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

[xshoshin]

It is still fun to read about y'all's first eggs! And since I haven't checked in for a while I was kind of afraid I would find bad news but no! Except for heat, seems to have been a peaceful couple of weeks.

My flock is always doing something puzzling. Apple, the Cochin, was being quite broody and of course stopped laying. She got over that and is laying again, but someone else seems to have quit. I was consistently getting 4 eggs a day from 5 hens, with an occasional 3 day. Now I'm down to 3 a day, with an occasional 2 day. And I'm pretty sure the Barred Rock is not laying at all. I know egg laying is an art, not a science, so I'm not concerned that someone may be having a slow month, but I am concerned about Velcro (the Barred Rock). Why, at 8 months, is she not laying? She MAY have laid one or two eggs, but I'm not even sure about that. What factors could be involved? Anything I can/should check for?

And the tortoise is STILL chasing the hens around trying to mate with them...talk about lost cause...

 

[kdwag]

The only thing I can think of is her being egg bound, but if that were the case, by now i'm sure she'd show signs of a problem. My partridge plymouth will go for a couple of days without laying but then she's right back at it. Does her comb look healthy?? I'm certainly no expert on chicken health at this point. LOL The tortise story is funny--

 

[ploub]

My chickens found their voice a few weeks ago I am still waiting my first egg.All of the signs are there but no eggsb yet.

 

[Fletch83]

Whew! It's about 98 degrees out here today. Trying to keep the chickens cool, they are panting away out there but otherwise behaving normally and are pretty active. I keep telling them, slow down, it's too hot to be running after bugs like that! In an attempt to help them cool down, I dunked their feet and chests in a shallow bucket of cool water I had...didn't want to get them too wet but I thought that just a little would feel nice for them on their hot feet. Well my grey EE was having none of it and hopped out right away, but my other EE just LOVED it and sat there quietly, and stopped panting immediately. I hope everyone else is keeping cool!

 

[CatSol]

Hi all... I have been busy and missed checking in on everyone. Its great to see new people and new chicken stories. It makes me feel old and my oldest girls are not even a year old That is next month....
So far I now have 5 girls laying. Both of my Cuckoo Marans are now laying and they are both have dark brown eggs. I thought that was strange... When the first started laying I guess her paint brush was not completely on.... she had light brown eggs. Now they are nice and dark like her sister's. Love it.
I have not yet had a 5 for 5 day.... but that is OK... we have plenty of eggs. Next up are my 2 RIR. They have just reached 20 weeks... I think they need a couple more weeks of filling out.... but I could be wrong
Weather here has been good. Perfect... not to hot or cold. Love California weather.. Anyway have a wonderful weekend all and congrats on all new eggs.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I've been in and out a bit too, but this is always my favourite thread to check first. Love to hear all the stories, and am often reminded of my slow wait for eggs starting last November.

How time flies - my four girls are nearly all one year old. We have friends over on Sunday for lunch and one family coming have chickens so at least they will understand - I am having a Hen Party!!! I am treating it as their Official Birthday (don't know their exact dates as I got them at around 8 week old pullets).

On the menu is sardines, bread soaked first, broccoli including leaves, rolled oats, tansy leaves and sunflower seeds. All their favourite things. It is winter here now, so I will serve it all warmed. Guess tomorrow I'll give some thought to what I will feed the humans

Get your party frocks on, girls, time to have some fun!

Katrina

 

[nakstk]

It's been a while just checking in... Phoebe stopped being broody just in time for Bess to start. oh well, it is what it is. We are getting plenty of eggs. The other day I went out to find Tess standing on the top of their run. She found that the wind blow the bird netting off in a spot and she was able to fly up the 4 feet to the top and get out. I quickly fixed the hole before anyone else caught on. Chickens are so much smarter then people give them credit for.
Also one more funny chicken story. Last night I was out taking the dogs potty before we left for graduation and all my girls had their heads turned sideways they were all looking up and having a very intense conversation. No joke they really were. You could almost make out, "what is that thing?" I don't know I have never seen one before" "Do you think it's going to eat us?" "No it's not look at the way it's flying it's in a hurry to get somewhere" "oooo look it's shiny!" So I look up to see Balloons floating over head, someone accidentally let go of them at the stadium.

 

[Ariekannairb]

We have about three roosters in the bunch I think. We got rid of three. The verdict is out on a few birds still so we will see once they start laying. She may be an overachiever for sure. I'm worried she is sick as she makes some weird noises. But she otherwise seems healthy. We have a big black cooper maran rooster temporarily with us until my friend picks him up and he has been trying to get busy with my ladies! LOL It's funny to witness. They are not very happy about it!

Ours started trying have their way with the girls a few days back. The first time I thought he was attacking her! He will run after her, which scares her so she runs, he manages to grab neck feathers while slipping and sliding to get traction before clumsily climbing on her while she squawks. It is obvious my older ones know they routine, they just let him do it and move on, but my younger girls want none of his shenanigans!

 

[kdwag]

funny stories everyone. Our weather has cooled to the 70s and low 80s which is just fine with me. Hope we don't have any 90s for a while longer. I was cleaning the coop this morning and found 2 shelless eggs, one whole and one broken off the roost. Not sure what happened in there last night. We did have a t-storm and I heard some rumbling around when i went out to shut their side vents, maybe they got startled? I can't keep the sparrows out of their feeder--makes me NUTS. I did fill the bird feeder this morning-again- and I bought layer pellets instead of crumbles-not sure if that will deter them or not. Otherwise, all is good here in Ohio. LOVE the hen party idea. I have some great photos taken recently of the ladies. They have taken a liking to my watering can-- it's funny and they've discovered the patio door on the deck and I'm often greeted by them in the morning-- of course I can't make them understand they shouldn't poo on the deck but alas, they are chickens. LOL i will try and post the photos. i always have a hard time getting them to upload.

 

[CatSol]

I've been in and out a bit too, but this is always my favourite thread to check first. Love to hear all the stories, and am often reminded of my slow wait for eggs starting last November.

How time flies - my four girls are nearly all one year old. We have friends over on Sunday for lunch and one family coming have chickens so at least they will understand - I am having a Hen Party!!! I am treating it as their Official Birthday (don't know their exact dates as I got them at around 8 week old pullets).

On the menu is sardines, bread soaked first, broccoli including leaves, rolled oats, tansy leaves and sunflower seeds. All their favourite things. It is winter here now, so I will serve it all warmed. Guess tomorrow I'll give some thought to what I will feed the humans

Get your party frocks on, girls, time to have some fun!

Katrina

Luv the hen party. I have 2 girls that will be a year old next month. They are my two survivors from that dog attack... Wow it was that long ago. And I have seen that dog. She is trying to make a home under my friends RV.... but she is staying away from the girls. Maybe that hot wire around the run is working.
But anyway... I guess I will have to get some treats to the birthday girls next month... You have given me some wonderful ideas.
I wish everyone all the best... I have a new cell phone that takes better pics then my camera. As soon as I figure out how to move them to my computer...