Backyard Chickens?
- Thread starter Dragonborn
- Start date
It's humid enough around here that I don't have to worry. I've been using it at least 20 years with no problems.
I'm not convinced that chickens have as sensitive respiratory systems as they claim. I've been keeping chickens for 60 years and never had a bird with any respiratory problems or even a sick bird of any kind. I think give them good immune support and they are pretty healthy.
Ever try it? Dosen't work, not even a little bit.
Thanks but I'll stick with what works for me.
During my chicken coop build, I received a lot of great info and advice from many members on here and BackYardChickens.com.
BackYardChickens.com had a chicken coop build contest and I shruggedly entered it. Wasn’t really looking to win anything, I just wanted to do a step by step educational post to help out newbies like me that had lots of questions.
Well…I am pleasantly surprised that I placed second in the contest. The funny thing is that I blew this contest way up to my wife and kids saying that I was gonna win first place and first place prize is all expense free trip to Vegas to attend the National chicken coop build convention. So every month someone asked me the results and for some reason it was delayed this year.
Looking at the 1st place winner, no way I was beating that- they poured concrete and had an excavator out there….I laugh because if I would have won 1st place, I would have explaining to do about the tall tale of attending the National chicken coop build convention! Lol.
BackYardChickens.com had a chicken coop build contest and I shruggedly entered it. Wasn’t really looking to win anything, I just wanted to do a step by step educational post to help out newbies like me that had lots of questions.
Well…I am pleasantly surprised that I placed second in the contest. The funny thing is that I blew this contest way up to my wife and kids saying that I was gonna win first place and first place prize is all expense free trip to Vegas to attend the National chicken coop build convention. So every month someone asked me the results and for some reason it was delayed this year.
Looking at the 1st place winner, no way I was beating that- they poured concrete and had an excavator out there….I laugh because if I would have won 1st place, I would have explaining to do about the tall tale of attending the National chicken coop build convention! Lol.
Kswoodssue
Hot Topics Subscriber
love it! Would take Louisiana and a great boiled seafood pot to Vegas any day!
What @JanS said! That's a huge site so 2nd place is really impressive. Of course when you were building and posting your progress here we were all impressed with your work too. Huge congrats on your deserved acknowledgment of coop building! Also, chicken pictures of your flock wouldn't hurt our feelings. 
How awesome! We're so happy for you! A very proud moment, for sure!!
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
You did build with a lot of thought so well done. I think we need some update pics of your chickens. I'm interested in how the different breeds worked out. 
Picts soon to come- rainy and cold right now.
Still have all 11 hens and I tell you what…chicken hierarchy is very real. There is the top hen who nobody messes with and I don’t understand why she is top hen. She doesn’t bully anybody, she minds her own and does her thing but if somebody crosses her, it’s hell to pay. Then the second top can be a bully at times. She is nice mostly but goes on the war path without explanation. Then there is about 5 mid level neutrals that trod around. Then 4 down at the bottom who just terrorize each other. I’m talking about all out screeching and screaming after each other. I really can’t make no sense of these things. Haha.
I was getting 10 eggs daily until the days (sunlight) got shorter and now consistent 3 a day. I expect it to improve when the days start getting longer.
Got down in the 20’s and they tolerated it well with no artificial heat sources.
Refill feed every 10 days and fresh water every 4th day.
I really really like the fresh eggs. I eat fried egg sandwiches prob 3x week.
Still have all 11 hens and I tell you what…chicken hierarchy is very real. There is the top hen who nobody messes with and I don’t understand why she is top hen. She doesn’t bully anybody, she minds her own and does her thing but if somebody crosses her, it’s hell to pay. Then the second top can be a bully at times. She is nice mostly but goes on the war path without explanation. Then there is about 5 mid level neutrals that trod around. Then 4 down at the bottom who just terrorize each other. I’m talking about all out screeching and screaming after each other. I really can’t make no sense of these things. Haha.
I was getting 10 eggs daily until the days (sunlight) got shorter and now consistent 3 a day. I expect it to improve when the days start getting longer.
Got down in the 20’s and they tolerated it well with no artificial heat sources.
Refill feed every 10 days and fresh water every 4th day.
I really really like the fresh eggs. I eat fried egg sandwiches prob 3x week.
I guess it's like that with most species. The horses have their pecking order too. Cheyenne is head Mare, under me of course.
But she can throw her weight around. She just walks toward the other two and they move. But there's other times that she actually chases them or lets out a squeal and sometimes even kicks. 
But the chickens, being so many, it has to go on down the line I guess, huh? Have you had any problems with anyone getting hurt?
My friend had a raccoon invade her chicken area. He actually killed one a while back. She put out a live trap and got him. She said the raccoons want the eggs so they don't necessarily eat the chickens but they do kill them at times.
She hasn't been getting very many eggs lately either. I was at Aldi's the other day and was shocked to see that their price of a dozen eggs was something like $4.50! And it was a limit of two! Must be the stupid bird flu, which I'm skeptical of.
But I was surprised at that price at Aldi's. They've been half that for a long time.
I wish I lived on land and had horses..always dreamed of that.
No issues…see a lot of coon, possum and dog tracks around the coop- also see owls and hawks perched on it. I would be highly surprised if anything got in, I built it as a fortress. Really don’t think anything could get in there unless a hurricane whipped off the roof.
They were just talking about that on the radio this morning and one of the local egg producers (Locally Laid) said their flock of hens has been drastically reduced due to the bird flu.
Hollyvenus78
Member
Ha! I'm glad my girls are finally paying for themselves!!!!
How long did that take?
Hollyvenus78
Member
These days as much as eggs cost... but also I have 16 hens and their production has finally picked back up after a remarkably cold winter...
16 helps a lot. I believe my friend is down to eight. She had a raccoon get two of them. And even with a light on during the winter she's getting maybe one or two eggs a day. I haven't been able to get any from her for a while .
She's going to get another eight chicks I believe. And they are a specific breed that supposedly are good egg layers. They're supposed to lay over 300 eggs a year. But they only live two or three years because of that. I'll have to find out what breed it is. I'm not that knowledgeable on chickens.
Hollyvenus78
Member
Leghorns and Rhode Island reds are amazing layers! Turkey's (necked neck chickens) are ugly as all get out ... but I hear they are GREAT at laying as well!16 helps a lot. I believe my friend is down to eight. She had a raccoon get two of them. And even with a light on during the winter she's getting maybe one or two eggs a day. I haven't been able to get any from her for a while .
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