2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

Here are the benefits

View attachment 1581994

thank you, I'm very interested in this, I'll ask my supplier either for this or a UK equivalent as I'm sure there should be one.

 

[CannedMonster]

When we got Pedro and Jellybean, they were in the 1-3 weeks section, we think Pedro was closer to 3 weeks because on that day the remainder chicks/ducklings were moved to the 3/5 weeks area and Jellybean we think was closer to one week when we got her because we got her a week after we got Pedro and on the day we got Pedro, Jellybean wasn't in there, so are assuming she was amongst the smaller chicks in the up to 1 week pen, next to the pen Pedro was in. We got Pedro on 14th May, and got Jellybean 20th May this year, so Pedro approx 27 weeks, and Jellybean approx 25 weeks, neither are laying yet, Jellybean still has a little yellow yet to turn red and Pedro although completely red now still has very short comb and wattles, neither do the submissive thing POL's and hens do, so I think they have a way to go as yet.

Mine never did the submissive squat.
They never have.
I don’t use that as a clue because not all of them do it.
The color and size of comb and wattles are a good indicator as well as constantly checking out the nest boxes.
Agatha and Emily had red combs/wattles for weeks before they started and they were in and out of the nest boxes quite a bit too.
Should be soon

 

[CannedMonster]

Do you have access to flax bedding? I highly recommend it.

Here are its benefits(great for ammonia--100% dust free)

View attachment 1581993

I really want this stuff!!
Where do you source it?
Is it available online?
Thanks for sharing this!

 

[llombardo]

I really want this stuff!!
Where do you source it?
Is it available online?
Thanks for sharing this!

My local feed store. I just happened to see it there one day. I would start at a feed store--not TSC but a local feed store.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Here are the benefits

View attachment 1581994

What is the brand name? Maybe that might help to search for it? If that's a no-no for the forums, just ignore me, lol

 

[CannedMonster]

My local feed store. I just happened to see it there one day. I would start at a feed store--not TSC but a local feed store.

Unfortunately our local feed store closed last month after many years in business.
In the last two years our small town has had a TSC open and a D & B Supply also.
They just couldn’t compete
I asked at D & B if they had flax bedding but he said no.
People are slow to embrace new things out here but I had already heard of flax bedding and it’s many benefits.
I just couldn’t find any even online but that was a year or two ago.

 

[llombardo]

I don't know the name brand. I can see if I can find out. It comes in a plain brown bag.

 

[CannedMonster]

I don't know the name brand. I can see if I can find out. It comes in a plain brown bag.

Unfortunately there’s no source out west here.
However, I have found a source for hemp bedding which looks good.
It’s more expensive than flax but it might be worth it.
My biggest issue with pine shavings is that they remove nitrogen from the soil and I’m trying to compost my soiled bedding and the shavings take forever to break down.
Hemp bedding doesn’t have the nitrogen issue and is dust free and fairly absorbent.
I’ll jump at the chance for flax bedding as soon as there’s an available source near here.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Mine never did the submissive squat.
They never have.
I don’t use that as a clue because not all of them do it.
The color and size of comb and wattles are a good indicator as well as constantly checking out the nest boxes.
Agatha and Emily had red combs/wattles for weeks before they started and they were in and out of the nest boxes quite a bit too.
Should be soon

I'm trying to get some good pics to put on here so is to show their comb/wattle development - They've both had deep red W&C's since summer, both have a small area at the side still in process of turning colour, (one more than the other). Pedro sometimes joins in with Lilah singing her egg song and has sung it by herself a few times lately, plus often when Lilah is in the nest box, Pedro jumps into the hutch and starts cautiously nosing around but as soon as she gets too close to the nest area, Lilah screams, which scares Pedro off. Fact that Pedro has been doing this a lot lately makes me wonder if she's getting ready to lay.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

My sex link Red, and my SLW were all hatched in late August.
Red started laying at 20 weeks in January and the Wyandottes started a couple of weeks later.
My 11 teenage girls should start in December, I think.
I’ve tracked their ages on the calendar so it’ll be cool to compare with yours.

Hows it going with Red and the soft shell eggs? Is she better now?