I am new to chicken raising. I got 3 ISA Browns 2 & 1/2 weeks ago. I had been thinking about it for a long time, got talked out of it, and then when the opportunity for these 20 week pullets came up (a must-be-picked-up-tomorrow deal), I jumped right in. My son and husband were very helpful getting temporary quarters built, and then over the next week, we got a nice coop built. It has wheels and a movable pen, so I leave the chickens for a day in one spot, then move them. When I can supervise, the chickens get free run of the yard. I am very proud of the way our set-up has turned out. I plan to insulate the coop in the fall sometime, though I am not entirely certain how necessary that will be, given the differences of opinion out there.
Since I got the chickens and posted pictures on Facebook, I have had so many questions from interested people, asking if it's legal, what are the by-laws, etc. Our town has no by-law for or against chickens, and from what I have heard I may actually be the first person to have chickens in town -- though I find this very hard to believe. A friend said the newspaper would be on my doorstep any day!
One of my hens (I call her Buckbeak because she has a funny overgrown lower beak) has a tendency to have a hard time laying. She squawks and squawks for a long time until she finally gets that egg out. One time it was just a normal sized egg, but twice this week it's been a HUGE egg. I haven't opened them yet, but I'm sure they're going to be double yolkers. I've read that ISA Browns have a tendency towards becoming egg-bound or laying internally. This concerns me, so if there is any great information about preventing or treating this, I'd love to hear it.
Reading what I have about ISA Browns and other chicken breeds these last couple weeks, I would have chosen differently had I been given more time. It is disappointing to know that they may be "done" laying in less than 2 years.
Still trying to come up with names for the other two hens, as they are identical. I'm trying to see if I can find some personality trait that singles them out.
Thanks for reading. I'm excited about my new adventure.
Since I got the chickens and posted pictures on Facebook, I have had so many questions from interested people, asking if it's legal, what are the by-laws, etc. Our town has no by-law for or against chickens, and from what I have heard I may actually be the first person to have chickens in town -- though I find this very hard to believe. A friend said the newspaper would be on my doorstep any day!
One of my hens (I call her Buckbeak because she has a funny overgrown lower beak) has a tendency to have a hard time laying. She squawks and squawks for a long time until she finally gets that egg out. One time it was just a normal sized egg, but twice this week it's been a HUGE egg. I haven't opened them yet, but I'm sure they're going to be double yolkers. I've read that ISA Browns have a tendency towards becoming egg-bound or laying internally. This concerns me, so if there is any great information about preventing or treating this, I'd love to hear it.
Reading what I have about ISA Browns and other chicken breeds these last couple weeks, I would have chosen differently had I been given more time. It is disappointing to know that they may be "done" laying in less than 2 years.
Still trying to come up with names for the other two hens, as they are identical. I'm trying to see if I can find some personality trait that singles them out.
Thanks for reading. I'm excited about my new adventure.
from Ohio. So glad you joined. 
