The American Beagler Forum

Yesterday my 7 year old son had to come home from school because he was coughing too much I guess. When I was in school we stayed unless we were near death but whatever I guess. Anyway I have been talking to the kids about fixing up our shed out back for some laying chickens and since I was gonna be home for the day Dylan and I decided to get it done. All it took was a little chicken wire, a door and some straw and we had it done. Took him and I about 3 hours of messing around with it by the time we were done. I still need to put up the laying boxes and some perches but they are set for a day or two anyway. Then when the other 2 got home from school off we went to the lady I buy my rabbits from when I have a need for a tame one. She was down to her last 8 hens and 2 roosters.......all bantams. She sold me the hens for $40 and threw in the roosters for free and all were just born this last spring so I should get a couple good years worth of laying out of them. Plus she threw in 2 tame rabbits as Christmas presents for my youngest 2 kids! I had to make her take an extra $10 because I didn't want to take advantage of her........she really is a super nice lady and really enjoys it when the kids come along.

The kids love the chickens and the rabbits so we've got a few more mouths to feed for a while but the kids get a kick out of it and it costs next to nothing to do so I figure why not........it's good for them.

Like I said, a little off topic, but I just wanted to share.

Nothing like fresh eggs from the backyard. Very cool!

just takes a lot of bantam eggs to make a meal.especialy for 3 kids.

Yea that's what I hear. Some of the birds are big bantams and I'll mix in some Rhodes in the spring I think.

Mistake number 1: Get the wrong birds.

Live and learn..........the kids are enjoying them either way so far.

banty eggs are great for pickled eggs. chickens are a lot of fun for whole family they will eat leftovers and love you for them.

The egg I pulled from under the smallest chicken today was smaller than a normal store bought egg but not tiny. It is for sure smaller than I'd like but not as bad as I had pictured in my head.

ever wonder who saw an egg come out of a chickens butt and said "i bet that would be good to ear"

My 7 hens are all in Moot (sp) and no eggs. They lay the darkest chocolate colored eggs possible. You might want to try these.
When they start back folks all want to buy them for their color.

BAMA JOHN --keep a light on them the will keep laying --

They run loose, but they do roost in one place at night. Should I put a light shining on them there? Haven't laid in three weeks.

I was told 12-14 hours of sunlight for them to lay so put a light on a timer so it comes on in the morning for a few hours to get you the 12 hours. I was also told that just leaving a light on all night messes up their roosting so you shouldn't do that. I guess they lay after the get off the roost when the sun comes up.

Thanks, I'll try that.