Laying Frequency in the Beginning.

[Aquarices]

I'm only into my chickens about 250 bucks. The big ticket item was my 10'x10' dog run. My coop was free and my Bantam Cochins came with it (from a co-worker chicken keeper that's moving overseas). I will eventually build a bigger coop as this one will only hold the two Bannies comfortably even though it's "rated" for four. So far I have one that laid two eggs in as many days! I've only had them two weeks.

 

[spurrer]

I am trying to make a chicken waterer. I ordered the nipples with the little cups which I think will work if I can just find a way to keep them from leaking. I bought silicone that is used to put aquariums together but it is black and ugly and hard to apply and the waterer leaked anyway. Next I am going to try plumbers tape. I have a waterer that sits on the ground and the water gets so nasty I have to change it everyday. Did you build your own coop? I bought one because my husband has Parkinson's and even though he has been in construction from 16years old to 75 years he can no longer build anything. Right now I am planning to build a chicken run because my two chickens are on top of each in the little coop that has a small ground space underneath it. I can't let my chickens run loose because of hawks and coyotes. Do you plan on getting more chickens?

 

[spurrer]

I only have a small coop that I bought and I need to build a chicken run. Being a 77year old woman who is a complete klutz when it comes to doing anything I don't know how it will come out. I am the kind who when painting I step in the roller pan, I loose scissors when sewing. I put things away and never find them again. Do you let your chickens free range? I can't because of hawks and coyotes. But I learned with my last two that keeping them cooped up all the time causes very pale yellow yolks that didn't look very appealing . But when I let them out the hawks got them and left me with a lovely pile of black and white specked feathers. My husband had them tamed and they followed him. That was good because he has Parkinson's disease and it took his mind off his condition for awhile. He used to tell them if they didn't lay they were looking at Chick Filet. My chickens are Dominiques. That's what we had when I was little but my daddy called them domineckers. One of the sweetest sights to me is when the hen calls them to her and they gather beneath her and you can't even see them. There is a reference in the bible to this . The thing that I don't understand is that my hens don't cackle when they lay an egg. My mama used to send me looking for a nest when she heard hers cackle. When I find an egg it seems like a precious little gift in thanks for feeding watering and protecting my two little black and white hens. Good luck with yours and when your son gets home from school cook him a delicious egg freshly laid.