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Well, wherever she spent the night is the great mystery of our time because she was in the backyard this morning when dh went out

My beloved Barred Rock is missing! Tonight when I was putting my kids to bed it started to storm - high winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightening. When I went out to lock up the hens for the night I saw that the wind had blown the coop door shut. 3 out of 5 chickens had apparantly made it in...

I finally put my nasty RIR on time out. She's in the cage that we used to transport the hens originally, set right beside the coop. This is a new flock, all new to each other so I knew that the pecking order would have to be established but she is NASTY. Her and our BR are fine and the BR...

I haven't done that yet....I guess I will have to try it. Do you think handling her is good or too stressful right now? Today she is outside pecking and scratching around so that's good. Everyone does seem to be adjusting better but I'm still hoping for more eggs!

Well, today seemed even better. All the ladies spent most of the day outside and they are finally starting to peck at the treats I put out. RIR is still picking on the Columbian but she's learning to get away....The BR is still the only one that's laying but at least she's laying! Tonight we...

Any idea why the RIR would pick the Columbian to bully around? Would it have anything to do with the rough shape she arrived in (damaged tail feathers, bare neck and breast)? She's certainly not questioning the RIR's head honcho position.... So the BR is just acting appropriately for the...

Quote: I have some scratch but hadn't put it out yet. Sounds like I will tomorrow!!

I have some extra hardware cloth - maybe tomorrow I'll put the RIR in "time out" for the day LOL

Well, once dh got home it ended up being one of the best chicken days ever The birds were still in the coop when dh got home at 3pm. He was determined to get them out into the run. I had read that the egg-eating could be caused by a lack of protein and happened to have a leftover hamburger...

I've only had my babes since Wednesday and I'm pulling my hair. They just aren't doing what chickens are supposed to do I have a Barred Rock, RIR and Columbian Rock as well as a Silkie and then I have a bantam Cochin coming tomorrow. The standards came from a commercial egg production...

I've posted about the doorway and I'm waiting to hear. I put golf balls in the nest today but now my BR is just sitting on it!!!

Our actual boxes are 12x12 but I wondered if I could make the opening to the box smaller....

It's interesting that you think mixing in the eggshell has helped cure your egg-eating problem - we have that problem too but I thought the consensus was that letting them eat the shells would encourage them to eat their eggs??

I have an egg-eating problem. In an effort to curb the habit I'm thinking of darkening the nest box and "hiding" the eggs by making the opening to the nest smaller. Our design is just like this one, built off the back of the coop with a slanted lid on hinges...

Thankfully she seems to be coming around. She's getting more comfortable every day and isn't nearly as nervous when we are around. I'm going to try giving her some treats tomorrow.

Well, a friend of my dad's is bringing me a black bantam Cochin who is really gentle and quiet - good for the kids. This may mean that my Silkie doesn't get a friend I don't have much room...I feel sad for her asleep on the floor alone at night though.

Well, my dad just called and a friend of his has a black bantam Cochin that is just as quiet and docile as can be that he was getting ready to sell. Dad mentioned that I was looking for one so he's going to give her to me Now I really want a friend for my Silkie too.....I feel bad for her...

Blocking it off at night is a great idea - my dad also suggested going out after dark and putting them on the roost and then in the dark they will have to stay there. To be honest, I'm a little afraid of handling them too much - I don't trust them yet. These hens obviously have never had a...

How small can the doorway be for them to still be able to get in?

I thought one egg was pretty good. Especially because it was cool so it had been there for a little while whereas yesterday they were on it as soon as it was laid. It didn't look like there was much done to the celery - in fact the BR was standing on it when I last checked As far as hens...