New chicken owner, advice and tips needed :)

[coongitter]

I bought some hens at a local flea market. I'm not sure of the breed though, anybody know? The feathers on their backs are worn off from the rooster. I thought it was dumb to sell chickens that look like that, but oh well. Feathers should grow back fine.



Only been able to get one egg and I have had them a few days. I read that it takes a few weeks for the hens to calm down and get comfortable enough to lay a bunch of eggs.


This is the coup I built. It is a 4x4 foot space and it has pine shavings in the bottom with two nesting boxes and a perch 13 inches high. I left a small space around the top for ventilation and so far with 90 degree days the coup hasn't felt like its holding heat. I built a ramshackle thing on the front so the hens can get a fresh breeze if they want but so far they haven't ventured outside any. They are acting scared to go out. How long does it take for the hens to relax and feel "at home"? I check on them a few times a day and they seem fine but they don't want to be touched or handled. Any suggestions? This weekend I'm going to buy a 4x50 foot piece of chicken wire and build a run for them to play in. I read that its good to keep new hens in the coup for a week so they get relaxed and they learn where "home" is. The chickens seem smart, they know when I am around and are fun to watch. They poop a lot too. All the poop has been runny, is that normal?



I'm new to the forum and this is a great site and its helped me out a lot and I hope everybody liked the pictures. Any comments or suggestions I would appreciate it.

Here are my giant pumpkins I have been growing

 

[bbhorsefly]

How old are they? Buying full grown can be a gamble since people unload their old/unproductive hens on unsuspecting folks. They could be past their prime or not laying at all. Do you know how to check by looking at their vent and feeling their pelvic bones?

 

[coongitter]

No I never heard of that. I told the guy that I wanted hens for eggs so he knew what I wanted. I hate to think that guy lied to my face.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are probably older hens that weren't laying well, that's why they've at a flea market usually, they will probably lay but not everyday, but some of my older chickens will lay for 2 months then stop, putting some golf balls or fake eggs in the nest box can help hens to relax, they see them and think one of the other ones did it so it must be safe. Unfortunately there are people who will sell older hens because they don't know what else to do with them. Make them a nice run, I would keep them penned for about a month or until everyone looks comfortable. Runny poo is not normal, but they're under some stress, and I'm sure their diet changed, it should firm up, nice pumpkin