[Ag-eq] my chickens

[Susan Roe]

Nella,

How old are your hens.  I usually got mine in April or May at about 4 to 8 
weeks old and then they would start laying by October.  I fed them the baby 
crumble up til they were about 12 weeks and then switched to adult laying 
mash.  You don't want to give them the adult stuff too early because they 
can't handle the extra calcium until they are a bit older.

Susan
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens


> Susan:
>
> Yesterday it got up to 115!  I was so worried about the chickens, but they 
> were o.k.
>
> Thursday evening I let the girls out to run around and eat bugs and such. 
> I went back out about 8:30 to shut their gate; I could only feel 3 
> chickens in the coop, but thought the other was up on the top roost, which 
> I can't reach.  Friday morning when I went out to feed here comes one of 
> my chickens.  She was all upset since she was out of the run and the rest 
> were inside.  I was able to catch her and put her back in.  I've been 
> trying to handle them a lot so they will be easier to catch, I guess it's 
> paying off!
>
> They are really growing and filling out.  My neighbor said that their 
> feathers look healthier than when I first got them.  They should start 
> laying near the end of July, but I suspect they may wait due to the heat.
>
> How is everything going there?
>
> I hope you are having a great 4th of July weekend.
>
> Nella
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 8:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>
>
>> Nella,
>>
>> When I can get my hands on them, I can tell the Buff Orphingtons because 
>> they don't have much of a tail so to speak.  LOL
>> I don't know exactly how long chickens can live.  I'm sure there are a 
>> lot of factors to consider, however, right now my oldest ones are about 5 
>> years old and though they have slowed down a bit, they are still laying 
>> good size eggs.
>>
>> That is not a problem with letting your hens out like you are doing and 
>> putting them up at night.  I can't do that here, too many roaming hunting 
>> dogs, farrel cats and loads of active wildlife.  We have 12 foot square 
>> enclosed yards for each coop.  They get plenty of sun, wind, rain, bugs 
>> and mice, grass clippings, leaf rakings and whatever vegetable/fruit we 
>> have of our own, local farmers market and things we find really cheep on 
>> sale.  They love it all.
>>
>> Susan
>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>>>
>>
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>
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