We got some chickens from a gal that was moving Barred rocks and Easter eggers in Oct. then they started to molt, we knew they would not lay so we did not put up a light. It was fun learning the schedule watching them hunt and peck for bugs and feeding them scratch a favorite after school activity for the grand kids; and grown ups learned how much fun it was to give them scraps as well!
They are well and we've enjoyed having these birds. We lost one hen to old age. We've been reading researching and studying up on chickens, breeds and found a magazine on Chickens.
I got some 4 week old Morans "pullets" to add for summer laying; out of those 6 only 2 were actually females when those reached teenage they started fighting even the females. One afternoon we came home and saw a bloodied bird called the breeder to return the two worst fighters. At six months I started to wonder so where are the eggs? I got impatient and two of the roos learned to crow! I'm SO glad it's okay to have roos where we live. We enjoyed watching the the 2 Morans hens chase off cats and other wild birds from the back yard. They are they help police the area. One of the roo's is no longer here.
I've been feeding them scratch, pelleted chicken feed flock raiser, some layer feed now, oyster shells, grit, and COB type feed only it's steamed rolled oats and wheat, found some other that has corn and molasses later. They love other back yard goodness like apples, currents, grapes, berries, and pumpkin!
I found some other hens for sale more folks moving and added to the flock a Lt. Brama a sitting hen that's an experienced mama that's raised chicks very exciting, another Easter egger producing a green egg, and barred rock laying some pinkish hued eggs for us to replace the one we lost, an Australorp lays lt. beige eggs it's fun to see what this breed is like. So from these four new hens we are getting a doz. eggs a week now. Yea!!! We converted the play house in to a coop getting the free cupboard the neighbors took out for nest boxes, a chicken door we cut to the run, and put up a light and heat lamp in case of a cold snap this winter it was exciting getting ready for the new chickens and spring chicks!
It's time to think about some replacement stock oh the choices. Studying the catalogue is a favorite pass time these days. At the feed store yesterday when I was picking up more feed they said that an order for the spring chicks was just called in and will be in around mid Feb. so that's exciting!
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