Recent content by Roadstump

I got my first egg at 136 days. By 152 days they were all in full production. I now average 6 eggs a day from 8 pullets.

I don't have Red Starz but I do have 4 different breeds. I got my first egg at 136 days and really didn't get full production until 152 days.

I built a small roost when they were young. just tall enough to hop up on. It was not more than a 3' long straight branch nailed onto a couple of 2x2 T-legs, probably 4" off the litter. When they got bigger I built them up a taller one, still just tall enough for them to jump up on and...

My coop and run are on a slope. If you level the coop and have it raised on blocks it creates a fantastic haven for them to cool off in the day by going under the coop. It's their safe place during the day. Carpentry can get a little tricky, i.e., making a gate in a run, but the slope...

I put treated plywood down then covered it with a piece of cheap roll linoleum. Cut the linoleum so that it is slightly larger ( 1" works) than the floor area and let it turn up the wall slightly. it creates kind of a tub that keeps any liquid out and it's really easy to clean when you need to.

I think a lot depends on where you live. In Texas, the heat is incredible. We have a prevailing southerly wind that needs to be taken advantage so I put 2 large 2'x2' flap type windows that hinge at the top. when propped open the flap serves as a shade in the afternoon so the sun doesn't...

I witnessed a rather odd behavior today. I was sitting watching my 8 pullets taking their evening dust baths, pecking and scratching around. Of the 8 hens, 6 lay brown eggs and 2 lay green. One of the green layers (Amaracauna) is not laying yet so all but the one layed today. I noticed...

Mine started doing exactly the same thing just prior them starting to lay or what I'm calling puberty. They line up to have their rumps rubbed now. Well, all but one and that one is not laying yet.

I wrestled with this exact same issue. I wandered Home Depot looking for a solution and I found it. There is a rubber seal that is designed for the bottom of overhead garage doors. it's a long strip but if you look at the end it's in the shape of a horse shoe. it's much thicker than...

nicely done and very helpful documentation with your pics. consider mounting outside nest boxes to save on floor space.

I suggest you go visit the section of this site with coop pictures. I studied these for a couple of evenings and took ideas from different designs. There are some recommended sizes and heights for roosts and nests that I tried to abide by. My roost is located about 24" off the litter and...

Looks like a great rehab project. Post some pics when you get all finished.

I made mine 12x12 and it's been great. The girls are all full grown and duck their head a couple of inches and get in and out freely. In fact, there are times when one will park herself in the opening and another will try to get around. They can't both go through but the point is 12" width...

I dug down 3" then scraped away 24" wide path around the entire coop and run. It 's easier than trenching in the Texas hill country and 3" down and we're out of topsoil anyway. The hardware cloth then got laid in the area and covered back up with dirt. One thing you need to consider...the...

I'm a newbie to raising chickens. I got 8 pullets back in January and although I was out there with them quite frequently they would jump away when I reached out to pet or touch them. About mid May one of them started getting closer day by day. The next thing I know I am petting her, rubbing...