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Our New Fowl

An established flock of a dozen chickens came to us about 6 days ago.  Their prior owner was preparing to move out of state and could not take them with her so she offered them up to me. The prior owner reports that they are 2 Black Jersey hens (?), 2 Americauna/Auracauna (sp? also called Easter Egger) hens, 1 Bantam/Banty rooster, 1 Bantam/Banty hen, 2 Barred Rock hens, 2 Rhode Island Red (RIR) hens, 1 hen with "a problem gizzard" (I suspect she is also a Black Jersey (?), and 1 hairy/feather-footed hen. There is some debate as to whether or not one of the RIRs is instead an Americauna/Auracana, whether or not one the other RIR is instead a red sexed link, whether or not the 3 Jersey Giants are instead Australorps, and whether or not the bantams are Old English or something else!

The prior owner reports that these chickens have all been handled extensively by her young daughter (who is probably about 6 years old). They are docile and fairly easy to catch, even for these newbies! Two of them are very friendly and seem to seek out human contact, a small Bantam/Banty hen named Sugarcakes, and a Rhode Island Red named Wanderlust.

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After 3 days of temporary confinement in a 12'd x 13'+w x 9'+h stall and relocation to a newly-constructed 8'd x 10'w x 9'+h coop 2 days ago. The coop is south-facing and has 3 windows and a door with a window. The little window that is near the floor will actually be the chickens' in/out access door. The other windows open for ventilation but we may add a fan. We are using the window screens temporarily but we will eventually build little barriers so we can open the windows more without encouraging the chickens to try to use the windows as exits and predators don't see them as welcome mats!

We insulated the coop walls but did not insulate the floor. Instead, we bedded the floor in at least 8" deep wood shavings. We will insulate the ceiling and we still have some interior window trim to do and exterior siding and roof work to do. We do plan to install a fluorescent hanging light on a timer but we are still researching the best ways to heat the coop, if at all, for the winter.

We installed 3 levels for roosting and may add a fourth lower to the floor that is easier for the larger birds to fly up to. Temporarily I added a 2" x 6" plank ramp but it doesn't do much since I still need to add little steps to it for traction if we don't add a lower roost.

We are still working with the set-up and need to change the food & water access. We will also relocate the laying boxes to about 3' off the floor based on advice from friends and those more knowledgeable. Thanks for the tips, advice, help, and encouragement!

Some interior photos of the coop are shown below.

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The shed is up on skids and so we will block off the sides around the skids so the birds can't get trapped underneath or try to nest out of reach under there. We will construct a small yard around the coop for times when we must confine the birds but we do plan to let them free range under supervision.

We have had 8 days of egg collections resulting in a total of 22 eggs. The eggs have been pale brown/off-white, brown with darker brown speckles, brown with white speckles, pale green, and today one white egg. The brown eggs with darker brown spots have appeared daily but the other two have been sporadic.

UPDATE! We rebuilt and relocated the laying boxes and moved the food & water but we are still working out a plan for the food & water since the bedding will be deeper and deeper as winter approaches. We also still need to trim & insulate around the windows inside and put the siding on, button up the roof, and add the lattice outside.

 

We just added a 30' x 40' chicken yard fenced with 8' chainlink set 12" in the ground to discourage predators from digging and 12" above the top of the fence posts to discourage the flock from flying up and perching on the top of the fence. We still need to build the aviary gates an net the top so for now the chickens are only let out of the coop into the yard while under supervision.

 

I took new photos of everyone during their first day out in the yard (yesterday, August 18, 2007). Today I shot new photos of the coop's interior and yard. We still have lots of little things to do here and there but they are so much happier with some room to move!

The chickens are all doing really well. Yesterday we had a record of 5 eggs in one day and we still did not get a white one as we have in the past. That indicates that at least 6 hens are laying! Then today I went to the coop and found 1 egg already in the coop. Chatty Kathy sat on it and added another within a few minutes - a very light tan or off-white egg that I've found on the floor three times in the past. Right after that Jersey Girl laid a smooth beige egg with no spots or bumps. A bit later Wanderlust laid a light brown egg with white speckles. Later in the day Molly Brown laid a green egg and Henny Penny laid a brown egg with dark speckles & small bumps. While getting ready to lay, Henny Penny accidentally broke one of the brown eggs. That's a record 6 eggs in one day and we still didn't get a white one so that means 7 hens are laying!

A clutch of 5 eggs lies in one of the laying boxes. From left to right, the eggs shown were laid by Chatty Kathy, Jersey Girl, Wanderlust, Molly Brown, and Henny Penny. Both photos of the row of eggs are the same eggs with different lighting. It's hard to tell but Chatty Kathy's egg on the left is very pale tan but not white, almost cream-colored or off-white. Molly Brown's egg is second from the right and it is a beautiful green but the camera's flash washed out it's color.

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The flock & coop - Chatty Kathy - Dove - Goldielocks - Henny Penny - Jailbird - Jersey Girl - Layla - Molly Brown - Queen Bee - Rocky - Sugarcakes - Wanderlust

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Graphics & content are property of Hoofin' It North, copyright 2000-2007, all rights reserved. Graphics & content may not be used, hotlinked, reprinted, nor reproduced without the owner's express, written consent.