tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post4083151588303155327..comments2023-12-23T04:07:58.383-06:00Comments on Corn in My Coffee Pot: Q & A regarding my Chickens and Coop?Patricia @ 9th and Denverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786692442689958889noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-85921703245711835262011-04-26T15:35:35.518-05:002011-04-26T15:35:35.518-05:00I found my first eggs on the ground in a corner, j...I found my first eggs on the ground in a corner, just put them in the nest and left them for the first week...they got the picture! I ended up putting a taller side on my nests as they would scratch out the bedding and sleep in the nests...and then putting a piece of burlap <br />sacking from the top to about 1/2 way down because they do like privacy! hmmmm...modest chickens? lol! but they quit knocking the eggs out after that and now I have a broody hen and she stays in there a long time!<br />I think your chicken coop looks great! and very efficient!<br /><br />I use a slide bolt for the door and a hook and eye for the pen door...it is easy to unlatch but I haven't had any problems.<br /><br />My chickens lay all day long but I only collect the eggs once in the morning unless I am out there doing something! They will stay fresh for 2 weeks just sitting on the counter! the ones from the grocery store are about 3 weeks old before you get them and they stay good another 3 weeks with refrigeration...I think you will have a great time with chickens, you will know after awhile exactly what they need...just like kids! LOL!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02512936772208578667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-24046946617077447382011-04-20T23:31:27.920-05:002011-04-20T23:31:27.920-05:00Hi! I too live in East Texas and e-mailed you a f...Hi! I too live in East Texas and e-mailed you a few weeks back. My hubby bought chickens, but we don't have a coop. They are boarding with the in-law's chickens for now. We too have been studying how we want to build our coop. Have to share what we have gotten off of Craig's List, so you may want to be watching it or posted a WANTED posting for certain materials. We bought a 10x20x6 ft. tall chainlink dog kennel that just sits ontop of the ground. That is going to be the chicken run right off of the coop. We will be putting chicken wire across the top of the kennel thingy. I just picked the wire up last night. We got it for FREE. I posted a Wanted posting on Craig's List and a very generous man called and gave us several rolls. While there, he also gave us about a flat of tomato plants he grew from seed as well as okra. Now, we have to take him some homemade bread. Oh, and I paid only $150 for that kennel. My in-laws got a 10x10 for $75. That is wayyyy cheaper than buying one of those babies. Good luck!Lowry517https://www.blogger.com/profile/17793900850079814696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-57409202007487968222011-04-20T21:12:36.928-05:002011-04-20T21:12:36.928-05:00Chickens can take cold, cold temps, they say not t...Chickens can take cold, cold temps, they say not to enclose them as it will create foul air and that is more dangerous than cold. Chickens do not need extra heat added as long as you keep them dry and out of drafts when they roost. Chickens do like a darker area to lay their eggs, they think they are hiding them from predators. Seeding the nest boxes (ie: the golf ball trick) does help in getting them to lay in the boxes. I agree with making sure everything is secure from predators, we have raccoons and skunks that are nefarious chicken killers and can scale straight walls and dig under fences!Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01265115493099658730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-68355889258338778142011-04-19T19:03:50.319-05:002011-04-19T19:03:50.319-05:00I buy all my eggs and chickens at the supermarket....I buy all my eggs and chickens at the supermarket. So I couldn't 'bawk' out a single answer for ya! But since EC wants to buy a farmette, I may be balking at, I mean, 'bawking' out, the same questions at some point. Good luck! LOVe what Greenacres Mama wrote!!! Is that true???<br /><br />cluckingly yours,<br />~KoleinKoleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248290873145151407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-41093221050374900842011-04-19T16:37:39.102-05:002011-04-19T16:37:39.102-05:00This may seem a bit like a Jedi Knight trick for c...This may seem a bit like a Jedi Knight trick for chickens, but if you put a golf ball or two in the nesting boxes, it clues them in as to where they should lay eggs. Great blog!Laura @ Green Legacy Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15702832151439882306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173649280963485189.post-28787381498461182182011-04-19T06:26:34.679-05:002011-04-19T06:26:34.679-05:00Well... I call myself the "Big Chick" or...Well... I call myself the "Big Chick" or the "Super Chick" when I enter the hen house, just so they know who's boss! Looks like you have all the basics down for your coop... but be sure to secure it everywhere with chicken wire... you'd be surprised what kind of predators are out there wanting eggs. We've always had a "roof" of chicken wire too because little creatures can climb right up the sides and drop down into the yard... and there's no escape for the chickens. I think your "chicken run" is okay. We just used an old door - no rungs on it. Eggs? We collect them once a day, usually after work when we get home. Ours lay about 1 egg per day. Ventilation is most important - you don't want them getting smothered in the heat! For the winter months, we have a heat light in the chicken coop to keep them warm... but our temps drop below zero, ya know. We don't have a painted floor or lineloium (sp. No matter what you use, it will just get ruined over time. Just keep fresh straw for them to scratch around in... and they will lay eggs wherever they darn well please! We have nesting boxes for them, but they don't seem to realize that's what they're for! Good luck with your chickens... fresh eggs are the best! We have Rhode Island Red chickens. They lay the brown eggs. Yum!Coleen's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09334962749202140128noreply@blogger.com