[Everdeen]

I know, the chickens who lay store bought eggs are housed in such cruel conditions.

My chickens are so funny. We often watch Chicken TV. When they see me coming, they come running like a bunch of puffed up bar bouncers. Then they walk in a tightly banded clutch in front of me, so that I can barely step without stepping on one of them.

Their egg laying is tapering off now that it is darker for more hours. I understand that as we get closer to the winter solstice, they will stop laying altogether and then pick back up in February. Some people add artificial light to keep production up (that's what they do at the factory farms and then discard the hens after a year or two), but I think they need a break. Producing an egg a day is quite taxing. I also read that that will keep them producing for a longer period of their lifespan.

A couple of years ago, I knew someone who lost some hens due to the heat. If we were going to keep hens in LV, I would have hooked up a swamp cooler or something.

[macgeek]

I have a temperature controlled / timed mister for the coop, built out of parts I got on ebay.
I think the whole thing cost me $20

Two summers already, and my girls have been great, no real panting, or feather spreading.
I also keep an area of the coop dry with just sand, they love taking dirt baths in that and digging down to the
cool earth below

Jonathan

[UTES]

Originally Posted by macgeek

Free range chickens are given 4x the space of a production chicken, this is a farce calling them 'free range" but that is the term allowed by law.. Also they are kept indoors with bright florescent lights on 24/7.

Yes - when I referenced "free-range" I meant it literally. My friend has a ranch and breeds horses. The chickens roam the stalls and eat pretty much what they want. They spend the night in coops due to predators. Chickens love to pick through horse and cow manure.

Bill

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by UTES

Yes - when I referenced "free-range" I meant it literally. My friend has a ranch and breeds horses. The chickens roam the stalls and eat pretty much what they want. They spend the night in coops due to predators. Chickens love to pick through horse and cow manure.

Bill

Oh yeah, fresh worms in that there horse poop. That's gourmet time for a chicken!

[UTES]

Originally Posted by NLVgal

Oh yeah, fresh worms in that there horse poop. That's gourmet time for a chicken!

Yes - lots of bugs too. My friend hesitates to tell people that his chickens primarily eat what's in horse poop. It doesn't bother me knowing it when eating the eggs, but some would probably get a bit grossed out. Heck, the best vegetables are fertilized with manure - and people seem O.K. with that. The thing with the chickens eating it is the same thing.

Bill

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by UTES

Yes - lots of bugs too. My friend hesitates to tell people that his chickens primarily eat what's in horse poop. It doesn't bother me knowing it when eating the eggs, but some would probably get a bit grossed out. Heck, the best vegetables are fertilized with manure - and people seem O.K. with that. The thing with the chickens eating it is the same thing.

Bill

I always smirk when I see egg cartons that say " vegetarian hens". Heh. Not if that hen can get ahold of a bug or worm.

[irishspy]

Do your free range chickens send only pictures to your phone but never say anything !!!!lol

[UTES]

Originally Posted by irishspy

Do your free range chickens send only pictures to your phone but never say anything !!!!lol

Love that commercial.

Bill

[robojester]

I would love some for baking !

[macgeek]

robo there are a LOT of 'backyard farmers' in town that sell eggs, look on craigslist or tell me what part of town you are in, and I can tell you who is close.

Jonathan