craveman85
In the Brooder
- Aug 14, 2016
- 16
- 0
- 12
Hi everyone. I just recently moved into a house a friend formerly lived in and inherited his chickens. He had 3 and couldn't take them with them when they moved do to work. The first is a buff Orpington I believe. She's very old and has only given me one egg in 3 weeks.
The next I believe is a spangled Hamburg hen. She looks like a rooster with those spurs but she gives me 4 or 5 small white eggs a week.
The third one he left I believe is an Easter egger. He didn't know what it was. She gives me about 5 greenish brown medium eggs a week.
Then I got these 2 girls 2 weeks ago they're now 14 weeks old, red sex links.
The coop is 10x12' I've got 8 nesting boxes, two branches for them to roost on but the buff roosts on the ground. The outside run is about 9x12.
I guess the coop has been up since the 30s. They used to let the chickens roam the whole back yard long ago but it's in the village and I'm required to keep them contained. They'll let me have up to 8 hens but no roosters. When it cools down I'll be upgrading the run. I'll be tearing down the whole thing and making it about 12x12 with the top going even with the roof. It will have a door so I can get in to clean it up. I'll also be burying 12" of chicken wire to help keep the coons and skunks out. I've already trapped 2 coons and a skunk. Also planning on getting 3 more girls eventually.
The next I believe is a spangled Hamburg hen. She looks like a rooster with those spurs but she gives me 4 or 5 small white eggs a week.
The third one he left I believe is an Easter egger. He didn't know what it was. She gives me about 5 greenish brown medium eggs a week.
Then I got these 2 girls 2 weeks ago they're now 14 weeks old, red sex links.
The coop is 10x12' I've got 8 nesting boxes, two branches for them to roost on but the buff roosts on the ground. The outside run is about 9x12.
I guess the coop has been up since the 30s. They used to let the chickens roam the whole back yard long ago but it's in the village and I'm required to keep them contained. They'll let me have up to 8 hens but no roosters. When it cools down I'll be upgrading the run. I'll be tearing down the whole thing and making it about 12x12 with the top going even with the roof. It will have a door so I can get in to clean it up. I'll also be burying 12" of chicken wire to help keep the coons and skunks out. I've already trapped 2 coons and a skunk. Also planning on getting 3 more girls eventually.
. Pleased you joined us. I agree with your breed identification except rather than a spangled Hamburg I think you have a golden penciled Hamburg. They all look very nice. One bit of advice...when you do the run upgrade you might consider doing away with the chicken wire. It's pretty good at keeping chickens in but not so good keeping determined predators out. You stated you've already trapped a raccoon....they have been known to be magicians about circumventing chicken wire enclosures. Some gruesome stories can be located on BYC about them eating chickens alive after they reach through the wire and subdue a bird. Tough way to die. Invest in hardware cloth which is pretty raccoon proof. Might also bury it 4" or so along the ground to keep subterranean chicken thieves at bay. Best of luck to you! 
