How many chooks do you have???

[kirsty b]

Got 15, all ex-bats except one who is a Light Sussex that I was given as a chick. Did have 20, but have lost 5 in the last few months, 2 to illness, 3 to fox.Plan to get some Black Rocks next spring if I lose any more over the winter, hope also to build new run space over winter so I can raise some table birds next year.
Getting 1 egg a day at mo because they are moulting! In full lay I was bringing home about 14, but friends, neighbours and colleagues happily bought excess. (family got eggs for free)

[Snadger]

10 brown hens, one of which is sitting on 6 Ausrtolorp bantam eggs. Usually get 9 eggs per day off tuthers including regular double yolkers.

'WARNING!!!!!! Chook keeping is highly addictive and should come with a government health warning!

I am at present building a new chook house and run 'just in case' I get the urge to get some more!

[emijade]

I just have 3 warrens who are still to lay an egg .
they seem quite happy and are very amusing to watch

[Nicos]

I just have 3 warrens who are still to lay an egg .
they seem quite happy and are very amusing to watch

How old are they emijade???
I'm SOOOOO excited about getting mine..warrens look like I imagine hens look like!!!
I understand they were bred as battery hens...are yours rescue ones..or some of the lucky few??

[Nicos]

'WARNING!!!!!! Chook keeping is highly addictive and should come with a government health warning!

Oh flipping heck......I'm trying So hard to get over my other addictions!

[di]

there's plenty of us here to support you through it!!!!I've got my eye on our neighbouring plot(complete with ready made coop & run!!)just in case the chappie gives it up!!....but no!!It's not an addiction!!An addiction would mean spending hours drooling on the internet over different breeds & what eggs they lay &....O.K~it's an addiction!!!

[chicken slave]

Totally agree it IS an addiction. After getting my adorable chicks 10 weeks ago, last week my OH bought me 2 Black Rocks as an early birthday pressie. Luckly I had built a coop and run big enough to take 20 chickens so now I have 8 (6 light sussex) I still have to wait a few weeks for my first egg but it will be worth it (haven't had a real fresh egg since I was a kid and had chickens) And I have just managed to get a hold of 18 fertile eggs for my incubator. Yes I am addicted and proud of it, CHOOKS RULE!!!!!

[Ashbylife]

We've got 4, all Marran bantams. Only just started laying and we've had 5 eggs since last Thurs (so nearly one a day!), but I think this is off just one of them. Just bought what I hope will be our last half dozen eggs off the farm... ours are smaller but the most beautiful deep brown colour. And yes it is totally addicitive I'm desperate to get some more, just want to try a different breed, and there are so many to choose from.
We only intended to have 3 originally (enough to keep us in eggs, and also meant that if one died there wouldn't be one on her own). When we went to pick them up there were only 4 marrans left.... we took our 3 and within 48 hours where back cause we couldn't bear to think of the last girl left on her own!

[lynda66]

!An addiction would mean spending hours drooling on the internet over different breeds & what eggs they lay &....O.K~it's an addiction!!!

i've been doing that for weeks, and i haven't even built the house yet, i guess i should look at chicken breeds, cos at the moment i keep getting waylaid by ducks, i think i may be more of a duck person, but then theres baby chicks and stuff ok, i'm addicted too

[hawthorns]

as from tomorrow morning 2 chickens. a miss pepperpot and ginger ranger

[Bephlam]

Soon to have three faverolles....and can't wait!

[HayleyB]

I'd love ducks but it's pointless as I'm allergic to duck eggs, can't wait to have my baldie babes

[emijade]

my warrens are 22 weeks old Nicos ,1 of them ( Mabel ) has a bigger comb than the others and it was quite red but seems to have gone paler again .
Doris has a slight tinge of red in hers but poor Beryl her comb looks like the others have eaten it really dont think we will get eggs from them this year

[MaureenHall]

my warrens are 22 weeks old Nicos ,1 of them ( Mabel ) has a bigger comb than the others and it was quite red but seems to have gone paler again .
Doris has a slight tinge of red in hers but poor Beryl her comb looks like the others have eaten it really dont think we will get eggs from them this year

22 weeks might still be a bit young, some breeds can be between 25 and 28 weeks before they start laying. Give them a bit longer before you dismiss the prospect of eggs this year

[di]

Emijade,Although I still believe that their combs are a huge indicator as to when they will start to lay,one of our newer girls still has a very small pink comb,however she has started laying!(that or one of them is managing 2 a day!!)So,although as a general rule of thumb,they will be about to start laying when their combs become large & red,it doesn't always follow!Also like Maureen says they all seem to mature at different rates also!So hang in there!!