dumb chicken questions coming-watch out!

[Jon J]

Hello to everyone! I finally bought six laying hens and one rooster a few weeks back. I have some (ignorant) questions to ask

1. When will they lay eggs? I took some old plastic milk crates and made nests using oat straw. I cut one side of crate half way off and built them a shelf about 8 inches high from the ground board they walk on. They REFUSE to get in the nest, Seem more happy sitting on the ground. Should i put the nests at ground level?

2. When does the rooster mate w/the chickens? My rooster is quite possibly the world's dumbest animal! Does he mate just one time or regular?

3. Can I take the chicken feed (crumbles) and mix it into a mushy lumpy type (like oatmeal mush) and will they eat it that way? Yes, I was to lazy to go buy the feed right when i got them and fed them OTHER stuff! Like bird seed, veggies, oatmeal, grass/weeds, MRE's, Etc!

4. If i let a hen hatch the eggs, How long will it take until they hatch?

5. Will the other grown chickens attack the babies and do I need to seperate them?

I did finally build them a coop and they have a 8x13 dog run where I feed them. It is tarped and the coop is half enclosed.

As a treat, I gave them some mini marshmallows and they go crazy over it!

Thanks for any advice!

Jon

 

[JennsPeeps]

Lots of resources out there!

Try reading www.mypetchicken.com for info, or do a search for each of your questions on this site.

Good luck & keep us posted on their progress.

 

[panner123]

1. Milk crates are great for nest boxes. You don't need to cut them, just fill them half full. It depends on the age of the chicken as to when it starts laying. Even if they are of laying age, they need a week or so to start at the new home.

2. If you only have six hens your roo will over mate them. Sometimes he will mate in front of you and sometimes not. When you see your hens going bald, you will know he is doing his job.

3. If you want good eggs, give the hens good feed. And plenty of free range time. Just like a computer, good information in, good information out. Junk in, junk out.

4. The eggs will hatch in about 21 days.

5. The other hens might try to get to the chicks, but mama hen will take care of business. Matter a fact, when you go to pick up a chicks, BE CAREFUL mama will get you too.

6. Not to many sweet or salty treats.
Go to the bait shop abd buy some bugs or worms.

 

[lost]

You will do fine.Just try to get all the info you can get.I only had mine sence easter.I didnt know as much as I thought I did.
P.S. don;t let nobody discourage you ALSO

Soon you will be a chickoholic also a hatchohlic

 

[dacjohns]

Go to the very top of the page and click on Learning Center. Then start exploring.

Welcome, good luck, and have fun.

 

[flakey chick]

Quote:
A couple of days after you just can't take it anymore.

 

[Davaroo]

3. Can I take the chicken feed (crumbles) and mix it into a mushy lumpy type (like oatmeal mush) and will they eat it that way?

They will eat it, sometimes greedily. But it's not really a great idea; the wet mash can sour in their gizzard. It aint gonna kill 'em, but there is good reason to avoid it. Dry is best.

I was to lazy to go buy the feed right when i got them and fed them OTHER stuff! Like bird seed, veggies, oatmeal, grass/weeds, MRE's, Etc!

Man, you are gonna fit in perfect around here.

4. If i let a hen hatch the eggs, How long will it take until they hatch?

21 days, give or take.​

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

Quote:
A couple of days after you just can't take it anymore.

And also this made me LOL:

Quote:
Man, you are gonna fit in perfect around here.

 

[Jon J]

Thanks for the replies to (dumb) questions! They are now eating their feed. I did move the milk crates to ground level and still no laying or eggs...yet. I check daily! Have camera ready to take pic of first egg!

Odd observation: they like to sit on the ground and throw their rumps high into the air, I find it odd.

I thought my female calico cat would go crazy once she saw the chickens but she could careless, Even when they free roamed, The cat didnt care! I call my cat "precious" because my best friend's have a lil taco bell dog that hates my guts! I refer to it as the "mutt"! Not a precious dog in my thinking either My cat is pregnant AGAIN, The second litter this year. I refuse to spay because I get to play with kittens for 8-10 weeks and then give them away! Who could ask for a better deal? Here is by far the prettitest kit I've ever seen and I regretted giving it away:

http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm38/bigguyinflorida/?action=view&current=005.jpg

 

[woodward farms]

what age are your hens? and also breed are they?
or post a pic and we should be able to tell you the breed and age.

most breeds start giving hen fruit (eggs) around 20 weeks so you may have a wait if they are young.