Our young hens are starting to lay eggs fairly regularly. Here is a comparison of their "output" compared to a full-grown hen's offering. Doin' our best! ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) The girls have the color of the eggs right, and are working on getting the right size. You can guess which eggs are from the girls and which is a lady's egg. I give the girls lots of encouragement. After all, they are doing the best they can. The girls are using the nest boxes instead of laying eggs here, there, and yonder, which makes going into the coop less adventuresome, but much easier!
I'm pleased to hear that your girls are now laying in the nest boxes for you. They certainly seem to be getting their act together as the eggs they are laying look so much better than the last ones you showed us. Keep up the good work girls - you're doing just fine. :-D
Oh lovely. I want chickens so bad, but I live in a town, and have close neighbors, and don't know if it is allowed, but hey, when I see those beauties...I dream. Thanks for posting.
Kathy, Many towns allow a certain number of hens. Check with the town offices to find out if backyard chickens are allowed and what the restrictions, if any, are. Ask your neighbors if they would object to hens, no roosters, in your yard. Building a coop is easy; hens are relatively quiet although they do make contented clucking noises when they get a treat; and having a few fresh, golden yolked eggs to share is one of life's great pleasures. Make sure you get a docile breed that is adapted to your climate. The coop doesn't smell if you clean up the manure daily (it only takes a few minutes) and the composted chicken manure is great on the garden! I can't think of one drawback to having chickens.
