Impacted crop from long grass? I'm a worried 'hen mother''...

[Des R]

@ChickenLegs13 I feel better now that I at least only gave them access to 'rooted grass', never clippings. That's a good difference to know... but I'll still make sure the run area is mowed when they go out to play.

@chickcrack I haven't mentioned yet I love the sign on name, lol. I'm aware I'm an animal lover but I don't think I realized chickens have personalities and didn't realize they'd get me the way they have. They are clearly going to be pets and live out a happy retirement in my yard. We have 3 Ameraucanas/Easter Eggers, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Golden Laced Wyndottes, and 2 Black Stars. The Ameraucanas and Buffs are absolutely the sweetest... you'll usually find them contently sleeping on someone's lap while they watch TV or sitting on shoulder while I'm working on something lol. The Barred Rocks have a ton of personality and I feel like one is trying to fit me under her in the pecking order. I read somewhere to peck her back (just jab her softly with my finger) and it's really worked. Now she's inquisitive of me without trying to peck the crap out of me every time, she stretches her neck up and gets her face inches from mine and just stares... she clearly thinks she's the Roo of the flock, so that became her name. The Sex Stars are just now starting to want to interact with us and the Wynadottes want nothing to do with us... not yet at least. I'd love to add a blue copper maran and an olive egger and then I'd every color in my egg basket! No... no crazy chicken lady starting here

Wouldn't these eggs look beautiful on the counter???

 

[chickcrack]

I hope you built a big coop sounds like you are going to need extra space! I have barred rocks(1-3 years old), old English game bantams 1-3 years old) and large fowl Cochins (7 weeks old). 16 altogether. The barred rocks are definitely packed with personality and attitude. They follow me everywhere and still want picked up for hugs and jump on my shoulders any chance they get.
Yes you are going to have a colourful egg basket in a few months! Almost too pretty to eat lol.

 

[Des R]

I've been reading about the coop size also and hoping we have it right.... we have a childs wood playhouse that was converted to a coop that is 6' high x 6' long x 5' wide. Then we removed the side and added on a huge dog house that is 4' high x 5' long x 4' wide. If I calculate this correctly I have 50' of floor space. We are putting in 8 nesting boxes and a total of 11 feet of roosting poles. All of this is inside a 25'x25' run. Then once we finish fencing the yard, they'll have an acre to roam on when we are home. What are your thoughts on this?

I'm excited by the idea of the girls still liking hugs and shoulder rides when they are grown

yay! I keep reading about Bantams... they are smaller and lay smaller eggs...right? Do you use their eggs like any other egg?

 

[chickcrack]

Your coop size sounds great! Mine is 8x10 with a divider so their sleeping side is 8x6 (only because I live in Canada so do use a heat lamp on chilly evenings and find they get more out of it in the smaller area. Remember with a 6' tall coop you can add ledges or poop boards at different heights and that increases your square footage for them. More room for them to spread out. I have made many additions/subtraction to the coop just by observing them in it and seeing what might work. I too have an acre yard for the ladies to roam. I have had 2 coyote attacks in 3 years in broad daylight. My instinct afterwards is to never let them out again but both attacks were while my dogs were inside. So now if I go in the dogs stay out. I also have a talk radio show playing anytime they are out of their coop. Luckily my neighbours aren't close.
The old English are very tiny (about a pound). Their eggs are surprisingly big for the hen size. I eat them just like any other. "Little" is the one tiny hen and she tries to get under my wing non-stop. She pulls on any zipper she sees to crawl inside a coat or hoody and falls asleep tucked in. I will never tire of seeing her run to me across the yard and peck my ankles to sit with her for a bit lol.

 

[Des R]

Ledges are a great idea if I find they seem crowded. I can't believe they were in broad daylight, ugh! I don't think we have coyotes here, but we've already caught a fox checking out the empty coop (since it's used I'm guessing he smelled it).. that's what lead to the researching and realizing we weren't even close to having a good run or coop. The only concern I have for safety is the run will only have poultry netting across the top (we have hawks here). If a critter decides to climb the 6 foot fence covered in 1/2" hardware cloth, they'll certainly get thru the netting. That's where we're counting on the dogs to keep the yard clear. We have 3 dogs that have a dog door so they can go in and out as they please, but until we get the entire acre fenced, they don't get near where the coop is. I have to say.. Little sounds like the cutest thing ever!!!! I never knew chickens were like this and wanted them anyway, such a wonderful surprise! Thank you again for the great advice and sharing stories, I've really enjoyed it. I don't know anyone personally who keep chickens and I've noticed when I come in with my daily chicken story people's eyes glaze over and they politely nod... they don't get it lol.