Illinois...

[NotAFarm]

I'm new to the site and have just purchased a chicken coop and am anxious to get started! I live near Peoria, Illinois.

In particular, I'm curious about your tote with chicken wire in these pics. What's that set up for?

and to the Illinois thread!! What kind of chickens are you planning on getting?

 

[rhondawho2]

  and to the Illinois thread!!  What kind of chickens are you planning on getting?

I'm thinking Eater Eggers are a good fit for us. Just 4 hens.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:

Seven and a half years ago I got my first chickens.......4 Easter Eggers!! The co-op near me that I got horse feed at (no horses now) was taking small orders and combining them to reach the minimum. They order(ed) from Mt Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. I told them I just wanted chickens and I would take 3 or 4 pullets of whatever made the order complete. Other people wanted colored eggs, so Easter Eggers were what was ordered.......and so the chicken madness hobby began.

Pic of them:
Maureen (left), Lana (reddish), Audrey (blk & wht) and Grace (in the back).....named after actresses Maureen O'Hara, Lana Turner, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.


First egg from the black and white wyandottish looking one, Audrey:
Her eggs were an olive green. The others all layed blue eggs.

 

[rhondawho2]

Seven and a half years ago I got my first chickens.......4 Easter Eggers!! The co-op near me that I got horse feed at (no horses now) was taking small orders and combining them to reach the minimum. They order(ed) from Mt Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. I told them I just wanted chickens and I would take 3 or 4 pullets of whatever made the order complete. Other people wanted colored eggs, so Easter Eggers were what was ordered.......and so the chicken madness hobby began. Pic of them: Maureen (left), Lana (reddish), Audrey (blk & wht) and Grace (in the back).....named after actresses Maureen O'Hara, Lana Turner, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. First egg from the black and white wyandottish looking one, Audrey: Her eggs were an olive green. The others all layed blue eggs.

They look amazing! Thanks for sharing. I can't find any older hens locally so I guess all have to wait until farm supply gets some in in March

 

[SixChickFlock]

I'm looking for advice/opinion. I have been reading many threads today.

This morning Junebug was lame. She doesn't want to use her right leg. I noticed it first when she had trouble getting up the coop ramp. Late last night, I noticed she was roosting on the coop floor... Not on the inside or high outside roost. She is one of the younger bird. Before she started laying a week or so ago, she frequently slept in the nest boxes so I didn't think a comfy spot on the floor was too unusual. Tonight she is sleeping on the floor again. I pulled extra clean straw around her. She seemed off balance, her right leg isn't working right. She chased the roo away a couple times and defended her food. Pecked back when pecked at.

- Sunday (today) the flock spent the entire day in the run today.
- Saturday was the first day they have ever been completely cooped up. I visited frequently through the day and all seemed normal.
- Friday she was active and normal in the yard... Mounted at least once by the juvenile rooster.
- Thursday I was out of town until late. She was roosting up high in the run with a friend... The roo on the other end of the roost bar.

Never any signs of illness. Always happy, active and has been laying for the last 8 days. She is a good eater and was very interested in food. Difficult time scratching today. I lowered the feeder today so she can access it more easily.

If you think of something I should look at... Please let me know. I may cross post this to an appropriate forum.

Thank you!

 

[NotAFarm]

I'm looking for advice/opinion. I have been reading many threads today.

This morning Junebug was lame. She doesn't want to use her right leg. I noticed it first when she had trouble getting up the coop ramp. Late last night, I noticed she was roosting on the coop floor... Not on the inside or high outside roost. She is one of the younger bird. Before she started laying a week or so ago, she frequently slept in the nest boxes so I didn't think a comfy spot on the floor was too unusual. Tonight she is sleeping on the floor again. I pulled extra clean straw around her. She seemed off balance, her right leg isn't working right. She chased the roo away a couple times and defended her food. Pecked back when pecked at.

- Sunday (today) the flock spent the entire day in the run today.
- Saturday was the first day they have ever been completely cooped up. I visited frequently through the day and all seemed normal.
- Friday she was active and normal in the yard... Mounted at least once by the juvenile rooster.
- Thursday I was out of town until late. She was roosting up high in the run with a friend... The roo on the other end of the roost bar.

Never any signs of illness. Always happy, active and has been laying for the last 8 days. She is a good eater and was very interested in food. Difficult time scratching today. I lowered the feeder today so she can access it more easily.

If you think of something I should look at... Please let me know. I may cross post this to an appropriate forum.

Thank you!

Six, I have had cockerels that didn't have good technique (for lack of a better description) that have injured pullets. One to the point of dislocating her thigh bone from the socket which meant I had to put her down. Others have been hurt and were separated and recovered. I now do not let cockerels that are showing too much interest in them have access to my young pullets. It is not worth the risk to me. My older flock meister will not bother the young pullets until they show signs of submission.
If they were cooped together and she didn't have an escape, she may have been injured. I would make sure she has a place that she can not be bothered and she how she does. She doesn't sound sick since she is eating and defending her space.

 

[SixChickFlock]

Six, I have had cockerels that didn't have good technique (for lack of a better description) that have injured pullets. One to the point of dislocating her thigh bone from the socket which meant I had to put her down. Others have been hurt and were separated and recovered. I now do not let cockerels that are showing too much interest in them have access to my young pullets. It is not worth the risk to me. My older flock meister will not bother the young pullets until they show signs of submission.
If they were cooped together and she didn't have an escape, she may have been injured. I would make sure she has a place that she can not be bothered and she how she does. She doesn't sound sick since she is eating and defending her space.

Thanks NotAFarm.

In the open yard the, mating ballet was just that... I imagine that in the confines of the run there was no place for her to escape to. She will squat when I call her name and when he makes advantage. He didn't seem too rough, but this was the first time I'd see chickens mate.

I'm not working tomorrow so I sort of have a chicken care plan.

-Assess her general condition in the coop after dawn while I feed and water them all. I know her usual routine. I think I can tell if there is a change.

She has been laying her egg at 8am-ish, so I'll wait until after the first egg if she has not improved.

-Complete external exam in the house first. Check her legs, and feet for bumble foot, Manipulate joints and toes... See if everything is working, or what isn't.
-Warm water bath/TLC therapy... Digital exam to see if she is egg bound.
-After she is all warm and dry, we see how shes doing, possibly give her aspirin and reassess...

-She may become a house hen for awhile to recover. I think I am prepared for that

I'll consider this over the night and alter as I see fit...

 

[Faraday40]

I'm thinking Eater Eggers are a good fit for us. Just 4 hens.

Easter Eggers are fun b/c you never know what color egg you'll get until they begin laying. My addiction hobby started when someone donated some rainbow eggs for my classroom use. Fun to see what hatched out & their sweet little personalities made me want to keep them. Perhaps if I had continued to use skittish little Leghorns for my embryology unit, I'd not have a coop in my yard. (After 3 weeks, my lab was coated in chicken dust & I was ready to give the Leghorns away.) I spread my chicken passion to my daughter who has expanded our flock through her 4H projects. I personally like keeping a mixed flock for the variety of egg colors as well as personalities. EEs are silly, Orpingtons are cuddly lap chickens, Golden Comets are egg machines, etc.

Advice: Buy 4 hens as you plan, but build a coop that can hold more.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:

X2

 

[SixChickFlock]

Easter Eggers are fun b/c you never know what color egg you'll get until they begin laying. My addiction hobby started when someone donated some rainbow eggs for my classroom use. Fun to see what hatched out & their sweet little personalities made me want to keep them. Perhaps if I had continued to use skittish little Leghorns for my embryology unit, I'd not have a coop in my yard. (After 3 weeks, my lab was coated in chicken dust & I was ready to give the Leghorns away.) I spread my chicken passion to my daughter who has expanded our flock through her 4H projects. I personally like keeping a mixed flock for the variety of egg colors as well as personalities. EEs are silly, Orpingtons are cuddly lap chickens, Golden Comets are egg machines, etc.

Advice: Buy 4 hens as you plan, but build a coop that can hold more.

Excellent advice!