I agree! My very first hen was a Speckled Sussex (named Izzy - hence my profile name). She was the best girl!! Beautiful to look at (like she'd been caught in a snow storm!), and sweet as could be. She was my lap girl, and a faithful layer.
My Orpington was one of my favorites, but we have Brahmas for the first time, and they're just as fun. Big, fluffy, good layers, sweet disposition and remind me of a Great Pyrenees as a dog comparison.
I needed to read this TODAY! I have given raw whole-oats to my chickens in the past mixed with their scratch as a "treat" during the cold winter months. Not anymore! Thank you again :)
This looks awesome! We need an "updated" when the chickens arrive and get established in it. I love seeing new coop pictures - but it makes it even better when I get to see it with it's inhabitants :) Thank you for posting!! It's gorgeous!
We have a mixed flock as well...2 Brahma Pullets, 1 Wellsummer Pullet, 1 Ameraucana Pullet, 1 English Game Hen and 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte Hen. (in the past we've had a Speckled Sussex, Buff Orp., Golden Sex-Link,and 1 Silkie Roo.) ALL of them were precious in their own ways, but my favorite...
I have 6 "therapy chickens" of my own. However, I had to provide the Village Offices here a prescription written by my Dr. in order to keep them. It was worth every hoop I had to jump through to be able to sit and enjoy their company. They truly saved my life.
That's the advice I used when letting my hen take her chicks into the "big fenced back-yard" (about 1/4 acre with grass, trees, flower-beds, etc...) They are about 10-12 weeks old. My hen is also hyper-vigilant, and extremely aggressive when she perceives a "threat" to her brood. My poor...
We started out raising them for the eggs - but when the town I live in threatened to remove them because we were not "zoned for agriculture" I almost had a mental breakdown. My husband, by the grace of God, found a loophole, and my Dr. had my chickens declared "therapy animals". I am happy to...
We have straw in the coop, and dirt in the run. My husband likes to rototill the run about once a month or so, just to mix things up a bit and give the girls something fun to do. It works for us. Good luck with your new feather-babies!
So I'm helping a friend out with raising a single chick. She had a broody hen who was not a great mama, killed all but one of her babies, and now that one is with me. She has no other chicks in her barnyard right now, and does not have a brooder, or another broody hen to help her out. So...
A few days ago we just "acquired" a lone 5 day old chick from the feed store my daughter works at. It was injured in transport (hurt leg), and was hobbling & getting trampled by the other chicks. Your suggestions were AWESOME!! We created a similar environment for her - but only just added the...