Very excited to have rescued a Rooster and Hen from our neighbors a week ago(who thought it would be cool to also get a pit bull dog which attacked the rooster-he is fine now), we are sorta doing a "crash course" on making our backyard a healthy and SAFE place for the pair. Have fenced off a 25'x25' area in our back yard and got an old dog house for a coop. We have made alterations to the doghouse(4'x4'x4' with a 2' tall "vaulted" roof) by added a roosting pole and building a nesting box which we attached to the outside after cutting a hole in the front side of the house, then added lots of ventillation around the top of the house while still having the protection of the roof eves from rain. Read an article in BYC on how to keep them in it for one week to make them feel like it is their home before letting them free-range in the enclosure and have moved the hen's 8 eggs into the nesting box(which we want her to hatch if she wants to, then begin collecting eggs for our eating). Researched feeding and they are fed very well with a variety of a diet. Sooo very open to any information, suggestions, ideas in raising these Rhode Island Reds to be part of our happy pet/family as we are so attached to them and love them.
from Ohio. So glad you joined. 
