Anyone here have chickens?

Peledreamsofrain

Hi all,

Just out of curiosity, does anyone here have their own laying hens?  I have 8 currently, and get a rainbow of different colored eggs that I really enjoy.  Share if you have chickens too!

sarahtrg

No I don't currently have any but we are looking in to it as we speak!! Any tips for first time chicken owners? 

music11

I wish we did!  Not enough property

sillygoosegirl

I have one.  We had two, but something ate one of them.  I would like to get a couple more, but first I need to figure out how to keep them safe.  Also, I need to figure out how to keep the rats that live in the wetland behind our house from eating their food.  We have less than 1/4 acre though, so we're never going to have very many hens.  

Over Thanksgiving, I built her a new house out of an old wheelbarrow and an old chest of drawers.  So far, the rats don't seem to have figured out how to get in.  It also has a solar light, so hopefully she will start laying again soon.  

kz's_girlygirl

We have 4 hens and a rooster. (2 salmon faverolles, 1 barred rock and 2 silver laced wyandottes) We didn't plan on having a rooster, but when we got 2 more chicks over the summer...turns out Pearl the hen is not a hen haha.

For the posters who are concerned about the safety of yourn animals and keeping food uncontaminated, here is what we have done:

We have a coop (looks like a playhouse) about 2 feet off the ground, and surrounded by a 'run' that is about 4 times the size of the coop.  The coop had a waterer and food dish inside. The run in enclosed on all sides and overhead with chicken wire.  We also buried the wire about 6 inches to deter anything that might try to dig underneath.  We've never had a break in, and have had chickens for about 3 years.  Having an enclosed run lets the chickens go in and out of their coop as they please, have fresh air, scratch etc. without having to be supervised.  When the weather is nice, I let them out into the yard as long as I am outside to keep an eye on things. 

We store their food in a large metal bucket with a lid, you can get one at a feed store or Tractor Supply. 

We love having chickens!

ChelseyMiller

We have 3 back yard laying hens! Love them, but we have a small yard and the poo drives me crazy.

she22ybe22y

Ohhh, we'll be getting some! I can't wait! Well, I'll have to- three years.

krzcoupon

I dont have chickens but we're looking for property and would LOVE LOVE chickens as I grew up with them!

Kalamazaar

We have six chickens on two acres. 2 Barred Rock hens, 1 Easter Egger hen, 1 Blue Copper Marans hen, and 2 Welsummer pullets coming close to lay. Our girls free range during the day but their coop is pretty secure. The coop is raised 2 feet above the ground with the run underneath and extended out. The run is secured with welded wire and chicken wire. I love my girls!

HomeNomad

We have three, we love having them!