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

[Melabella]

Hey everyone, I have missed a few days, so exciting to see news of first eggs - and how beautiful they are!

My 4 girls have taken the shortening days of autumn seriously and I only get an egg most days for the RIR now. Roll on June 22nd and the shortest day (in Australia anyway)! And thank goodness I froze my excess eggs when they first started. They are all 11 months old now and:

Beetle the Australorp had 2 days being broody in the sin bin. That stopped her, but she laid one egg then hasn't since.

Barnie the Barnevelder just stopped a month ago. Losing a few feathers but may not be a full moult. Happy and healthy but laying is clearly not on her agenda.She still sings her loud, lovely egg song most days, but I think she is just a tease.

Sylvia the Silver Campine is moulting, She currently has no tail whatsoever and looks ridiculous. At least she isn't bald but I guess it could get worse!

And my sweetest girl, Ladybird the RIR lays most days but has Bumblefoot - a small black lesion on both feet. I only checked because she stopped going onto the roost at night, instead settling into the sugar cane mulch (like straw) on the floor of the coop. I am treating her with Betadine and only hope it doesn't get worse. I mention an avian vet to my husband. He frowns..... I give determined look (a lot like the stink eye). No prizes for who will win - if it comes to that.

Meantime, she isn't limping and is eating and drinking well, so I try not to worry too much. They are such dear members of the family now.

All the best to you all in the chicken adventure
Katrina

Hi Katrina!

So sorry to hear about the bumble foot, I have often worried and wondered if that will come one day here. I have read a lot about it, and don't think I would be up to the task of removing it after soaking in warm water and Epsom salts! Here is a link on it with some useful information..http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/search/label/Bumblefoot Keep us posted on how it's going, I hope she gets well soon.

I too find myself worrying about the slow down, and the egg stoppage, but as my DH says. please try to enjoy the eggs now, and not worry about what you can't control! True words The leaves are finally coming to the trees in little buds. The weather is heating up every day. I am so hapy that finally we will get to put away the winter clothing, and enjoy the freedom of walking out the door with just a tee shirt and jeans!

Have a good day all,
MB

 

[Spikes Chooks]

Thanks MB, that article is useful. I love the photo of the chicken sitting prettily in her warm water bath. I hope I find soaking this easy!

Here is today's heartwarming story of chicken family love. I posted details of the problem to the Australian Poultry Forum I belong to and most cautioned against trying foot surgery as a beginner and suggested the soaking - then taking her to a good avian vet if it gets worse. So I asked my local Sydney Poultry Facebook group for vet recommendations - and a lovely woman who is a (human) doctor offered to do it for me, if it proves necessary. She has done it several times on her own chooks and, as a qualified doctor, I would feel so much better if she did it. DH and I can watch closely, in case we ever try ourselves. And take that lady a very nice bottle of wine to say thank you. Perfect strangers, reaching out to help each other, I call that The Chicken Effect

With any luck I won't need to take up her offer, but after a couple of days of worrying about it, a great weight has lifted from me. Ladybird is such a sweetheart, friendly and calm so I will keep a close eye on her to see if it worsens.

Happy egg waiting, one and all!
Katrina

 

[Melabella]

Oh that is wonderful! Wish I knew someone here like that. Now I am scanning my brain to see if I know any health care providers or doctors I could ask to do the deed if need be! It's a plus that she knows chickens as well! Vetwrap is such a wonderful thing, and can be cut into strips to keep the whole thing clean. I have also read about minding the protein intake of birds as this can be related to that issue. Could also be caused by an injury too. i recently had to sit and cut some 100 spikes off of the wire that was laid down under the dirt that my handyman did not cut when he built the coop run. I guess the girls had worn down the dirt covering it,, and I noticed they were sticking up. All he had to do was trim the welded wired correctly. I found myself sitting on a stool on the floor of the run, trimming each one, and making sure I didn't leave a piece, surely one of the girls swallowing it would create havoc on their insides! grrrrrr...

MB

 

[jklyles1]

Thanks MB, that article is useful. I love the photo of the chicken sitting prettily in her warm water bath. I hope I find soaking this easy!

Here is today's heartwarming story of chicken family love. I posted details of the problem to the Australian Poultry Forum I belong to and most cautioned against trying foot surgery as a beginner and suggested the soaking - then taking her to a good avian vet if it gets worse. So I asked my local Sydney Poultry Facebook group for vet recommendations - and a lovely woman who is a (human) doctor offered to do it for me, if it proves necessary. She has done it several times on her own chooks and, as a qualified doctor, I would feel so much better if she did it. DH and I can watch closely, in case we ever try ourselves. And take that lady a very nice bottle of wine to say thank you. Perfect strangers, reaching out to help each other, I call that The Chicken Effect

With any luck I won't need to take up her offer, but after a couple of days of worrying about it, a great weight has lifted from me. Ladybird is such a sweetheart, friendly and calm so I will keep a close eye on her to see if it worsens.

Happy egg waiting, one and all!
Katrina

Good to hear and hoping for a fast recovery for your girl. Just in case...i am a nurse and i will study hard on Bumblefoot surgery and come running to Australia to help!!! LOL Its #1 on my list of travel places...since I was a little girl. My daughter was recently in a pageant and the judges asked her this question: "If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?" She said without hesitation..AUSTRALIA! Because they have tons of animals I've never seen before!...shes 7 yrs old. I thought that was a great answer!!!

Keep us posted!

 

[Melabella]

Good to hear and hoping for a fast recovery for your girl. Just in case...i am a nurse and i will study hard on Bumblefoot surgery and come running to Australia to help!!! LOL Its #1 on my list of travel places...since I was a little girl. My daughter was recently in a pageant and the judges asked her this question: "If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?" She said without hesitation..AUSTRALIA! Because they have tons of animals I've never seen before!...shes 7 yrs old. I thought that was a great answer!!!

Keep us posted!

Well why don't you start with smaller trips to help people in New York area! What a sweetie your daughter is, they are little sponges who hear everything that we say aren't they? My beloved mother passed 13 years ago, and I hear myself say things still that sound just like her.. An ol bag like me, and I am still a Roses' little girl. Makes you really think about what comes out of our mouths every day.

MB

 

[jklyles1]

Well why don't you start with smaller trips to help people in New York area! What a sweetie your daughter is, they are little sponges who hear everything that we say aren't they? My beloved mother passed 13 years ago, and I hear myself say things still that sound just like her.. An ol bag like me, and I am still a Roses' little girl. Makes you really think about what comes out of our mouths every day.

MB

Uhhh...my kids get out of school on May 30th...when you would like us to arrive???? HAHAHA...I LOVE NEW YORK! Ive only been to NYC so I would love to see other areas. If a strange blonde woman and 3 cute kids show up at your door..dont worry..its just us!!!!

 

[Fletch83]

My EE hens are getting on 19 weeks now and still nothing! I thought I saw one squatting the other day but I am suspicious that she was just trying to fool me and lie down in the hole she dug in the dirt. Now, I am new to chickens so I'm not sure if this is normal for the breed but both of them have hardly any comb to speak of, and no wattles. Their faces are just starting to become red. Should they be further along as far as comb development is concerned? I have heard this is indicative of when they will start laying, is this true?

 

[Melabella]

My EE hens are getting on 19 weeks now and still nothing! I thought I saw one squatting the other day but I am suspicious that she was just trying to fool me and lie down in the hole she dug in the dirt. Now, I am new to chickens so I'm not sure if this is normal for the breed but both of them have hardly any comb to speak of, and no wattles. Their faces are just starting to become red. Should they be further along as far as comb development is concerned? I have heard this is indicative of when they will start laying, is this true?

EE's are crossed with Ameruacanas, and pullets of this breed have very small combs and waddles. I will try and get a picture of my Amerucana pullet, and you will see she sounds just like your girls. Her waddles are quite small and also aren't very red at all so perhaps they are just taking after that part of their breeding. Their age will be bringing you eggs in a bit. My girls didn't give me an egg until 23 weeks, so hang in there. That was back in January, so just a bit longer, the longer days are in your favor!

Keep us posted!

MB

 

[countrygirl74]

Wow! Lots going on here lately! I finally just caught up! All my girls are pretty much laying for me every day, except for my silkie, which I finally gave up on and let her go broody on some duck eggs. My RIR and 2 BR's lay daily and my EE gives me about 5 eggs per week. I haven't had to buy eggs!

And with all 13 of my new babies, I should never have to buy eggs again once they start laying. I will probably need to sell some then. I am so glad to finally not have to buy store eggs!

I've been reading this thread and now I'm joining in! I have two EE hens, both are now 18 weeks. I can't wait for that first egg!

A lot of people say their EE's took the longest to lay but my EE was the second in my flock to start laying at about 20 1/2 weeks old, so it could be anytime!! First eggs are great!

 

[Angelicisi]

Omg omg omg I am soooooo egg-cited! Had a lot of nice plants left over from moving a garden, put an ad on craigslist for a trade- blue layer for the plants...got a call and a nice gentleman traded me a blue layer (going on trust here lol I know, I know- It's craigslist) but I love her already! Told me she was a 10 month old Americana* - found out she's an EE bit still pretty. Fingers crossed for blue eggs soon!

Doh! I got a BIG WHITE egg from her this morning! I think I was duped in a trade :-/ suppose I'm lucky the guy didn't give me a roo! Lol my 4 year old is still awaiting a blue/green egg the guy promised she would lay >:-/. She thinks I switched it with a store egg and hid the blue one. Dang. Lol One more try maybe lol

MCM,,, Congrats on the new colored egg layer! So happy for you, and I know exactly how excited you must be, I was tickled blue when I brought home my new Ameruacana pullet, and she has turned out to be a wonderful layer.. I am dying to hatch some of her eggs. Before you know it, you'll have a colored egg. I can't wait to see what color she lays for you. Please send us some pictures when she does. I saved up 6 of Vivians eggs, she laid these over the past 10 days..