When I was on Craigslist, I found a chicken swap site.  It has been great.  I have sold a few chickens and chicks and some fertilized Silkie eggs.  I am getting more eggs ready to sell, too.  Two more people want some.  I am excited about selling the eggs because I like to think of all the baby chicks that will be hatched out.

The bad part about this site is that it makes me want to buy more chickens.  I keep seeing so many pretty chickens that I have never heard of and wish I had.  But, I have to finish up what I have started before I start adding more yards and chickens.

Since getting rid of the eleven roosters, I am going to put the Americauna and Barred Rock hens together in my largest chicken yard (approximately 60 ft x 60ft) which is presently the BR yard.  I let them free range on about 1/2 acre.  I have 11 Americauna and 11 BR hens so that is not too many to have together.  I know they will peck and fight a little at first to get the pecking order but hopefully, they will adjust.  If I see one is being really aggressive, then I separate the mean one from the group for a little while (in a cage).  So far, that has worked for me.  Basically, I will put her in “time-out.”  I told you they are like kids to me, didn’t I?

The Americauna yard has two nice, large trees (Maple and Pop Corn, not the real name).  Since it opens into my Silkie yard, I can just open the gate and let the Silkies run in there for relief from the sun.  Their yard is newer and doesn’t have the shade that the two trees offer to the Americaunas.  I let the Americaunas free range into another part of my two acres so they don’t usually stay and enjoy the trees in the hot part of the day anyway.

So, that’s my new plan…move the Americaunas to the BR yard and open the Americauna yard to the Silkies.  I swear, the Silkies are definitely creatures of habit and I have a hard time getting them to move into new areas.  I guess I will have to throw little pieces of bread to lure them into the larger shaded yard. That I should video….