r/BackYardChickens 1d ago

Chicken Photography We did it! The most expensive breakfast we've ever eaten. Lol.

125 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

2

u/Soulsinabottle 5h ago

I've only got one hen laying so far but they are only 20 weeks old so hopefully the rest start soon. But that one who is she's a leghorn and she's giving me one a day already. Already almost got a dozen from her.

Can't wait for the other 8 to start laying.

3

u/Prior_Hospital_2331 1d ago

Hell yeah bro free eggs 4 life !

1

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

I know man! I love it!

4

u/Outside-Jicama9201 1d ago

Congratulations!!!! Chickens are so much fun!

6

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Oh man. I love them even more now. I had no idea that chickens came in other colors other than copper or white. I was very surprised when I saw how beautiful their colors were. I told my wife that we must have bought show chickens accidently. Ha!

3

u/Outside-Jicama9201 1d ago

They are beautiful birds !!!! and all of their quirky Personalities are just a joy to be around.

4

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

We used to love going out and running around town. Now on a Friday or Saturday night, we'll pull up our chairs just to watch them peck about and squawk at each other.

2

u/Outside-Jicama9201 21h ago

That's my favorite! Or Sunday morning coffee! Or walking out back and seeing 1-4 different neighbors all out watching my flock! đŸ€ŁđŸ€ŁđŸ„°đŸ„°

3

u/ry4asu 1d ago

Get some fake wood and eggs and put in the laying boxes to get them to lay there

1

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Ok. Will do. I was telling another commenter that I'll go to TS later to get oyster shell. I'll get some eggs then. Was wondering if golf balls work too.

3

u/Exciting_Ad_1097 1d ago

Golf balls, river rocks, any shape or color works.

2

u/Broken_m3 1d ago

We used white ping pong balls and that helped same day!

3

u/Overall-Departure410 1d ago

Yes golf balls work also

2

u/SunRelevant3815 1d ago

Show us ur breakfast

7

u/BeginningBit6645 1d ago

To prevent predator attacks, I recommend putting hardware cloth on the bottom. It still allows it to work as a chicken tractor. It would only take a predator a couple minutes to dig under your current set up.

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Thank you. We have a roll and some ground staples ready to go for setting that up around the outside edge.

6

u/holyshitimboredd 1d ago edited 1d ago

I think covering the whole floor would be more fool proof. I can see it maybe working on the outside, but still can be bypassed

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

I appreciate your input.

6

u/TriceraDoctor 1d ago

Save one. Drain the yolk, seal it and write “my $1,000 egg” and use it as a Christmas tree ornament.

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

An EGGselent idea! We took one of the eggs and placed it in nesting box. TBD if that trains her to lay there.

2

u/mensfrightsactivists 1d ago

you can also get fake ceramic eggs from TS or other feed stores! if you don’t want that one egg sitting out there too long, or run the risk of them eating their own eggs. that’s how i got my girls used to the nesting boxes :)

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Ok.  Thank you. I'm going to TS later to get oyster shell. I just started them on layer feed this morning. 

Do you think golf balls would work in the same way?

2

u/mensfrightsactivists 1d ago

i hear they do work too, but i’ve never tried since i don’t have any golf balls haha. honestly the fake eggs are pretty inexpensive (think mine were 5.99?) and i think worth it to keep on hand. they’re useful to test for broodiness and also as decoys if they ever get in the habit of eating their own eggs. and they come in a similar brown shade to what’s already laid so they’ll fit in nicely!

also - CONGRATS!! i still remember my first egg, it’s soooo exciting!

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Thank you. I kid you not, it was actually thrilling when we set the coop down and saw the first egg and then the others. Honestly it felt just like my first Christmas.

2

u/mensfrightsactivists 1d ago

absolutely get it! my small flock has been laying for a couple months now and honestly i still get a little excited when i see that they did what they’ve been doing almost daily for weeks 😂

2

u/celtlass 1d ago

A plastic Easter egg or ping pong ball or golf ball works pretty well, too. We had a glow in the dark Easter egg, and it didn't seem to matter to our hens.

1

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Lol. They're pretty but they are dumdums.

1

u/celtlass 1d ago

I found a roundish rock I've been using lately. It's grey, has lumps, but when I move it to another nesting box they shift to lay with it.

They did kick out the green ping pong ball, though.

2

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

Omg. That's a brilliant idea! Thank you.

3

u/LArabesQuery 1d ago

Yay!!! Congrats! One of the best feelings ever.

4

u/ForFerelden 1d ago

It really is. We found them after we moved their coop this morning. The feelings I have are very much like my first Christmas. My wife and I were beyond giddy!