Especially if it’s a hot hen house
It’s pretty good as they have the downstairs bit and the upstairs bit, lovely breeze down and the top is well ventilated and in the shade.
3 Likes
Only just seen, yes let them out but a bit restricted so a fenced outside bit for a couple of days then free rein since they’ll know where home is. They are so quick to come when called, I loved seeing mine half running half flying to me, such sweethearts 
4 Likes
Sadly since the neighbours who have free roaming dogs moved in I can’t let them free range unless I’m right with them 
Bless them they don’t seem to know what to do with the little space they have, will be fascinating watching them discover the great outdoors!
2 Likes
So annoying for you.
Edited to add, the dogs I mean.
3 brave hens have come out into their run, 3 are still scared and staying in the coop so far ( admittedly I didn’t stay long in the heat!). Interestingly the 3 bravest are the 3 that look the wellest, not many feathers missing, beaks good ect. I’m pretty sure it was one of them that came upstairs for a nosey when they were all down and I was collecting an egg earlier. Perhaps the others are a meaker disposition and more bullied on the farm?
Egg count 6/6 today!!! Wish I’d got these girls months ago, been awful not having them, of course for the eggs (with 2 big protein loving boys!) But also for the food disposal, I hate having food sat in bins and since the wood burner has been off I’ve noticed the quantity of scraps that can’t go to the cat or compost! I read earlier that I need to introduce them slowly to scraps as they won’t have ever had them and to just keep them on their regular feed until then.
6 Likes
Tory - do you have a rooster or are these girls just for laying eggs? 
Just eggs, they are very unlikely to go broody, its been bred out of them. If I rebuild my flock to where it was (a basket full of different coloured eggs!) then I’ll no doubt end up with a roo or 2 (or more!) when doing my own hatching.
Can’t find a basket shot but you get the idea!
4 Likes
Are you experienced at fox-proofing hen houses, Toryroo?
1 Like
Um… not sure your kind of roo would be compatible with a chicken… 
1 Like
So what determines the colour and size of the eggs ?
How big the kangaroo is.
3 Likes
roos (whether kanga or chook) don’t lay eggs, silly ……….
1 Like
We thought we were good to go as we’d bought the hardcloth instead of chicken wire but I think it’s not the quality it needs to be. TBH our set up isn’t ideal and we need to build something sturdier, a determined weasel got in a couple of years ago. I know the ideal, I’m just not there yet!
Colour is 100% breed, size too however it can vary over the lifespan of a hen. Often young hens lay smaller eggs at the start, even ‘fairy’ eggs (super small, no yolk), or shell’less just while their systems are getting going.
1 Like
Genetic engineering is a miracle of the modern age…
1 Like
What about a toryroo, 
1 Like
Another question I’ve always wondered about eggs: What determines whether it is single or double yoke ?
That’s just luck really, again younger hens will often do them.
Here is our double wired and batonned down windows, where the original weasel attack got in, don’t think they’d get through tbh.
I’m just having a little sit near them do they get used to me! They don’t seem scared if me really, just a bit unsure about life in general 
3 Likes
Don’t they, or foxes, tunnel in though?