Raising Chickens to Hens for the first time! (Maryland)

[bruceha2000]

And after you get them, you'll STILL have questions you didn't know you had!

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I'm sure I will... I guess I'll just have to learn as I go.

 

[bruceha2000]

Same as the rest of us. But learning here first usually takes care of any serious mistakes one might make.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd have loved this site when I started in chickens! So many mistakes...
Mary

 

[Living_Legend]

Cleaning Eggs?

 

[aart]

Cleaning Eggs?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/17257960/?q=Cleaning+Eggs&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

 

[Living_Legend]

I am going to get a ChickenGuard Automatic door where i can set the time for the door opens and closes. Dusk and Dawn averages here are 7am and 6pm.....

Are those good times to have the door open and close? Run open for only 11 hours and closed for 13 hours. This normal? What do you do?

 

[bruceha2000]

I have a PulletShut door controlled by a light sensor. Opens when daylight happens, closes when it gets dark. No need to change anything through the year as the number of hours of daylight, and WHEN there is daylight, changes. In the summer the girls can be out of the coop at 5 AM and go to roost at 8:30 PM. In the darkest part of winter it doesn't get light until about 7:30 AM and the girls are "in bed" before 3 PM.

 

[Living_Legend]

I have a PulletShut door controlled by a light sensor. Opens when daylight happens, closes when it gets dark. No need to change anything through the year as the number of hours of daylight, and WHEN there is daylight, changes. In the summer the girls can be out of the coop at 5 AM and go to roost at 8:30 PM. In the darkest part of winter it doesn't get light until about 7:30 AM and the girls are "in bed" before 3 PM.

I am worried it wouldn't work correctly. So the sensor is good? Clouds anything sets if off at the wrong time?

 

[Chickassan]

Don't you have lollygagging hens though? You know ones that hang out as long as physically possible. What do you do about that?

I have a PulletShut door controlled by a light sensor. Opens when daylight happens, closes when it gets dark. No need to change anything through the year as the number of hours of daylight, and WHEN there is daylight, changes. In the summer the girls can be out of the coop at 5 AM and go to roost at 8:30 PM. In the darkest part of winter it doesn't get light until about 7:30 AM and the girls are "in bed" before 3 PM.