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

[Silkie75]

Hi guys,

I have 9(number of pullets) -16 week old pullets from a July 23rd hatch date. I have just started to observe small changes in my flock. So far, my one mis sexed Roo has started crowing regularly after finding his voice after weeks of funny and comical attempts. I am seeing small changes in combs growing and reddining on 4 of the 9 girls. No squatting or mating behaviour noticed. My nest boxes are still blocked off but thinking about opening them today, bedding them down, and putting the wooden dummy eggs in that I bought at a garage sale for 50 cents! Lots of places for my girls to hide eggs in my small acerage, they bed down for naps in heavy brush along my properties border, and also many tall mature everygreens they run too when a hawk flies over head, so I want them to get used to the boxes. No eggs songs either.

I realize this is a crazy time of year for pullets to start laying in my location as well, but I have read that with first time layers reaching POL that I will still see some. I am in Upstate New York. Also no molting till next year. I am almost done with my last bag of grower crumble and at 16 weeks, I think it is ok to start crossing over to layer. Also thinking of starting to make some FF for them.

I have 2 sex link production reds, who I think will be the first to lay as they are meant to reach POL early. One of them is redding up with the comb and waddles. 2 Black Australorp who are beautiful and getting very big! One of them has red comb and waddles starting. 2 RIR, not too much change in them yet. 2 Barred Rock, again, one has some small changes in comb and waddles in relation to size and color. One Columbian Wyandotte with no changes yet.

So, anyone want to join me in learning, sharing facts, and observing? I am a first time newbie, and would love to join someone in the anticipation and excitement! ANy and all suggestions are welcome! Hoping someone will join me! I am going to try and post some pictures so you can get to see my girls.

Let's get some eggs soon!

MB

Melabella. I too am in upstate NY and am eagerly awaiting eggs from my Silkies (they are 7 1/2 months old). I realize our cold weather could have me waiting until Spring. I saw you have Barred Rocks. Do you by any chance have any for sale (or any other good egg layers that will be okay with my Silkies)? I'm looking to add about 2-3 pullets/chickens. But don't want to add anything older than 2 yrs as I want to have them around and laying for a while. Thanks!!!

 

[backyardcelia]

So here's a picture from the camera this morning. The camera caught Irlene climbing in and out of the nesting box all morning, and when my Jersey Giant sat down to lay an egg, Irlene would not leave her alone. Maybe she has egg envy. I feel like she's going to lay any day now.

wow, maybe my ladies need bigger nest boxes... and that is a great picture!
i have a similar camera, i'll set it up tomorrow somehow (i don't know where i'll be able to fasten it in conjunction with boxes...) i'm sure a little poop won't hurt it!

in re: to your uploaded pic.s (but not your avatars..LOVE your owl hat!!)here's what it said,
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[Melabella]

Melabella. I too am in upstate NY and am eagerly awaiting eggs from my Silkies (they are 7 1/2 months old). I realize our cold weather could have me waiting until Spring. I saw you have Barred Rocks. Do you by any chance have any for sale (or any other good egg layers that will be okay with my Silkies)? I'm looking to add about 2-3 pullets/chickens. But don't want to add anything older than 2 yrs as I want to have them around and laying for a while. Thanks!!!

I just PM'd you. I also just remembered that I know a woman who has started pullets for sale near me. I will be seeing her at 4-H on Thursday if indeed you are near me.

MB

 

[nakstk]

You can see it in Greta's eye she is holding out laying, just because she like the treats I give her to try to get her to lay. lol I have been off on my counting of weeks on how old she is. I was thinking she was 38 weeks but she is 37weeks (well 265 days)

 

[earthfaerie]

My hen, Henny Penny has been going back inside the coop after I let the ladies out for the day so I checked yesterday, no egg. Today I found my first egg!

Here is the lady who laid the egg.



And here is her first egg on the left and store bought large egg on the right.

 

[Melabella]

How exciting is that? Is she a Buff Orpington? Very pretty girl at that! I was worried today as well when I let my flock out, they have been cooped up with all the snow around. It was very warm today, and I couldn't stand keeping them cooped up any longer. I only had one egg so far, but sure enough two girls came back from quite far away in the back woods to lay their egg. I was so proud of them. Only thing is,, my Columbian Wyadotte girl was lost after ward and couldn't find every one. She looked around making noises and finally after 5 minutes Mr. Roo came running out of the brush giving all his gutteral rooster noises.

That is a nice size egg too earthfairie. Good Luck!

MB

 

[debbie_nibbles]

I just ordered me a trail cam. Looks like the easiest one to work with. Video or photos, day and or night. Here's the link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PVGA1O/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01

The review or good and like you said, if it was on all the time I wouldn't get anything done lol

 

[Melabella]

I just ordered me a trail cam. Looks like the easiest one to work with. Video or photos, day and or night. Here's the link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PVGA1O/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01

The review or good and like you said, if it was on all the time I wouldn't get anything done lol

Oh, I can't wait to see how it works, and how you like it! Looks great!

MB

 

[earthfaerie]

Thanks, Melabella

How exciting is that? I squealed with delight and my husband came running, lol Is she a Buff Orpington? Yes she is, I have two Buff Orpingtons and a Speckled Sussex. Very pretty girl at that! I was worried today as well when I let my flock out, they have been cooped up with all the snow around. It was very warm today, and I couldn't stand keeping them cooped up any longer. I only had one egg so far, but sure enough two girls came back from quite far away in the back woods to lay their egg. I was so proud of them. Only thing is,, my Columbian Wyadotte girl was lost after ward and couldn't find every one. She looked around making noises and finally after 5 minutes Mr. Roo came running out of the brush giving all his gutteral rooster noises. Glad they are all safe and sound. We've had a family of raccoons come visiting which caused me concern but thankfully my dog has kept them away. That is a nice size egg too earthfairie. Good Luck! Thanks, now to wait for the other ladies to begin laying. MB

Hmmmm... Having some technical difficulties replying with my iPhone, hopefully this works EF

 

[Redangler]

Congrats Earthfaerie!!!!!!

Ok, so after I found my roo in the nest box things started to look normal after that. Standard ISA Brown and RIR eggs this am. I was expecting my Americana to lay since she didn't lay yesterday but, nothing else happened this morning. I had to stop back at home around 2:30 and still no more eggs so I thought we were done for the day. I got back home around 4:30 and man was I happy. Another brown egg was laid and I had 2 blue eggs!!! Didn't expect that after the slow morning. Our first day of 5 eggs!!! Heres the 2 blue eggs




And here is a pick of todays haul.




They got the rest of the day to free range and a big ol cup of scratch. I even had 2 other hens looking at the nesting boxes at around 5:15. They came in from free ranging to come in sqawk and head back out so maybe tomorrow...