Hey from Ohio.

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emeraldfire999

emeraldfire999

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5 Years
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Sep 3, 2014
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I moved to a large area in Ohio and decided to raise chicken. There was an existing coop in the pole barn so I cleaned it up on bought 4 red 6 month old hens about march. Then I got 4 baby chicks. And not knowing any better I just stuck them all in together. After I realized that was not what I should have done, I stuck the 3 left babies in a kennel in the run with the 4 laying hens till they had grown a bit. After I let them loose something ate one of the babies. So now I have 5 hens (4 red ones and one game) and one game rooster. And have decided the coop in the pole barn isn't working. So am building a new coop. It will be 6 ft by 7 ft and probably 5 ft high. I have an enclosed run with solid sides and a much larger area with just chicken wire around it to keep the dogs from chasing the chickens. I am loving all the fresh eggs. I want to eventually have about 10 hens. But not sure if that will work. I am still trying to figure out how big a nesting box needs to be. But I am having fun.

This City girl is loving her country home.
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I'm sorry about the loss of your chick, but I'm glad your having fun. I know I have lots of fun with my chickens. I would suggest looking at "Getting Started Raising Chickens" in our Learning Center at https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens. You should find the answers to most of the questions you have there at your fingertips. Please feel free to ask any specific questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
 
Right now it is just the floor and a plan. But I have to get it finished before the weather turn cold.these are my babies. The rooster has started covering the hens. I am no sure about the other one that is not red. She barks like a dog and does not crow, but I also have not gotten eggs from her either. I have been told to get rid of the rooster, but I like him.

400
 
emeraldfire999 said:
I have been told to get rid of the rooster, but I like him.
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You need to be careful about your rooster to hen ratio. The rule of thumb is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. Too many roosters can be very hard on your hens physically; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and even potentially seriously injuring them. I currently have 25 hens and no roosters and I get loads of eggs without the aggression, fights, crowing in the middle of the night, unproductive mouths to feed, and over-breeding and battering of the hens that goes with having roosters (especially too many). My hens are stress free and seem to be really enjoying life without a rooster around.
 

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