Recent content by bantamofopera

  1. bantamofopera

    21 chickens and all of a sudden NONE of them are laying

    Does sound like they are molting. I am waiting for eggs from new spring chicks now (fingers crossed they start laying before it gets really cold!!. But my old flock would always slow down, then quit altogether in November and December. We'd start getting a few eggs in January, and usually have...
  2. bantamofopera

    When can I expect eggs from these 5??

    I am in the same boat, waiting for my 22-week old new flock to start laying. However it is getting cold here in Vermont, so I'm really hoping they will lay before winter really starts. I notice the Australorps are still getting feathers in around their heads (it's easy to see the new feathers on...
  3. bantamofopera

    Bantam rooster with heavy breed hens?

    Thanks! I may try one of the new boys in with the big girls then, and see how that goes. Probably the hardest thing will be that he will want to get back in with mama and the other flock. I guess we will see what happens! Maybe I'll wait a bit so they can get a bit bigger.
  4. bantamofopera

    Bantam rooster with heavy breed hens?

    This may be a totally off-the wall question, but here goes. I have both bantams and heavy breed egg layers (EE, White Rock, Australorp, one old grandma Buff Rock). I also have some OEG Bantams. They have always been kept in separate coop/runs -- we got our original flock from our neighbors and...
  5. bantamofopera

    OEG Bantam cockerels, 9 weeks old (southern Vermont)

    2 Free Bantam rooster chicks. Old English Game Banties -- father is silver duckwing and mother is black. 9 Weeks old, been going out with the mama hens since they were days old. Parents very handsome and healthy, but we can't have 3 roosters in our pen!! If you have bantam hens, you should...
  6. bantamofopera

    How long to keep laying Hens???

    FWIW, our flock of 8 (7 4 years old and 1 9 years old) was still giving us 6 eggs a day in the height of summer this year. They took a break for molting in December and then the eggs returned starting in January, right though a cold VT winter. We could start selling extras again by mid February...
  7. bantamofopera

    integrating 2 month old pullets with existing flock

    From what I've read, it's fine to have the layers on grower feed as long as you give them some calcium in a separate feed, free choice (the pullets won't be interested in it). If they've been able to see each other all along and it's a big amount of space, I'd think they will be fine to combine...
  8. bantamofopera

    Keeping backyard flock productive/profitable - what to do w/ the Old Girls

    FWIW, we found a home for 7 4-year old birds this summer (craigslist). They are joining another flock and will lay for the summer until they become meat for another family. We just didn't have time to do it ourselves this year, so we passed them on. At 4 years, though, we were still getting on...
  9. bantamofopera

    Down to 2, get more or leave them be?

    I agree with the post above -- you don't want to be down to one chicken. As far as integrating babies and old birds, FWIW, we just found a home for our 4-year-old girls (who were still laying well, so I didn't want to send them to the freezer, but I didn't want to feed them through another...
  10. bantamofopera

    MOS feed supplement? and Poulin vs Morrisons in Vermont

    But is it really necessary in a backyard flock? Anyone out there using this type of feed? Noticing a difference? I'm leaning towards staying with the organic feed at this point, unless I hear that the MOS supplement is going to make my birds look significantly more fabulous. longevity evidently...
  11. bantamofopera

    MOS feed supplement? and Poulin vs Morrisons in Vermont

    So we have been feeding our flock Organic feed from Morrisons Feed. We are in VT so prefer to feed a locally produced feed. Even if the grain is brought in, it keeps things somewhat local and we like to support Vermont-owned businesses where possible. We also prefer organic if we can. A local...
  12. bantamofopera

    When can I adopt out baby roos?

    I agree, but my husband loves Henry. He carries him around while he does chicken chores (I just lock him out!). Also, how would it be having one of the youngsters if we want to breed more chicks? there will be 4 hens who are his sisters, and one of the other 4 his mom. Is that okay? We can't...
  13. bantamofopera

    Easter Egger Sexing "tips and tricks" *Pictures Included*

    Okay, thanks! We love Opal, she is quite the character! Glad she's going to be making us breakfast. This thread has been very helpful. I have taken all the EE's off 'rooster watch!"
  14. bantamofopera

    When can I adopt out baby roos?

    One of our banty hens hatched out 6 eggs 8 weeks ago. Two are roos (lucky us, we get 4 more hens for tiny eggs). As Papa is quite aggressive (no one goes in the coop without boots on!) we are afraid the extra roos might not be a good idea. Any thoughts from people who have raised flocks of OEG...
  15. bantamofopera

    i hope i don't come home to disaster

    We also have used electrified netting and not worried; I think it's a good deterrent. I don't think anything will climb over a hot fence, but I could be wrong (anyone?). That said, I better go chase my babies in now!
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