- Nov 11, 2012
- 9
- 0
- 9
Hi, I am new here, although I have perused the site for answers to questions.
In August we purchased 10 hens (can't have roosters as we live within city limits). Three were 2 months old, three were 4 months old, and two were 6 months old. We kept the smallest in a different coop for a long time, and gradually introduced them to the others. coops were side by side.
Here is my problem, they kept dying, we have two form the original 8 left, I found out we weren't supposed to have cedar shavings in the coop on Halloween, so we completely cleaned the coop out, fresh food, he whole thing and put in pine shavings. We have seven hens now, supposedly 4 of them were already laying when we got them, but NONE of them are laying for me. I am guessing they are stressed,but when will they de stress? We feed them laying crumble, with egg producing stuff mixed in (can't remember the name, bought at tractor supply), fresh water in a 5 gallon bucket with the watering things screwed in the bottom, scratch in the morning, mealworms as a treat, and I generally fix them something once a week (noodles, cornbread, greens, etc), they are really spoiled
.
My breeds are 2 buff orpingtons, 1 buff/brahma mix, 1 brahma, 1 amaracauna, 2 cochins, and one dominicker. The brahma/buff mix and dom are from the original. They all get along great. The smallest cochin seems to lead the pecking order. We have them in a 10x6 homemade coop, 6 laying boxes, shade and sun parts, roosting limbs and plastic around it for the cold right now, there is no plastic on the front, just the back and sides. heat lamp for the cold nights.
Sorry for the book, just trying to give as much info as possible. LOL
In August we purchased 10 hens (can't have roosters as we live within city limits). Three were 2 months old, three were 4 months old, and two were 6 months old. We kept the smallest in a different coop for a long time, and gradually introduced them to the others. coops were side by side.
Here is my problem, they kept dying, we have two form the original 8 left, I found out we weren't supposed to have cedar shavings in the coop on Halloween, so we completely cleaned the coop out, fresh food, he whole thing and put in pine shavings. We have seven hens now, supposedly 4 of them were already laying when we got them, but NONE of them are laying for me. I am guessing they are stressed,but when will they de stress? We feed them laying crumble, with egg producing stuff mixed in (can't remember the name, bought at tractor supply), fresh water in a 5 gallon bucket with the watering things screwed in the bottom, scratch in the morning, mealworms as a treat, and I generally fix them something once a week (noodles, cornbread, greens, etc), they are really spoiled
My breeds are 2 buff orpingtons, 1 buff/brahma mix, 1 brahma, 1 amaracauna, 2 cochins, and one dominicker. The brahma/buff mix and dom are from the original. They all get along great. The smallest cochin seems to lead the pecking order. We have them in a 10x6 homemade coop, 6 laying boxes, shade and sun parts, roosting limbs and plastic around it for the cold right now, there is no plastic on the front, just the back and sides. heat lamp for the cold nights.
Sorry for the book, just trying to give as much info as possible. LOL
