My girls are very happy and lay on a consistent basis now. I know that I have a faithful double yoker and that is always a "good thing". Each day I pluck an arm full of grass and weeds to feed the hens and they love it.
The hen and rooster Australorp's I have with the hens now get along great. They are as big as the full grown hens and able to defend themselves. When the cage of pure Austraorps start laying eggs I will allow the brooder hens to go ahead and brood on some eggs and keep them apart from the others.
I cannot tell you what a difference a metal container made for automatic watering and feeding has made in the cost of food and time it takes to upkeep the flock! Well worth the cost.
