The breeds I've raised over the years were all big dogs and only had one or two litters with less than 10. 12 was an average litter. Stock up on puppy food and start looking for homes.oops

Good job recruiting, wolftracks! Keep it up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by craz e laid e 

I wouldn't count on just 3 pups.  The litter I got my golden from was a litter of 12, and what I've beem told, they usually have large litters.   You can always hope, though.   
 

 

I thought the same thing!!  When my rottie female dog ( won't let me use technical words here)  was visited by the local boy, fortunately another rottie, she popped out EIGHT puppies. More work than chicks!!   Sold 6, kept 2.  

Golden x lab =  very pretty puppies! 

Originally Posted by Arielle 
Ok. I'm in. Officially.  Hoping the Ameraucana/EE will start laying soon. THey are young pullets and better get a move on. Need large eggs for this project; pullet eggs go in the egg cartons, not the incubator. Maybe they need a little more light!  ANyone know how much light and how long bfore the eggs start showing up??

A lot of people say that 14 hours of daylight are required for egg laying, but I'm getting eggs right now and we don't get up to 14 hours until May around here.   If you decide to supplement, aim for 14 hours total ending around your natural evening dusk. 

I haven't used any supplemental light, but my nine pullets went from an average of 1-3 eggs per day throughout the winter to 4-8 once we had 10 hours and 10 minutes of sunlight per day.  (If you're interested in day length as it relates to your latitude, I wrote a bit about it on my blog one day.)  Now, I know that this isn't supposed to have an effect, but I have also noticed that I seem to get more eggs during warmer weeks than cooler weeks. I'll have to actually lay the numbers out and see if there really is a correlation.

My Silver Ameraucanas laid just one egg between the two of them when they were 6 months old and then did not lay again until they were 9 months old.  The EEs were better and started laying at about 5 1/2 months and laid through winter. Maybe the line of EE/Ameraucanas you have tend to lay a bit later.

We have 27 days until we set chicken eggs!!  We aren't far from breaking last year's record of 170 participants, so if you don't see someone's name on the list that you know needs to be here, drag them over  invite them to join us!!  Some of the contests aren't open yet but you can do some preparation for them now!  Got a great design that others can use?  Get your photos and descriptions/instructions together now so you're ready.     Get your camera out and catch a good "flapper" photo to post when that contest starts.  Get those eggs lined up     if you're getting eggs from someone else, make sure your flock is prepared for the breeding season if you're hatching your own or providing eggs to someone else and get your incubator ready to go, including spare parts that might be needed! 

Mahonri, I defer to Mary's talents for this hatch since Kathy said she is doing the paper.  Maybe I will work on something for during the hatch.  I haven't been able to spend a lot of time playing on the computer.  I have a hard enough time catching up each morning before going to my on line courses.    Just a few more months to a degree then two more years for the bachelor's.  Doing on line courses through University of Phoenix. 

Anyway, saw this on FB and it had me cracking up.  Soooooooooooooo true!

I don't fly them any more, I fly a desk now but this had me giggling

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChestnutRidge 

A lot of people say that 14 hours of daylight are required for egg laying, but I'm getting eggs right now and we don't get up to 14 hours until May around here.   If you decide to supplement, aim for 14 hours total ending around your natural evening dusk. 

 

I haven't used any supplemental light, but my nine pullets went from an average of 1-3 eggs per day throughout the winter to 4-8 once we had 10 hours and 10 minutes of sunlight per day.  (If you're interested in day length as it relates to your latitude, I wrote a bit about it on my blog one day.)  Now, I know that this isn't supposed to have an effect, but I have also noticed that I seem to get more eggs during warmer weeks than cooler weeks. I'll have to actually lay the numbers out and see if there really is a correlation.

 

My Silver Ameraucanas laid just one egg between the two of them when they were 6 months old and then did not lay again until they were 9 months old.  The EEs were better and started laying at about 5 1/2 months and laid through winter. Maybe the line of EE/Ameraucanas you have tend to lay a bit later.

 

 

THanks--just what I needed.  Will see if a little light improves their thinking about eggs. Using the Am to improve the egg coloring, but the EE sure lay a huge egg almost everyday!

Thanks for the link. Must go read.

Back. Great read. I too noticed a decrease in egg production when the weather hit the 8 degree mark for a couple days. Thought is was just a co-incidence when the weather dropped again, and the egg production droped again. I think your on to something there regarding temperature and egg laying rates. 

Will hope for warmer weather in early March when it's time to collect eggs for the hatch-a -long!