- Sep 5, 2011
- 28
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I joined a few weeks ago but have not had time to say Hello!
My husband and I built a 4x4 coop with 4 nesting boxes and a 14 ft. run and went out to buy chickens. We got 4 6mo. old Buff Orpington hens. We did'nt buy chicks cause we did'nt want roosters. I have a fenced in back yard and let them out to free range 2hrs. before sundown. They have learned to go in the run by themselves. I have 3 dogs that I keep in the house untill they return to their coop and I close the gate.As a treat I give them soaked bread with water and a splash of milk. Cooked oatmeal,fruit and veggie's. They get laying pellets and oyster shell as their feed with ground corn for scratch. They are almost 8mo.s now BUT they have not started to lay yet. None of them. Are Buff's late layers or should I be worried? They are already bigger then the neighbors rhode Island red's and they are almost 2 yrs old.We will add on to their coop in the spring but for now I think a smaller coop will help them stay warm. It is ventilated and sealed up but not insulated. I have read that Buff Orpington's are hardy chickens and I live in the southern part of zone 6 so we did'nt build an area for a heat lamp. They are the sweetest chickens I have ever been around and I love them. But what temp. is to cold for them?
I am also mother of 3dogs,5hermit crabs,and a Maine Coon.
My husband and I built a 4x4 coop with 4 nesting boxes and a 14 ft. run and went out to buy chickens. We got 4 6mo. old Buff Orpington hens. We did'nt buy chicks cause we did'nt want roosters. I have a fenced in back yard and let them out to free range 2hrs. before sundown. They have learned to go in the run by themselves. I have 3 dogs that I keep in the house untill they return to their coop and I close the gate.As a treat I give them soaked bread with water and a splash of milk. Cooked oatmeal,fruit and veggie's. They get laying pellets and oyster shell as their feed with ground corn for scratch. They are almost 8mo.s now BUT they have not started to lay yet. None of them. Are Buff's late layers or should I be worried? They are already bigger then the neighbors rhode Island red's and they are almost 2 yrs old.We will add on to their coop in the spring but for now I think a smaller coop will help them stay warm. It is ventilated and sealed up but not insulated. I have read that Buff Orpington's are hardy chickens and I live in the southern part of zone 6 so we did'nt build an area for a heat lamp. They are the sweetest chickens I have ever been around and I love them. But what temp. is to cold for them?
I am also mother of 3dogs,5hermit crabs,and a Maine Coon.
