Hello all. Fairly new here and just got into raising chickens.
We found a great deal on a coop and 7 Rhode Island Red hens that are 14 months old.
Move in day. The chickens were 2 hours away. After the ride in the coop we got them settled in for the night.
A couple of the hens had lost some feathers on their necks and backs. A possum or raccoon had been getting into their run at the previous owners house and killed 2 of them so we figure that was the source of the stress molting. There was no other sign of disease, worms or mites. Overall the birds were pretty healthy. The owner had been averaging 8 eggs a day with 9 birds.
I wasn't too keen on how they had the roosting pole so I changed it to 2 poles running across the coop.
Here's some random pics of us with the new chickens.
The neighbors had been given a Splash Maran rooster by a mutual friend. They set him out to free range with a hen they had that just sort of hung around. Unfortunately that hen disappeared (stray dogs most likely) so the rooster, named "Danny Brown" for the friend that gave the rooster to them took a liking to our new hens and decided to move in with them.
We honestly don't mind because he's real good with the girls and they really seem calmer with him around. He's fairly friendly as well.
Anyway, that is our head long dive into the world of poultry. Both my wife and I grew up in families with chickens so we are excited to have some for our family. My girls, 6 and 9yr old, love them to death and have several of them so tame they can pick them up and hold them. Some are named already: Mrs Little Crown, Princess, Blindy (she'll peck your finger instead of taking the food from your hand), Tall tail, and Silly.
Thanks to everyone for al of the information.
Charlie
We found a great deal on a coop and 7 Rhode Island Red hens that are 14 months old.
Move in day. The chickens were 2 hours away. After the ride in the coop we got them settled in for the night.
A couple of the hens had lost some feathers on their necks and backs. A possum or raccoon had been getting into their run at the previous owners house and killed 2 of them so we figure that was the source of the stress molting. There was no other sign of disease, worms or mites. Overall the birds were pretty healthy. The owner had been averaging 8 eggs a day with 9 birds.
I wasn't too keen on how they had the roosting pole so I changed it to 2 poles running across the coop.
Here's some random pics of us with the new chickens.
The neighbors had been given a Splash Maran rooster by a mutual friend. They set him out to free range with a hen they had that just sort of hung around. Unfortunately that hen disappeared (stray dogs most likely) so the rooster, named "Danny Brown" for the friend that gave the rooster to them took a liking to our new hens and decided to move in with them.
We honestly don't mind because he's real good with the girls and they really seem calmer with him around. He's fairly friendly as well.
Anyway, that is our head long dive into the world of poultry. Both my wife and I grew up in families with chickens so we are excited to have some for our family. My girls, 6 and 9yr old, love them to death and have several of them so tame they can pick them up and hold them. Some are named already: Mrs Little Crown, Princess, Blindy (she'll peck your finger instead of taking the food from your hand), Tall tail, and Silly.
Thanks to everyone for al of the information.
Charlie
