I think it might fit here best.
out of my little flock I have 2 Barred Rocks. they are coming 3, 2nd year laying.
In winter they went through a hard molt.
Now one of them looks more like a calico than the previous black and white pattern.
the discoloration is as far as I can tell symetrical...
For those of you who managed to get one, when do you read it?
My uncle had one, almost 40 years ago, I am sure I drove him mad, as I found them highly entertaining to reset, but I had no clue how they worked or what they could possibly be for. (yes, he was a Farmer)
Now I know and covet one.
that fabled feed that makes chickens stop laying eggs without killing them?
I need a break from all them eggs, y'all.
j/k
the girls are molting but not really slowing at this time.
the 'how it started - how it's going' thread.
Well, after a long year of being sick, my husband passed away, a couple weeks shy of his 61st (which I had told him we would be celebrating, as he had fallen sick before his 60th)
So my first full year of egg production was largely for naught, as I...
Sorry, no picture.
My mother-in-law has been given eggs by a friend that are HUMONGOUS!!
they are every bit of 4 inches long and have 2 to 3 yolks. those eggs do not fit into a regular egg carton. The lid won't close, and you can't put them side by side in. (she had a few other eggs to stagger...
So, turns out my RIR eats eggs.
I watched as one of the Barred Rocks layed her egg and swift as a greased lightning my little red bird shot into the nest and cracked it before I could step in.
A little while later I came in and watched as one of my Ameraucanas did her thing. I felt bad swiping...
Life has gone off the rails tis year so I lost track of my egg production. (thankfully they seem to be slowing down at this time)
I figured I grab a few of the older eggs and prepare dinner for the pets, scamble them and throw some tuna in with it.
Well, tuna was out, sardine was it.
As I...
So this year has been busy in all the bad ways imaginable.
My husband is in month 10 of a severe illness that followed my recovery from cancer treatment (colon, surgically removed, the chemo was more of a prophylactic measure, but still, it saps you)
In the meantime, we have had a very good...
Maybe it's random, but it might help folks out who are looking to start on their chicken adventure.
So nearing on the 1 year anniversary to be owned by 5 feathered friends I learned a few things
1) Don't name the chickens.
Sure, for most of us, they are pets, destined to live a long life with...
K, Seems I have 2 girls that don't get along.
One of the Barred Rocks is chasing one of the Ameraucanas every chance she gets.
The poor girl is getting bald along the side of the head. (so much for 8x8=64 - enough for 5 birds. Maybe the square shape isn't working?)
My spare 'coop' does not...
So my life is chaotic, I started the attempt to track my hens' productivity.
And I realized I get next to no eggs from my Barred Rock girls.
All I am getting are the large RIR eggs and a steady stream of smaller greenish beige ones. I have not gotten a pink one. last week.
I did find the...
I love a soft boiled egg for breakfast, but I have ADOS, and my egg cooker does not have an alarm when the eggs are done. Yesterday I boiled 4 eggs, set to 'soft' and when I remembered they had progressed to hard. A perfect creamy yolk, but not runny, as desired.
It is the 'Copper' brand egg...
Having been out of town for a while, then collecting my own eggs, I had not checked prices until I casually glanced at eggs in Aldi. I was shocked to see them go for $4 and up.
I have 5 hens that lay regularly, no production lines, just 'casual' layers. I have plenty of eggs for our needs, I...
Well, not precisely.
I have one RIR, and the girl surprised me with massive brown eggs, on par with a storebought 'large'
I have 2 Ameraucanas which give me lovely light greenish-beige eggs, I get 2 most days.
My to Barred Rocks have me wondering.
I don't get as many of their pinkish brown eggs...
I did not latch the run today.
Not sure what happened, I generally wiggle the door, to make sure (Hawk and Doggies, you know)
And I glance into the back yard, my 5 ladies were happily roaming the grounds.
Not that I don't understand it, their run has been stripped bare by them.
Just the...
being 10 degrees this morning, 'feeling like -4' I went out to check on my girls and bring them fresh water.
The lone egg (I thought I heard her lay it about an hour earlier) was very cold.
So I gave them their morning seeds, put down the water (last nights waterer was frozen to the blocks...
I am a poultry novice (n00b, to be precise)
This spring I bought 5 chicks. My husband wanted ducks.
and lordy ducklings are so precious.
However, we have no natural water source on the property, so I declined.
I am partial to runner ducks though, because they are just so goofy looking, they...