RuBee's Little Red Coop

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RuBee

RuBee

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Joined
Nov 29, 2018
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Location
Central Virginia
I'm back in the chicken world! We had chickens 20 years ago, but gave them to a friend in the country when we moved. Several years ago I mentioned that I might want to get chickens again. My husband gave me a chicken coop for Christmas that year. Well, he didn't get it put together until this past summer. So in August I acquired three sex link hens from a local farmer. I have already had to deal with sick hens, one didn't make it, so I'm down to two hens. We've had opossums in the chicken run. I set a trap, but caught a raccoon instead. I used to let them free range if was home, but I recently spotted a chicken hawk hanging around. My biggest dilemma so far has been dealing with an egg bound chicken. The egg broke inside of her. That was over a week ago. She's not 100% yet, but I'm hopeful that she'll get there. I'm happy to have chickens again and am thankful for the BYC community.
 
Welcome to Backyard Chickens!:welcome We are glad you joined the flock! BYC is a helpful site providing all of the information you need to know about poultry! There is always space for more members on the BYC roost!:highfive: A secure coop at night with no holes bigger than 2 in. is the only way to prevent these nocturnal pest. Hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!
 
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Glad you decided to join us!

I'm so sorry you're having such a rough start and lost one of your chickens already. How old were the hens that you were given? Sex links are high egg producers, but unfortunately can be prone to a lot of reproductive issues.

Here's a few articles that may help give you some ideas on how to get your coop in good working order:
How Much Room Do Chickens Need

Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!

Predator Proofing

One thing to remember is that keeping your coop dry and draft-free with good ventilation is more important than holding in heat. This article offers a detailed breakdown of how chickens naturally survive the cold, and whether or not adding warmth is necessary:
Cold Weather Advisory

Best wishes in your new chicken adventure!!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC and back into the world of chicken-keeping.

This is a useful link of BYC guides to take a look at announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3 I’d suggest including your location using the guide in that link. You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie
 
Sounds like you jumped back into the drama and trauma of chicken raising with both feet!! And yet, it's so rewarding -- from fresh eggs to hatching chicks to the daily entertainment of chicken watching.

Trapping intruders can be a challenging experience. I was trying to snag a murderous mink -- what I got was a very surly possum. Removing it from the live trap safely (for both of us) was much harder than luring it in. Still, it was a better experience than kill-trapping the rat who settled in next door to one of the coops.

A Great Horned Owl that was trying to attack my ducks apparently knocked itself silly in the process by hitting an overhead electrical wire, and I got to meet a nice DNR officer who relocated the juvenile bird. Having poultry opens a person up to all kinds of life experiences. BTW, owls can have a really EVIL stare!

Enjoy your girls (and potential new additions, since everyone here understands chicken math), and welcome to BYC, RuBee.
 

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