I'll be selling some laying hens in south central Indiana(nr Seymour) in the next couple of weeks. Born March '07-March '08. Breeds for sale include Barred Rocks, Ameraucanas, one buff orp, Rhode Islands, and a few brown leghorns. I may add some New Hampshires and red sex links. In total...
My chicken operation has worked out well thanks to this site. I may have the use of a nice fenced pasture within walking distance and would like to get the low-down on raising some goats for milk.
Any links appreciated.
PW
I'm looking to buy about 50 of the aluminum leg bands for my flock so that when my 12 weekers are full grown I'll know who is who.
Where can I buy these? Does anyone want to sell me 50?
Thanks!
Polychickens
For those of you who update your flock periodically for maximum egg production, at what age does this make the most sense? I have heard that a chicken can lay for years, but that peak production is around 28 weeks and slowly declines after that. So, how long do you keep paying their upkeep vs...
My New Hampshires lay the biggest eggs and are the nicest by far of the breeds I have which are:
New Hampshires
Rhode Island Reds
Ameraucanas
Brown Leghorns
Barred Rocks
Buff Oprington
I am getting around 24 eggs per day from my 42 hens. Some of the hens are a year old and I'm wondering if there is a practical way to determine who is still laying consistently without spending 10 hours/day in the coop for a week.
I am in this for the eggs and would like to move any...
OK, one of my barred rocks started sitting on half dozen eggs 2-3 weeks ago. She sits night and day except occasionally gets some food or drink. There's the problem. Her nest box seems to be a favorite of many hens and they opportunistically hop in if the BR ever leaves. Today, I see eggs...
I rank my brown layers like this, according to your criteria:
1. New Hampshires
2. RIR-close second but slightly smaller
3. Barred Rocks
4. Buff Orps
While the Buff Orp egg is larger than the BR, it is not as regular. Fewer eggs, less friendly than the others listed, and they seem to eat...
If so, that's what I found a minute ago when I broke open a barred rock egg laid today.
Does that mean these eggs are capable of hatching a chick?
Thanks!
Thanks for the pic Cynthia. I want to make sure I see the white spot/ring. In the pic above, there appears to be a face in the yolk..like the man in the moon. Is the spot you refer to the 'nose' on the face I'm seeing?
Thanks!
PW
I added a couple barred rocks to the mating group. I hear their chicks would be black sex links. The BR's tend to want to sit. As soon as I put one BR with this group, she hopped into the nest box and claimed the RIR eggs. I added hers from today to see what happens.
Judging from the...
I have one 10-11 month old RIR rooster who has been mixed with 40+ hens of various breeds.
If I seperate 8 RIR hens and the RIR rooster today, how long would it be before I could expect RIR chicks? They have food/water, bedding, shelter, outside run, and nest boxes. What else should I be...
Today I seperated 8 RIR hens and my only rooster (also a RIR) from the rest of my breeds.
What is the best way to get some RIR chicks? Should I leave all the eggs produced for a certain amount of time and see what happens?
I'm wondering what would be the most efficient way of getting some...
Down the street from the local TSC is an 'Orscheln' chain farm store. This morning I paid $6.79 per 40# of 16% layer crumbles and $6.00 per 50# of whole corn.
$27.11 for 180# of feed and I still gripe about it. Depending on the current sales, sometimes my hens are eating corn only, sometimes...
The run attached to the coop is bare, wet and muddy. Winters here are wet and nasty. The shavings in the coop itself are pretty damp and have pretty much turned to dirt after around 3 months(deep litter).
I had planned to add new shavings on top and change the whole deal twice/year, but it...
'Just wondering what kind of lights you have? '
Flood light bulbs...flourescent bulbs which are the equvalent of the 65watt floods like can lights use. Should I try something else? I'm up for it if I could jumpstart them back into production.
Lets see, I got my first eggs August 7th from my 21 weekers, so that makes my oldest around 38 weeks. Some are 34 weeks. Others, including the ameraucanas are around 28-30 weeks. I also have some younger gals that aren't laying age yet.
PC