Spring 2017 first timers post!

[misneachfarm]

Got my first egg today! I have 14 hens so hopefully more will be coming soon!!!

 

[bajabirdbrain]

Am sorry this thread has slowed down so much but was probably inevitable with all of our chicks growing up. Yesterday for the first time our 11 girls ALL laid eggs! What a load of eggs and very exciting not to have any more slackers. Have been giving away eggs and hoping to be stockpiling chicken sitters for upcoming short trips!

We thought we were extra smart with or fencing program around our coop and run. For a month or so this minimal fencing would keep the girls in a nice sized area with plenty of grass and a travel trailer under a carport to hide under. This area was surrounded by tall trees which blocked flying predators from having good visibility on our chickens. Unfortunately these spoiled kids soon got restless and started taking cross country walks into the surrounding blackberry bushes, trees, and brush. This was difficult for us to round them up despite offering spaghetti and meal worms as rewards for returning. Next step was to bushwhack some trails into the thickets so that we could go round them up. Plastic fencing was expanded to try and keep them contained and it is working pretty well.

Anyway, yesterday was a lovely and sunny day and the girls decided to make some holes for dust bathing despite having a kid's plastic swimming pool with half wood ash and half peat moss available in their run at all times!

Here are a couple pictures of BB and some girls on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[DrFeathers]

Hey y’all - hope all your almost one year olds are doing well and keeping those beaks warm!

I am getting my second round of chicks this spring to augment the flock. Anyone else doubling down on the new hobby?

Also, one of my two EEs hasn’t laid an egg since November and she finally laid again today! Go Ethel!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I am adding 5 to my original 7...

Gary

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Hey this thread is such a good idea. I'll be a first timer this year 2018. Mind if I make a copycat thread?
Or just continue in this one for a new year?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Hey this thread is such a good idea. I'll be a first timer this year 2018. Mind if I make a copycat thread?
Or just continue in this one for a new year?

Feel free to start a new thread, you are welcome here but likely find more newbies with a new thread!

Gary

 

[BBZZZZTT]

I'll try to make one but I might just come back here if it doesn't take off

 

[DrFeathers]

I am adding 5 to my original 7...

Gary

What breeds are you getting this time?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

What breeds are you getting this time?

I am getting another red sex link, the one I have has only skipped two days since she started laying so I will have them going forward, a Exchequer Leghorn (love my leghorns), a black Australorp , an Austra white , Which is a hybrid I think BA and Leghorn and a Meyer meal maker

The plan is to move 3 of my original 7 on to a new home, I have plenty of space but chicken math needs to include subtraction. I am already trying to talk myself into keeping all 12 though

Gary

 

[DrFeathers]

Nice! We are adding 3 to the original 6.

I am also adding a second RSL plus a blue ameraucana and a blue splash marans