67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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We just moved here in October, and shortly after that I decided I want chickens. There's an 8'x8' shed next to the driveway, and I ended up converting it into a chicken coop. I've had two roosters for about a month now, and this morning I finally bought some hens. When I went to check on them this afternoon, and show Brad what I had, I found that there were already two eggs in there.
Here's the two roosters I started with;
This morning I bought three laying hens, and a banty pair. I got in the coop and let them loose, and watched to see how they'd get along. The two roosters started getting pushy, but the hens are bigger and the barred hen backed them down very quickly.
The little banty rooster acts tough, and chases the others for a short distance, but then he's put in his place.
This hen is the loudest so far, clucking non-stop for a couple minutes at a time;
All three of the laying hens like this particular nest box, and when one is in it the others will stand on the perch and stare at her. I found one of the eggs in this box, but have no way of knowing which hen laid it. (I found the egg several hours after this pic was taken).
There's another nest box down low, that I thought the banty hen would use, but I think this egg is too big to be from her;
Two eggs, already in the frig, just about five hours from when the hens were first put in the coop.
I watch them, so does this count as bird watching?  
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wuchang
spiritual advisor and gatekeeper to the Spirit World
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 4936
Loc: uphill
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Yeah-- probably
As soon as the possums,coons,skunks and stray dogs find that there are chickens around...............
You will probably be watching them all the time
Enjoy the eggs
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Those original two roosters are pretty quiet, and rarely even do any crowing. Now that there are seven chickens, and that banty rooster likes to crow a lot, I figure it won't be long before predators show up.
I assume I'll lose one occasionally, and I'm hoping they don't get wiped out. I'm keeping them penned up for a few days, but then they'll be free ranging during the day. When they go in the coop at night, I close the chicken door so nothing can just walk in and kill them.
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duko™
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3440
Loc: east mo
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looks like a good place for a game trail camera... I bet you'd get some quality shots!!! 
duko
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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I could rich on them pics! 
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Well, something got to the roosters, and all three of them are dead. That left me with the four hens, and today I got four more hens for $6 each.
I was getting two eggs per day, then the little hen started laying and I've gotten a few from her, so I'm anxious to see how many I get now.
Here's the eight hens I have now;
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Three of them didn't come home today. I guess I can't free range them anymore. 
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Burrhead
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3075
Loc: Just north of Bugtussle
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We have four hens and one rooster right now. All brown leghorns. They're let out around noon and put back up well before dark.
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Somebody has to walk the point.
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Maybe I should try that; shorter times in the afternoon. I hate keeping them locked up, for their sake and mine. I like sitting out in the yard with them.
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SwampFox
member
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 7948
Loc: Mid Mo
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It's obvious you don't have a picnic table.
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"Being deeply learned and skilled, being well trained and using well spoken words; this is good luck."
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Quote:
SwampFox said:
It's obvious you don't have a picnic table.
I do, but... 
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SwampFox
member
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 7948
Loc: Mid Mo
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Quote:
GoGop said:
Quote:
SwampFox said:
It's obvious you don't have a picnic table.
I do, but...
It will soon be covered with chicken do-do.
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"Being deeply learned and skilled, being well trained and using well spoken words; this is good luck."
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6075
Loc: Missouri
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Chicken article in St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Oh, I didn't think of that. So far, none have gotten up there.
Good article, Andy. 
Here's one a bit older. 
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Quote:
Burrhead said:
We have four hens and one rooster right now. All brown leghorns. They're let out around noon and put back up well before dark.
Kevin,
I let them out at 3pm today, and lured them back into the run at about 6. I sat in there with them for a while, then herded them into the coop.
I think I'll keep doing it your way at least for a while, and hope it gives them a better sense of staying close and coming back.
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Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3824
Loc: Lemmingstan
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Whistle train them.
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God Bless our Troops!
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Scout 1
New order Amish - not be confused with Meninite!
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6778
Loc: Where there are no ducks
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And you guys made fun of ME when I did this. Geez.
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wuchang
spiritual advisor and gatekeeper to the Spirit World
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 4936
Loc: uphill
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Quote:
Scout 1 said:
And you guys made fun of ME when I did this. Geez.
That's because you know better Mr Egg Tycoon 
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Hellbender
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3416
Loc: Taney County
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Everything will get chickens at night if they aren't locked down. Owl will leave them partially eaten, but foxes and yotes will carry them off. I've also heard that coons will take them, but we never lost any that I thought were coons.
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A government survey has shown that 91% of illegal immigrants come to this country so that they can see their own doctor.
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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They always go into the coop before sunset (usually on their own), and I close the chicken door. I'd like to make the run predator proof, but right now it's not.
I'm still watching for the fox I saw a couple times... 
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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I haven't made hard boiled eggs in 20-30 years, but decided to do so tonight, and was surprised that they came out just right. I also fried some, while waiting for the HB eggs to get done, and saved the shells to run through the food processor and feed back to the chickens.
Tonight's dinner; eggs and Coke. 
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wuchang
spiritual advisor and gatekeeper to the Spirit World
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 4936
Loc: uphill
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and no need to wash the dinner dishes either
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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I haven't even hooked up the dishwasher yet. Brad and I don't dirty many dishes. lol
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 8981
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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A guy from another board gave me a rooster today.
My biggest hen lightly pecks at him, and when she does he seems to relax and enjoy it.
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Scout 1
New order Amish - not be confused with Meninite!
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6778
Loc: Where there are no ducks
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LMFAO Don't feed those eggshells to the hens unless you want them to start eating their own eggs. Just sayin.
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