Got my first egg couple days ago. 2 more yesterday. Haven't checked today

My daughter was so excited.

I call her Mother Hen because she has taken to them from the first day we got the peeps and they are her responsibility

I was a little unprepared because I don't have nests yet.

I have a couple low (3" high) wooden boxes that I thought of using. They're about 24" square

Now the questions.

1. I have (right now) 15 hens. How many boxes do you think I might need.

2. Should the boxes be raised and, if so, how high?

3. What should I use for bedding in the nests. I have wood chips. Good or bad idea
4. Is there something I need to do to get the hens using the nests?

Thanks for your help

AP...if you need help right away pm zeker...he has free range chickens and he has some awesome places that they live in...

Kelee, thanks for the heads up on Zeker


I do have another, more serious problem

Right now, I have 26 chickens shut in the coop.

I have hesitated to let them out to run for several reasons.

Predators. There is at least hawks around. I see them often
Probably foxes and other critters

Garden. Didn't want them destroying, especially my tomatoes

I did set some posts but haven't gotten around to putting a fence up so they have a little run. Maybe this weekend

Reason this is pertinent now, in particular, is the roosters are playing real rough with the hens.

Yesterday, one of the hens was pretty badly wounded on the back of the neck and another had a slight wound.

The real answer is to butcher the roosters but I'm a little rusty since I haven't been around chicken plucking for 50 years and don't want to plan on butchering 7 or 8 chickens my first time in so long

I don't know if this problem is because of their confinement or just roosters being roosters.

Any opinions would be appreciated

zek has the same problem with his roosters I sewed him up some chicken bibs for their backs, he supplied the temp plate and I sewed them I can pm you a pic of them and if you know someone that sews you can get them to make some, or I can ship you a few( you get to cover material and shipping costs)

I hadn't heard of the bibs but it sounds like a good idea.

My wife can sew if I can get her to do it.

A pic would be great

Thanks

here are 3 pics of them...

sewing instructions; make 2 pieces insert elastic at right points in bib also elastic should be towards the inside for turning later sewing inside out leave top part open between the top of elastic turn the 2 pieces and then turn down and sew closed;note the lighter for sizing purposes and also the marker marks on the bib, that was to size them down for zek, he needed both sizes for his chickens, I hope this helps.. anything else just ask I am more of doer the instruction writer..lol

Thanks a lot, Kelee.
The 2 elastic loops
Do they go over the legs to hold the bibs?

the wings....

they have to get out of the coop.
use drive in t posts if necessary, and orange snow fence if necessary.
even 3 feet will help get them stay in.
hawks can eat just as many inside a run as outside.
The less crowded they are the less problems they will have.
nest boxes should be about waist high and
have a 1'' raised board on the bottom front to keep hens from dragging out
eggs when they exit nest.3 or 4 nests will be enough for 25 hens.
the feed store will have a tar compound to place on open wounds on backs,
to discourage pecking.
Give them a half cup of scratch feed a couple times a day, to give them something else to
worry about than each other.

ALL THE FRESH WATER THEY CAN GET WILL MAKE MORE EGGS.

I always gave mine a shredded carrot once a day, to make yolks orange,
and raise beta-carotene levels in your diet, a good thing.
GOOD LUCK

Thanks Kelee and Muad'dib

I hadn't thought of the wings DUH!

The eggs were a little unexpected.
They're still on starter but will grab some mash and some grit this weekend as well as (I think it's called Grower/Layer at Tractor Supply.

Scratch is a heck of a lot cheaper than feed

I have posts in. 1 needs reset

I was going to run chicken wire over top to keep hawks and owls out

Chickens can be trained.

My Mom's Dad had chickens, garden etc. Every day he let his chickens out to scratch for themselves.

He could walk around - chicken's didn't pay attention to him.

He could walk into the coop - chicken's didn't pay attention to him.

But let him ring the brake drum he had in there, you'd see chicken head all pop up and chickens scurrying to the coop.

After ringing the drum, he'd walk over, open the feed barrel, and put the chicken feet into the troughs. Then he'd walk out of the coop and pen them in.

I asked him one time (I think I was 6) "What about the chickens who don't come?"

He said "I don't wanty any chicken to dumb to know when it time to come in for feed."

hi patriot
chicken saddles is what they are called and the loops go in the armpit.. I have found the rough mating to be a non issue when they free range. many folks cannot free range for r easons you suggested. i have aLL THOSE REASONS AND MORE. sry caps.. bears.. i had to dispatch a bear a couple weeks ago..he came back 3 times in 2 days..he wont be back. I have eagles and hawks in this area and very small birds..seramas. but being in the bush seems to keep them safe from flying predators..havent had a fox here yet but they are definately around.

if a hen gets a tear or blood shows on her anywhere..separate her till she heals completely..when they see blood its a feeding frenzy well after the victim has died.you can also trim roosters nai;ls. even if only dulling them.

the birds need somewhere to escape from aggresors..too many roosters will make short work of your girls..If you are not looking for fertile eggs, why not separate the hens from the boys..? like you say..youre gonna make soup outta the boys anyway. one atta time to butcher helps you get your skill up.

anything else I can help you with just gimme a shout

cheers

I have found that it isn't necessary to isolate a wounded bird until completely healed. I've managed to gauge how bad it is, and if it's not too bad, you can use vicks vapo rub on their wounds & the area surrounding the wounds. The chickens don't like the smell or taste of it, so they leave the wounded bird alone. If the wounds ARE great, I'll isolate them for a day or 3, then do the vicks thing & put them back in. If you feel the need to give anitbiotics, you do want to isolate them, esp. if one of your reasons for raising your own eggs are to avoid the commercial crap. Once the AB's are done, you can reintegrate thenm, but you have to know what eggs are hers, so you don't eat them. When I had a hen with prolapse, I isolated her long enough for a round of AB's, then reintegrated her with a healthy dollop of vicks on her bum. Thankfully she lays the darker of my green egg layers, so I knew which eggs we could not eat (3 weeks post AB round). I ended up feeding those to the dog. He enjoyed it much, and they didn't go to waste.

Don't forget a perch on your nest boxes, by the way!

Thanks, all
We peroxided her up pretty good several times and she's in the basement now.
I think I'll try the Vicks
She's free roaming the basement and I'd rather she not do that

She seems like she'll be ok

whats your rooster to hen ratio? 12 to 15 hens per rooster is a good ratio and willl alleviate much of the rooster abuse problem. although with that many chickens cooped up,the hens will beat the devil out of each other regardless of whether there is a rooster in with them or not. the old term "hen pecked" aint about the rooster beatin on the hen, hens can tear each other up..