they are about 4 months old. From what I've read, they should start laying eggs between 4 and 5 month old, so they better get started because we're waiting!

Here are some recent pictures of Henrietta, Emily, Lizzie, and Owey-Bagoey.

Today, they took over my planters. Oh well, perhaps they are preparing them for their nests in which to lay eggs. I'm waiting...

[Alaskagain]

They are awesome, Shan! Looks like you are doing a great job raising them. May I buy some eggs? (We used to have a few Rhode Island Reds, really miss those fresh eggs)

[StrawberryFields]

What

Beautiful

Chickens

You

Have

My

Dear!!!!

[Brother Dorsey]

Shan...chickens are cool! When we lived out in the "country" (suburbs) we raised chickens, about 2 dozen of them. Here's a couple words of advice....chickens will lay their eggs in the strangest of places....most of the time they like to hide them good so look carefully because you don't want to find one that has been laying around for a month in the summer sun (your neighbors won't like it either when they explode). Also, make sure you have good protection for your hens from neighborhood dogs....some dogs will go to great lengths to get to them. Oh, and one more thing....if you want to greatly increase the number of eggs from your hens....get a rooster! Have fun....maybe someday I will tell you how to hypnotize a chicken....it's really funny!

[Snow]

Looks like a bunch of anti-Mormon chickens to me.

[Dr T]

They even play with action figures! Wow

[Gabelma]

I love chickens - my daughter and I are doing a project would you mind if I used your pictures?

Charley

[shanstress70]

Shan...chickens are cool! When we lived out in the "country" (suburbs) we raised chickens, about 2 dozen of them. Here's a couple words of advice....chickens will lay their eggs in the strangest of places....most of the time they like to hide them good so look carefully because you don't want to find one that has been laying around for a month in the summer sun (your neighbors won't like it either when they explode). Also, make sure you have good protection for your hens from neighborhood dogs....some dogs will go to great lengths to get to them. Oh, and one more thing....if you want to greatly increase the number of eggs from your hens....get a rooster! Have fun....maybe someday I will tell you how to hypnotize a chicken....it's really funny!

Thanks for the advice. I am afraid they are going to lay the eggs under the deck, which is where they like to hang out when it's hot (every day in the summer in NC!). So I check under there every day and if they do, we'll have to screen off the bottom of it bc we can't get under there to retrieve them.

They are 'free range' during the day since we have a 6' privacy fence, but they go into their secure coop at night. I'm hoping they will choose to lay in the nesting boxes that I have for them. If not, I may have to confine them to the coop and run for a while so they have no choice. Then once they get the hang of it, I'll let them out again.

Oh and my neighbors think they're awesome, but I would not get a rooster bc then their opinion would surely change when it crows at 5AM! From what I've read, these hens will lay one egg per day, which will give us enough for outselves and plenty to share.

I love chickens - my daughter and I are doing a project would you mind if I used your pictures?

Charley

I would love for you to.

Looks like a bunch of anti-Mormon chickens to me.

You should see them when they get started! Vehemently anti-Mormon, I tell you! They start foaming at the beaks and start thumping their Bibles once they open up their Tanner books. Darndest thing I ever saw.

[Gabelma]

Looks like a bunch of anti-Mormon chickens to me.

You should see them when they get started! Vehemently anti-Mormon, I tell you! They start foaming at the beaks and start thumping their Bibles once they open up their Tanner books. Darndest thing I ever saw.

LOL don't let my husband see this I am having trouble convincing him we want chickens and that they are not from the devil

Charley

[Guest Yediyd]

Shan, I was raised on a farm...you don't need a rooster to get eggs. and when you have a rooster you have to crack your eggs in a bowl first to check if they are fertilized eggs!! Firtalized eggs are GROSS!!! You find blood and half developed chicks in them!!!!Yuck!!!!!

Note: I didn't even bother to go back and edit my original post because the two ways I spelled firtalzed is a CLASSIC example of how that ITA program that I was put in as a kid MESSED up my spelling!!!! I can spell something three different ways in one sentance!!!!! UGGGHHH!!!!

sorry for my bad spelling...still haven't learned how to get spell check up here!!!

[shanstress70]

Shan, I was raised on a farm...you don't need a rooster to get eggs.

Yep, I know. You'd be surprised at how many people think a rooster is necessary for a hen to lay eggs. In fact, I've read that hens lay more eggs without a rooster around bc he stresses them out and it decreases their egg supply.

Gabelma, if you need any info, check this site for some great info on chickens. http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/

It's a forum where people discuss their pet chickens. A very common scenario is that the wife wants chickens but has a hard time talking her husband into it. After she does, the husband ends up liking them more than anyone! Something similar happened with my husband. He thought I had lost my mind when I wanted to get them, and basically just gave into one of my crazy whims. Now he thinks they're awesome and would never get rid of them.

I also think it's great for kids and especially since you homeschool (hopefully I'm thinking about the right person)! It lets them know where their food comes from and teaches them to respect and appreciate animals. I took the hens to my child's preschool class and they were amazed to see and pet them.

[pushka]

<div class='quotemain'>

Shan, I was raised on a farm...you don't need a rooster to get eggs.

Yep, I know. You'd be surprised at how many people think a rooster is necessary for a hen to lay eggs. In fact, I've read that hens lay more eggs without a rooster around bc he stresses them out and it decreases their egg supply.

Typical man then, lol!

[Snow]

You should see them when they get started! Vehemently anti-Mormon, I tell you! They start foaming at the beaks and start thumping their Bibles once they open up their Tanner books. Darndest thing I ever saw.

LOL don't let my husband see this I am having trouble convincing him we want chickens and that they are not from the devil

Charley

:):):)