- Apr 3, 2011
- 9
- 0
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Hi All,
I've been lurking here for weeks after we started talking about getting some chickens. My brother keeps chickens and used this site extensively to design and build his coop.
Friday it all came together when we finally looked at a chicken tractor and some silver penciled barred rock bantams. The tractor is a homemade job and since it's been delivered and we have the chickens in it (4 hens and 1 very loud rooster) I've learned that it's not ideal.
Thanks to this site when I peeked in last night and discovered all five sleeping in the nesting boxes I learned that the roosting poles are supposed to be higher than the boxes. Kind of explains why the nesting boxes looked like a litter box when it was delivered. I'll probably try to mod the tractor soon, though from what I've read it may not make a difference.
The good news is that the tractor and chickens were delivered around noon yesterday and by 2pm we had two new eggs. I don't anticipate any eggs for at least a week post the move though. They were pretty much piled on top of each other in the box he brought them in and our dog scares them terribly. I figure it will take a while for everyone to get used to each other and when they settle in to the routine they'll start laying again.
I can hear the rooster out there crowing away right now. He's been at it for about an hour and a half stopping only when I went out to check food and water. The guy we bought from warned that he was mean so I'm being very wary of him. He's little and obviously has a lot of testosterone, but walked right up to me when I opened the door this morning. He just stared at me and I stared back. I was encouraged that he didn't try to peck or be overly aggressive. We've already discussed selling him as we really only wanted eggs out of this chicken adventure.
I don't know much about breeds of chickens yet. Can anyone tell me more about the silver penciled barred rocks? I know they are a variant of Barred Plymouth Rocks. Is there anything special I should know about bantams? The guy we bought from inferred that the larger breeds were a bit calmer. Is this true?
Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, so Hi!
Glad to be here and really happy to have fresh eggs again.
Can't wait for everyone to settle in and get happy laying eggs!
Have a great day!
I've been lurking here for weeks after we started talking about getting some chickens. My brother keeps chickens and used this site extensively to design and build his coop.
Friday it all came together when we finally looked at a chicken tractor and some silver penciled barred rock bantams. The tractor is a homemade job and since it's been delivered and we have the chickens in it (4 hens and 1 very loud rooster) I've learned that it's not ideal.
Thanks to this site when I peeked in last night and discovered all five sleeping in the nesting boxes I learned that the roosting poles are supposed to be higher than the boxes. Kind of explains why the nesting boxes looked like a litter box when it was delivered. I'll probably try to mod the tractor soon, though from what I've read it may not make a difference.
The good news is that the tractor and chickens were delivered around noon yesterday and by 2pm we had two new eggs. I don't anticipate any eggs for at least a week post the move though. They were pretty much piled on top of each other in the box he brought them in and our dog scares them terribly. I figure it will take a while for everyone to get used to each other and when they settle in to the routine they'll start laying again.
I can hear the rooster out there crowing away right now. He's been at it for about an hour and a half stopping only when I went out to check food and water. The guy we bought from warned that he was mean so I'm being very wary of him. He's little and obviously has a lot of testosterone, but walked right up to me when I opened the door this morning. He just stared at me and I stared back. I was encouraged that he didn't try to peck or be overly aggressive. We've already discussed selling him as we really only wanted eggs out of this chicken adventure.
I don't know much about breeds of chickens yet. Can anyone tell me more about the silver penciled barred rocks? I know they are a variant of Barred Plymouth Rocks. Is there anything special I should know about bantams? The guy we bought from inferred that the larger breeds were a bit calmer. Is this true?
Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, so Hi!
Can't wait for everyone to settle in and get happy laying eggs!
Have a great day!
