2018 Newbie Chat!

[GoldenAcres6]

Hello and welcome!

With chickens it helps to have adequate space for them.
The general consensus is 4 square feet per bird in the coop with 10-12” of roost space per bird.
10 square feet per bird of run space.
They seem to be happier to me if you can free range them at least for a while each day.

Predator protection is extremely important since just about everything will eat chickens.
Hardware cloth is way better than chicken wire.

Chickens can be challenging and frustrating at times but they’re also extremely fun and rewarding to raise.
I find it very relaxing to sit and watch them.
The BYC site is a tremendous resource and there’s lots of information and help on here.
Good luck and enjoy your birds!

Thank you for the tips and info ..
I plan on free range the chickens other then at night due to having some Predators around our property.. i would like another coop to add to the one i do have now .

 

[Cbarr00]

My husband found our first egg today! So exciting!

 

[CannedMonster]

My husband found our first egg today! So exciting!
View attachment 1495841

Yay!! How old are your girls?

 

[Cbarr00]

Yay!! How old are your girls?

21 weeks! We aren't sure which one laid. Probably the girl that's mating already. When we crack it I'll look to see if its fertilized.

 

[CannedMonster]

21 weeks! We aren't sure which one laid. Probably the girl that's mating already. When we crack it I'll look to see if its fertilized.

My sex link laid her first at 20 weeks and my Wyandottes at about 22-24 weeks.
I have 2 Naked Neck pullets that are close. They’ve been checking out the nesting boxes a lot.
I’m so excited because I think one, if not both, have EE in them so I’m very curious about egg colors.
The first eggs are so fun!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

For the first time yesterday I got all 6 eggs!
(If a little dirty)

 

[Cbarr00]

So do yall wash yalls eggs and refrigerate or leave them out? Do you sell your eggs or give them away? We realized when we start getting 6 eggs a day that's way too many for our family to eat. Even if I bake like crazy it will still be too many.

 

[emrya]

So do yall wash yalls eggs and refrigerate or leave them out? Do you sell your eggs or give them away? We realized when we start getting 6 eggs a day that's way too many for our family to eat. Even if I bake like crazy it will still be too many.

easy solution.


cheesecake.

 

[CannedMonster]

So do yall wash yalls eggs and refrigerate or leave them out? Do you sell your eggs or give them away? We realized when we start getting 6 eggs a day that's way too many for our family to eat. Even if I bake like crazy it will still be too many.

I don’t wash them.
I’ve really never had them get dirty.
My nest boxes are plastic bins with very fine pine shavings- almost saw dust.
It just brushes off the eggs.
I do refrigerate them though.
We eat a lot of eggs daily.
I have multiple food allergies and I never get sick of eggs.
That being said, we currently have 4 layers and when my 11 chicks reach POL I will have eggs coming out of my ears!
My plan is to sell them at that point.

 

[Kylo_Hen!]

mine is not laying yet but she is only 18 weeks I'm so glad yours started laying