Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[Crafty-Duck]

Melabella, I am waiting to see when your Barred Rock starts laying! because your BR is ahead of mine and I'm not sure if they are early layers or not.

 

[Melabella]

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Barred Rock

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Breed Characteristics
Class:
American
Origin:
United States
Comb Type:
Single Comb
Egg Color:
Brown
Egg Size:
Large
Production:
Very Good
Matures:
Somewhat Early
Bird Size:
Heavy 6-7.5 lbs.
Broody:
Infrequently
Hardiness:
Very Cold Hardy
Personality:
Docile

"This old-time favorite lays brown eggs and is a popular dual-purpose breed. This breed is very friendly and is able to do well in cold weather. Plymouth Rocks have high egg production, a meaty body, a docile personality, and good hardiness all characteristics that would be a great addition to your flock!"

I started researching for the breeds I was going to pick by using the Meyer Hatchery catalog that showed up on my mailbox one day early last winter. I LOVE the look of the Barred Rock, and now thanks to Beekissed I would love to add some white rock to the mix. If you look at their little chart....it says they mature "somewhat early" what ever that means....lol. This chart is in comparison to the Golden Buff (red sex link) I ordered that refers to their maturity as "very early". Here is their discription for the Golden Buff.

Golden Buff

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Also known as Golden Comet, Golden Sex Link, Cinnamon Queen, and Red Star. This[FONT=Frutiger-Cn, sans-serif] hen is[/FONT] a leader in the brown egg market and is by far the most popular bird we sell. Customers favor this bird for its large eggs and quiet temperament. These birds are sex-Linked, which means the sex of the chicks can be determined by their color when they hatch. Mature hens have a soft buff- red color and roosters are white with darker wing, neck and tail feathers.

I think my red sex links will be the first to lay, but then again, one of my RIR has the largest comb and waddles of all, and they are super red! Funny, I have 5 different breeds. I have only 1 Columbian Wyandotte pullet as the other one turned out to be a suprise Roo. She still has a small and very pale comb. I think she will be the last to lay. Out of the other 4 breeds...one of them has large comb and waddles that are super red, and the other of it's breed partner is behind, with small combs and red. I am going to try and snap some update pics.. but it is dreary miserable rainy but very cold here today. We were going to go and cut down our Christmas tree today, bleh.




Diana Mallory says her red sex links started laying at 14 weeks. She has a second flock of them she is integrating with her 8 month old flock. I am very hopeful my red sex links will lay soon, would be a great Christmas present. I was away all day yesterday, and DH did all the chores. Poor guy, I talk his ear off with chicken facts I have learned all day! He has taken quite a shine to them, and I think he is happy that we ended up with a suprise roo.. some male companionship. He loves letting them out in the morning. (I want an automatic door for Christmas!) He said he thought he saw one of the hens squatting for Duke yesterday. He didn't see Duke actually mount her, but thought he was preening for her and such. Only thing is... it was the CW,, not the girls that are seemingly farther down the maturity trail than her...so who knows!

Crafty D,

I LOVE that little compilation of your photos! What a cute Christmas card it would make! I am so envious of you talented artistic types! Your BR's look exactly like mine did just a few weeks ago! They started with the red faces first. We are just a few weeks apart! YIPPIE!

I am getting very excited!

MB

 

[Crafty-Duck]

Thanks for the info MB!!!!!
When I got chickens I just got the kind the feed store had so I had very little knowledge about breeds!

I am also getting very excited!!!!! we are getting closer and closer to eggs

As for the picture anyone can do it!!!! I use a FREE site called Picmonkey.com a free photo editing site that is REALLY EASY to use.

 

[Melabella]

Snapped this picture of my Rhode Island Red named Charlotte

She is starting to reddin up and grow a comb as well!

I'm just so stinking excited that maybe by Christmas I may have an egg from one of the girls! I was thinking that this time of year may be a bit helpful to have them learn to use their nest boxes as they won't be out free ranging as much. I read on a thread not sure where at the moment, when new layers are getting to point of lay (POL), you should keep them in their coop/run until the afternoon as they will get in the habit of laying in their boxes. If my girls start laying out around the property, I'm out of luck, as there are so many places to hide eggs, I would NEVER see an egg. Wouldn't that be something, after all this care, concern, effort not to mention expense, we'd never see eggs! Urrrggg!

Here is Charlotte,

 

[Crafty-Duck]

This is my RIR she has been laying for about 4 months or so!!!! so yours MB is getting there

 

[Melabella]

This is my RIR she has been laying for about 4 months or so!!!! so yours MB is getting there

how old is she CD? She is pretty, love the stink eye!

 

[Crafty-Duck]

7 months old

 

[Crafty-Duck]

I know she was around 5 months when she did start laying.

 

[Crafty-Duck]

This is my RIR she has been laying for about 4 months or so!!!! so yours MB is getting there

So she has been laying for 2 months! not 4!!! I knew when I wrote that it sounded wrong

 

[Melabella]

So she has been laying for 2 months! not 4!!! I knew when I wrote that it sounded wrong

Maybe you are so flippin happy to have eggs, you just plain forgot how to subtract! LOL!