Red Star Chickens

The newest addition to our laying flock: six ten-week-old Red Star pullets. They currently live in the garage in a cage I constructed in 50 minutes from on-hand items. They'll join the rest of our flock by the end of July, but right now they are too small to mix with the full-grown hens.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• chickens
• hens
• layers
• pullets
• Red Star chickens
• backyard eggs
• homegrown eggs
• small chicken flock

[WoWluver10]

you guve them newspaper??

i give my red stars some woodchips, they love that stuff

[SmaSelf]

Never tried woodchips, but then I never had such young chickens, either. I usually buy layers rather than pullets.

Newspaper makes good bedding, plus by using it here I reuse it; I like that. Newspaper (probably woodchips too) makes the clean-up effort easier. I simply push it into a big ole snow scoop and haul it up to the garden where the paper becomes mulch. I'm a recycling kinda gal. :)

[robologist]

Looks like a lot of fun! One thing I've wanted to try if ever getting chickens is a henspa, a sort of movable chicken coop.

[SmaSelf]

I've seen video of those. Chicken Tractors, I think they call them.

If you can get chickens, do. Fresh eggs put even organic free range store bought eggs to shame.

[robologist]

That could be, these were on henspa-dot-com. Thought of making my own like some of theirs.

I remember fresh eggs, were pretty good.

[SmaSelf]

Last fall (read: pumpkin pie baking season :)) we had to buy store eggs. I hope never to have to do that again.

Just checked out the henspa site. WOWZERS! Great set-up. Love the egg collection feature. It looks like they have thought of everything.

[MrBagginsEsq]

Egg a day at 10 weeks! Man I need that chicken!

[vanssweetie]

I agree about the newspaper, is poisonous...also, don't use pine or cedar shavings if you are planning on keeping your birds long...the fumes can give them respitory problems and eventually lead to their death. Hay and straw are great and cheap, and the birds like to pick at the seeds in the hay. Just compost it before putting hay into your garden, it will obviously sprout...

[fratermus]

@WoWluver10 Newspaper or shredded paper works fine. It does compact down faster and so has to be changed more often. I toss mine in the compost.

[trailtreeisland]

Awesome! I love my red star. She is my most personable hen. Stands on my shoulder as soon as she sees me!

[ruanbegfreerange]

don't go putting them on newspaper, newspaper has ink, Botchilism and CRD can result from that.

I would try Medicated Strawchip,100% more absorbant, clinically sterile treated for salmonella, and also biodegradable when it comes to manure processing. News papers will poison your hens, by the way I love your accent

peace

[PineappleMama]

Oh they are just beautiful girls!!