nathanbrady3889
In the Brooder
- Mar 14, 2018
- 3
- 6
- 14
First post, just joined up. Been thinking about raising chickens for a couple years, doing research, and planning it out. Decided to just do it, so I used a chain link fence dog-run area in our backyard (that we hadn't used for the dog in five years) as a chicken run area. It is 16 by 8 feet. I built a custom chicken coop outside the fenced in area. The coop is 4 by 8 feet and 9 feet high and sits on the ground. 4 nesting boxes, lots of roosting space, three windows for ventilation. Next step was the chicks. I acquired 8 pullets in August (one brown leghorn, two white leghorns, one barred plymouth rock, one rhode island red, one buff orpington, one white naked neck, and one americauna). One of the white leghorns wasn't eating/gaining weight and died, despite all my efforts to help her out. So I went and bought four more and was careful to assimilate them into the original 7. After some hen picking and sorting, they now get along great. I added one more barred plymouth rock, a brown naked neck, a black jersey giant, and a brown leghorn. That's now 11 live and thriving ladies. We are averaging about 9 eggs a day and the boys love selling our extra eggs to neighbors and family. I gotta say, I'm loving these chickens. So much personality and spunk. Our dog has gotten used to them and loves to sit in the sun and just watch them as they forage around the yard. He'll chase off any doves or sparrows or other "flying" birds from our yard, but he knows not to bother the chickens. If he gets too close (trying to sniff them out of curiosity) he has learned that our rhode island red will peck him on the nose . . . . ha ha ha
We are glad you joined our flock.
to have you join the family. Enjoy your time here at BYC! 
