Hello wonderful world of backyard chickens! I am a proud mother of seven-7 week old chickens and one rooster. We just completed our coop with all thanks going to the coop section of this website. In time, I hope to download the pics of how we built our coop. Sort of new to computer tech stuff too 
I live on the North Fork of Long Island and I have two Buff Orphingtons, two Australorps, two Delawares, one Easter-Egger, and one Easter-Egger rooster. I am actually desperately searching for a home for my rooster that will not turn him into dinner but around here is it impossible. All admit he will end up on the dinner plate. I have yet to step into that area of using the meat even though I chose dual purpose birds. Maybe one day. If anyone out there has any suggestions of places for my rooster, please let me know.
On another note, I have a question for you all. We decided to put sand down in our coop, however, i give them fresh corn on the cob, cucumbers, etc. and when it hits the sand, it gets covered in it. Is this bad for the chickens to eat so much sand? Does anyone recommend a type of tray or dish to put down that the chickens will not flip over? I cannot figure out what to put vegetables in or if it's dangerous for them to eat so much sand. The sand is what we call here masonry sand (sand with some small pebbles in it), not the playground sand you buy in bags. We got it from a local gravel company by the cubic yard.
On that note, thank you all and I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to enjoy this wonderful website!
I live on the North Fork of Long Island and I have two Buff Orphingtons, two Australorps, two Delawares, one Easter-Egger, and one Easter-Egger rooster. I am actually desperately searching for a home for my rooster that will not turn him into dinner but around here is it impossible. All admit he will end up on the dinner plate. I have yet to step into that area of using the meat even though I chose dual purpose birds. Maybe one day. If anyone out there has any suggestions of places for my rooster, please let me know. On another note, I have a question for you all. We decided to put sand down in our coop, however, i give them fresh corn on the cob, cucumbers, etc. and when it hits the sand, it gets covered in it. Is this bad for the chickens to eat so much sand? Does anyone recommend a type of tray or dish to put down that the chickens will not flip over? I cannot figure out what to put vegetables in or if it's dangerous for them to eat so much sand. The sand is what we call here masonry sand (sand with some small pebbles in it), not the playground sand you buy in bags. We got it from a local gravel company by the cubic yard.
On that note, thank you all and I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to enjoy this wonderful website!
& 
from Alabama. Glad you joined us.
