What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[simon and his cat]

Hi

 

Have had our hens for about two and a half weeks now (2 araucanas and 2 marans). They seem to be eating reasonably well (layers pellets) and certainly go completely bonkers for mealworms (they are also very partial to spinach). I have also put out sand in a container for them as a dustbath. However, they seem to like eating the sand (with no apparent ill-effects and there is plenty of mixed grit for them). Is this normal behaviour? Should I take the sand away and just let them make their own dustbaths when and where they can (If I'm around I let them FR for a few hours each day)?

 

Also no eggs yet - I was told that they were about 8 months old so I did expect something by now and am trying to be very patient, particularly when I see that other people have eggs just after getting their hens. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?

 

Thanks for any comments/suggestions.

[Darren Beaumont]

My hens also like eating sand. I recently added some red mite powder to the dustbath and this seems to discourage this behaviour and gives them added protection against nasties.

[simon and his cat]

Thanks, I'll try the same thing as see how it goes. As I said no ill effects so I'm not worried about this and it's good to know mine are not the only ones eating sand (or anything that moves).