Keep in mind that in Lawrence chicken coops have to comply with the Building Code as an accessory structure.
I would avoid the gravel. You'd just end up wasting your money. And personally I wouldn't bother digging up the myrtle. Chickens are smarter than people think and tend to avoid eating anything toxic, unless they are still baby chicks. Babies aren't that smart and will eat a lot that isn't good for them. The point is though that if you left the myrtle the birds will be out scratching and they'll end up scratching up the roots anyway. If you do dig it up I'd plant a deep root growing grass that will stand up a little better. Eventually it won't survive anyway.
Who needs a dog when you can have a dozen+ lil chickens instead!
Small is fine, I can always break a few extra eggs. I myself am almost bantam-sized compared to most people. I picked the bantams because I don't have huge amounts of space in my urban yard, the smaller amount of food they need, and they are just too dang cute. Egg supply is ranked under joy and entertainment for me, or rather, a side benefit to something that already makes be oh so very happy.
I have a few that have laid eggs like that, kind of shaped like a bullet. It usually doesn't last long that they lay them like that.
Back on the three-egg-a-day plan (more or less)! Winky the Barred Rock laid the long skinny egg on the right. Her eggs were always a bit narrower for their length compared to Blinky the RIRed, but this is extremely so. Chalking it up to first egg after a 4 month hiatus. No sign of eggs from Plinky the blind brahma.
Have a great evening everyone!
