As I indicated in my previous post, I have had a couple of set backs and slow downs. However, I intend to continue my urban chicken experiment. I will be expanding my chicken coop to accommodate more chickens. Additionally, I will be starting with some day old chicks from a mail order hatchery.
I am planning this out a little bit more than my initial chick acquisition. With the day old chicks, I have to have everything in order and ready to go before they arrive.
For the first eight weeks, the chicks will live in my garage. Their home will be a hard plastic, children's swimming pool (I purchased one for $14.85 plus tax). I also got some feeders and waterers, as well as a stand for the brooder light.
I am in the process of setting up everything, and I have placed my chick order. I purchased five Barred Rocks and five Rhode Island Reds.
In regards to egg production, my Barred Rock has laid five eggs in the past seven days. I am still waiting on the Americana to start laying, but I am extremely happy to finally have fresh eggs.
After several months of feeding and watering and tending to my girls, I finally have my first egg. I have to admit, I was getting a little discouraged. I knew eventually I would start getting eggs, but I was expecting them earlier. None the less, I am extremely happy that I am starting to get eggs. Tomorrow morning's breakfast... toast and a fresh, urban chicken egg over easy!
It has been some time since my last post, and a few things have and have not happened.
First, I had a little (or big set back depending on how you look at it) in my urban chicken experiment. Two of my four chickens contracted Merricks disease for which there is no cure. As such, I had to put them down because they could not move to eat or drink. It was not fun at all, but it is part of raising chickens.
The remaining two chickens seem to be doing okay. They have no signs of Merricks, and they are continuing to grow.
Second, I still don't have any eggs. I am wondering if my pullets were much younger than I originally thought (was told). This is very frustrating and disappointing because the whole idea behind raising chickens in my backyard was for fresh eggs. I have found the Barred Rock in the nesting boxes recently, so I am hopeful she will be laying soon.
