[Dawn-Dreamer]

Hi I’m brand new to Freesteading and I have a few questions about chickens. I got my 4 girls April 2022, and although we only have a quarter acre it is fully fenced 6 ft. Height, and we have clipped their right wing twice. I’m wondering how often we have to clip them? Also my beloved and I want to get more this Spring, and I’m wondering if it’s a hard set rule that I need 12 hens to one rooster? Thanks bunches

[KimC]

Hi there, and welcome! You’ll probably get a better response if you copy and paste your question in the communities/groups such as The Barn and/or The Homestead (as in start a new discussion with your question). That may give you better feedback.

[Dawn-Dreamer]

Thank you for your helpful advice. I’m not really tech savvy being in my 60’s and having learned to type in school on a manual typewriter. Thankfully someone saw my question and answered with help pretty swiftly since I’m just learning how the forum works.

[KimC]

You’re welcome. Glad you got the info you needed. Please don’t hesitate to reach out any time. Happy to help if I’m able. God bless!

[Troupe]

Oh my, my little hammers, (fingers) i used to type on a manuel typewriter. I am in my 60s too.

[BlessedAcres]

I believe that one rooster is sufficient for 10-12 hens.

As for how often to trim the wings or if they need them trimmed more than once I do not know. I hope that someone else can help you with that.

[JillHillFarm]

Trim wings (one side only so they are unbalanced to fly) once a year after they molt and feathers grow back in. As to the rooster – if you have 15 hens, he can probably handle things but if you go over that, he might become overwhelmed, especially as he ages. Life’s a series of experiments. Relax and enjoy it. 😉

[crightonfamilyfarm]

I have collected eggs and put in my pockets as well. I try to be very careful. I forgot one day after collecting eggs from my coops and basket full so I put the egg in my pocket that didn’t fit. Forgot my phone was in it too. Bent over to do something and it cracked all over my cell phone. It was one costly egg.

[DonnaW]

That of course brings back memories of the time I sent my cellphone through the wash. Ran to the store and bought a new one, only to find out the first one dried out and then worked again.

[DoubleS]

I have a duck flock in my orchard and occasionally they lay a random egg after I let them loose in the morning. It is so rare, though, in the warm summer months that I don’t always think to check in the evening.

After I lock the ducks up in their pen for the night, I open the orchard gate and let my two Maremma puppies in to explore, dig, sniff, and just burn off their puppy energy. One day after I let them in I heard snarling and growling and snapping- not playing but a dog fight. I hadn’t noticed an egg on the ground in there and this was during a food aggression phase the boys went through. One of the boys found the egg, pranced around with the egg to tease the other who then obliged with an attack.

Needless to say, I never again forgot to check for stray eggs before letting the puppies in. I’ve also been addressing the food aggression situation with some success.

[DonnaW]

We have a 65 pound, 2 1/2 year old Lab/Hound mix, who loves eggs too. His name is Dudley. He’s a bit spoiled and likes his scrambled or hardboiled. We’re still getting plenty of eggs daily even with these NewEngland temps. We recently got about 8 -10 inches of wet snow. He loves jumping around in that and sticking his nose in it.

[cloudy]

Don’t you just hate it when you’re out in the coop and there is a random egg on the floor, so I say to myself now you’ll have to be careful as I slip the egg into my pocket of my jacket. I’m finally finished when I leaned on the side of the coop. I hear that sound and feel the crunch of wet sticky egg in my pocket.

[DonnaW]

I’ve done the same thing. When they lay one on the floor, it’s some times slightly buried and never In the same place. It’s all fun like an EasterEgg Hunt till you step on one. 🤪🥚

[Bassoforhire]

This egg OOPSIE wasn’t mine, but a dog’s. My grandfather had a Shepherd mix (in the 70s) named Tipper, who loved to help on their farm. Tipper would catch the baby chicks and hold them in his paws until Pa-pa could get them from him.

Tipper eventually taught himself to gather eggs from the nests, and leave them on the porch. One time time he tried to carry 3 in his mouth at one time, but one broke when he set it down. Poor Tipper was so mortified and ashamed!