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[Peaceful Chicken]

Hello,

 

I just got my coop and run ready, and have called the only place I know in the greater Los Angeles area, Blacksmith's in Bellflower, to get some adult hens. They said they mostly have "farm hens" , some of which are laying eggs, although they don't know which ones are or not. I'm a little confused as to whether I should go ahead and buy 3 of their hens, or look elsewhere for particular breeds that I have been reading about. I'm interested in hens for laying, and am open to having a younger hen, although not baby chicks as I'm not prepared to care for them in my home.

 

Anyone have any suggestions re:

 

1. OK to just buy "generic" farm hens, rather than trying to ascertain their breed?

2. How young a chicken can I get that can go directly into coop & run, rather than needing special care in the home first?

3. As you can see, I am eagerly wanting to start having chickens, but don't know how to take an informed plunge -- any advice is appreciated!

4. Do you happen to know any places in the greater Los Angeles, CA area where I can buy chickens besides Blacksmith's? I live between Glendale and Pasadena.

 

Happy to be here!

Thanks very much!

[Plum]

Farm hens will be hybrids which lots of us start off with and have been a treat to own. Why not go and have a look at them and then decide. If some are laying then they'll probably be about 18 to 24 weeks and an ideal time to get them when they'll be fine outside.

[Alis girls]

Maggie is a farm hen - I don't know how much they handle them if at all but she is a joy OH and I are besotted - a lurve thing and I think its mutual - she answers to her name. She is a but has loads of white feathers - soo pretty

[Peaceful Chicken]

Thank you both for your replies. I didn't realize that most start with hybrids. Yes, I think I will go and take a look tomorrow, since my husband just finished building me an 8x10 walk in run where I have now put my Eglu go. Plan on getting 3 chickens, which should be cozy in the Go but not too tight, and they should be happy in the run until I can let them roam in the garden.

 

Any particular suggestions re: what is the best material to put in the Eglu for their roosting / nesting? BTW: I was a little confused how roosting and nesting works in the Eglu Go. There is one spot that looks like it is for eggs to be laid, yet the chickens roost on the bars. Do they actually go to the other spot to lay their eggs in the same place as each other? That seemed a little strange as I thought they would each lay wherever they roost?

 

I'm definitely on a learning curve here, and very much enjoying it.

Thanks all!

[LolaLayla]

I have 2 hybrid girls (see one in my avatar) who I got over a year ago. I decided to start with them as I reckoned they would be easier to work with. I have had a few problems with soft eggs and have had great advice from folks on the forum to help with it. Apart from that everything has worked out well. I must admit to looking at the lovely photos of chickens on some of the threads and thinking that when I get some more I may branch out into something more "exotic"

My girls are in an eglu classic and I put a sheet of newspaper with paper shreddings on it in the nest box. One of my girls sits in the nest box at night so sadly it gets a bit messy. I have tried various means to keep her out the box until morning when they lay but did not want them to feel they could not access the box all the time so just put up with some messy eggs. I change out the paper each morning and put it in the compost bin. The girls will go to the nest box when they want to lay and I have only found an egg outside the box on one occasion. Hope this helps

[jennym]

I think three hybrids will be very happy in a go and an 8*10 run - my 3 all pile on top of each other in one corner (in a classic) to sleep so although it doesn't look big it will be fine for sleeping. That run will be lovely and spacious for them.

 

All going well they will lay in the nest box and roost on the bars. Mine occasionally roost with a bum hanging over the nest box and poop in there, so I get poopy eggs if I don't clear it out early enough

 

They roost to sleep and will only lay once they are awake and moving about, so they don't (necessarily!) lay where they roost. I know some people have had theirs lay in odd places (in the bushes, under the bbq cover ) when out free-ranging but ours have always laid in the nest box. We kept ours in the run for the first week we had them so they learned where 'home' is before letting them out to free-range.

 

We tried a number of things in the nest box - shredded paper, shavings and straw. The paper and shavings got kicked all over the place a made a mess, so we have gone with straw - it tangles together when they try to kick it about so it stays in place. Change it regularly (once a week at least for us) to keep it fresh.

 

The standard (in the UK anyway!) hybrid is the orange 'gingernut ranger' and ours is absolutely lovely - very friendly and an egg-laying machine. I'd definitely recommend them for a first-timer.

 

Good luck and have fun with your ladies, whatever you do!

[Peaceful Chicken]

These replies have been most helpful - thank you! I'm certainly learning alot.

 

When I talked with the animal shop today, they told me not to use newspaper, since the chickens will eat it. I was surprised to see that two of you used newspaper with apparently no bad effects, except for them kicking it about. I was concerned about straw since I thought it might get damp and have a tendency to get moldy. Maybe I've read too much! Anyway, I guess there is a difference between straw & hay, and perhaps it was hay that gets damp??

 

Thus far, my plan is to get diatamacious earth to sprinkle on them and perhaps the straw, which sounds best.

Some Citricidal for their water, to prevent bugs (the bad kind, inside them)

Food/Water/Treats

 

Anything else I need? Do I need to keep their food & water containers attached to the side of the run, rather than on the ground? I still need to do this before getting my chickens, which may be tomorrow!

 

Thanks again for your thoughtful responses! Glad to be on this site!

[LolaLayla]

 

We tried a number of things in the nest box - shredded paper, shavings and straw. The paper and shavings got kicked all over the place a made a mess, so we have gone with straw - it tangles together when they try to kick it about so it stays in place.

I only put an handful of shreddings on the paper in the box and only a few strands fall out onto the pull out tray. Although there is not much "bedding" in the box it does not seem to bother them as I said Layla stays in it all night so it must be comfy and eggs have not been broken because of too little cushioning. I like the paper because it is easy to give them a fresh box every day and I feel that I am recycling as well (also it's free )

[Tweety]

A lot of us use horse bedding for the nesting box and poo tray and, having tried all sorts of alternatives, I have found it to be the best. Straw and hay are generally not recommended -as you say it gets damp and mouldy - and I too found that shredded newspaper ended up all over the place!

 

Your plan sounds fine to me and, yes, the food and water containers are best attached to the run.

 

Good luck - you will love having hens!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hi and welcome to the forum . Great advice above which I can't add to - just wanted to say good luck choosing your girls and make sure you come back and tell us about them .

[LolaLayla]

These replies have been most helpful - thank you! I'm certainly learning alot.

 

When I talked with the animal shop today, they told me not to use newspaper, since the chickens will eat it. I was surprised to see that two of you used newspaper with apparently no bad effects, except for them kicking it about. I was concerned about straw since I thought it might get damp and have a tendency to get moldy. Maybe I've read too much! Anyway, I guess there is a difference between straw & hay, and perhaps it was hay that gets damp??

 

Thus far, my plan is to get diatamacious earth to sprinkle on them and perhaps the straw, which sounds best.

Some Citricidal for their water

I do not think the chickens will eat the paper in the eglu as they are thinking of laying and sleeping when they go in there (that is just my observation). If there are any bits of paper on the tray when I pull it into the open they have tried and on occasion managed to eat a couple of pieces. It does not seem to do them any harm (it is only a tiny amount). I am sure when they free range they find worse stuff (Layla was trying to swallow a whole mouse last week ) I have not used straw or hay so I cannot answer your dampness question.

I use the DE powder which I sprinkle on the bedding and round the inside of the eglu. I also put it in the dust bath that they have made for themselves out of the run. I bought Citricidal for their water when I got them but never used it. They seem healthy (I hope I have not jinxed them by saying that) so have not felt it necessary. I do worm them regularly with flubenvet though.

You will find that everyone has different ideas about chicken health and housing It is quite hard to decide what to do...thankfully there are a lot of really experienced people on the forum to help us Have fun with your girls

[Redwing]

The youngest you could get birds is probably at about 8 weeks ideally over 12 weeks

 

I'd check what the supplier means by they have farm hens some of which are laying

 

At worst this could mean that the hens are ex commercial and at the end of their laying lives so only some are laying, this is fine if you want them as pets not if you want loads of eggs!

 

At best this means that they have farm type hybrid pullets at point of lay, some are laying and some will start soon - these would be ideal for you

 

One of our members ThinkingChickens lives in Southern California, I'm not sure where but they may be able to advise on the suppliers she they have found along the way - of course the scale of your country is on a completely different level than the UK and they may turn out to be miles away

 

Good luck with whatever you decide, my main advice would be to walk away if the hens arent what you are looking for - there are always other options

 

Its worth trying to find a primarily US based forum, often you'll find backyard breeders on forums, every country will have enthusiast breeders that keep the showing world alive

[sjp]

'farm hens' can also mean cross breeds ie bitzas a bit of this and a bit of that.2 or 3 cocks running with any number of hens living 'rough' in and around the farm yard

[Alis girls]

I think Maggie is a bitza - she is very pretty and a change from bog standard her feathers are white till the tips when she is ginger - cos the feathers lie down she looks like a typical - I am getting to be a Maggie bore but shes lovely -sorry

[Peaceful Chicken]

Thanks Everyone for your kind advice. We are now planning to go and see the hens next week early, so I will post info & maybe pics if we get the hens! Am very much looking forward to this!

Thanks Again!

[Chortle Chook]

I have 2 hybrid girls who I got over a year ago. I decided to start with them as I reckoned they would be easier to work with. . . I must admit to looking at the lovely photos of chickens on some of the threads and thinking that when I get some more I may branch out into something more "exotic"

 

I must admit to looking at the lovely photos of hybrid and ex bat chickens on some of the threads on here, and hoping that one day OH will let me get some 'normal' chickens

[LolaLayla]

I have 2 hybrid girls who I got over a year ago. I decided to start with them as I reckoned they would be easier to work with. . . I must admit to looking at the lovely photos of chickens on some of the threads and thinking that when I get some more I may branch out into something more "exotic"

 

I must admit to looking at the lovely photos of hybrid and ex bat chickens on some of the threads on here, and hoping that one day OH will let me get some 'normal' chickens

Ha. Are we ever happy ......unless we have lots of chickens of course