The plot thickens 🧐 So we confirmed this morning that the BCM looking mix is an olive egger. She lays VERY dark gray/green eggs. The white hen, which is most likely a silkie mix, consistently lays very small cream colored eggs. The orange chicken is not yet laying that we can tell, comb is not...
Ida Muntz
Ripley (the cloned one from Resurrection)
Tiny
Mama June 😳
Started out as Katniss Everdeen, however, Orange Chicken has caught on recently 🐼🍜
We got this dark gray egg today from one of our barnyard mixes! Not sure exactly which girl is responsible, but there are two possible suspects. Definitely had to do a double take seeing it in the nesting box 😆
That’s funny. With all of our prior hens it has been at least a week of bright red and nesting box curiosity.
We’ve also never had one lay this early. Most have been 20 weeks or more.
I’m also impressed she picked up the nesting box that quick.
I’m with you seeing the red come through in that last pic. I think the white one is probably close as well. (Curious to see what color egg she lays)
I tell ya, these gals have been hiding it well. They’ve been no where near that red.
Candidate 1 - BCM / Possible Mix
Candidate 2 - Barnyard Mix
Candidate 3 - Barnyard Mix (pretty sure this one is not laying, however, she has an almost moss colored face and comb)
Candidate 4 - 9 year old Buff Orpington (her comb and wattles haven’t been this red in years)
Got this nice little fairy or newbie brown egg with brown spots out of the nesting box today.
Earlier this week, we got a large, lightly painted version of the same egg.
Here’s where it gets interesting. None of our current laying hens lay that color with brown spots. The only possible...
So funny enough, I just mentioned to my wife the other day that I was not seeing as much diarrhea in the coop. As soon as this hen fluffed up and squealed at me, I knew why 😆
Our Buff Orpingtons were always a nightmare to break. Very stubborn.
This hen has always run somewhat faux broody, but...
Yep, the behavior you’re describing sounds like a broody hen. Leghorns as a breed tend to be less broody, so hopefully she breaks of it quickly. (If she hasn’t already)
I’m considering switching from large flake pine shavings to course concrete sand for bedding in the coop, both floor and poop board. The pine shavings we’ve been using for years seem to be getting more and more dusty, with less pine shavings and more debris per bag.
What has the experience been...
Poor Clover, though it sounds like she is still living the good life. That's great she stays in one spot for easy clean up.
I am so paranoid of poopy butt as our hen that had the loose stools years ago eventually got hit with fly strike because we were constantly cleaning her off, or she had...
Thanks for the info! I do suspect the egg quality issues might have to do with stress. She is a very nervous and shy hen. Being at the bottom of the pecking order, she gets pecked, corrected and chased off quite a bit. As big as she is, she is always trying to get under our head hen for...
Made an upgrade to the step ladder this past weekend, adding a swing. Yes, the overhead poop bombs are still a possibility, however, they really use this almost like monkey bars in a playground and not a long term roost. They are quite entertained with this thing.
Also started working on a...
Last update, I swear 😁
It is hard to get a good pic of her these days as she is always on the move, but I got a somewhat good shot of her in the sun this afternoon ☀️
Her official name is now Katniss Everdeen. Her coloring is pretty much on the posters for the first three movies 😏