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

[QHnPPcks]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

A story to share: our black Australorp, Smokey, has decided her safe place to lay her eggs is on the sofa in the family room! Once she's done, she gets a treat, and then is happy to rejoin her flock and free-range in the yard until roosting time.

 

[CatSol]

Wonderful story!!! That is so cute....

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone as well

 

[AkChris]

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

My 5th girl, the last hold out, finally started laying this week. She's giving me white eggs, which is a surprise. My girls are EE and Wyandotte mixes so I was expecting browns, blues, and greens and that's what the other girls are giving me. Makes me wonder where the white comes from...

It is fun though to have a nice mixed color carton of eggs.

 

[debbie_nibbles]

I wasn't going to do this but went ahead and put a low watt bulb in the coop for the light, not for heat. I'm frustrated that my first girl that started laying but quit after 12 eggs and now hasn't laid for 11 days

I have had chickens for a while (2009) and never had any of them do that. On the other hand Liza has laid everyday her pretty blue eggs

How many of you do artificial light for the winter?

 

[chicksurreal]

I know you're not asking me but I'm going to put it out there to see what people think. Right now, we have four Black Australorps which we got as one day olds this past April of 2014. This upcoming spring, we want to get 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte's, 2 RIR's, and 2 Plymouth Rocks. Any thoughts on the breeds? Would anyone recommend more of one of the breeds and less of another? Our coop/run can hold up to 14 chickens but we don't want t max it out as we want the girls to have as much room as possible.

We got 3 SL Wyandottes this fall ( as day old chicks), LOVE them. They're about 14 weeks old right now and I love they're personalities, very curious and bright. Same with the BA's we got three of them as well. They seem to be a little more skittish, but their sweet little faces and beautiful feathers are entrancing.

We also got 4 Delawares who are pretty and very outgoing, the Brown Leghorns and Blue Andalusians are more standoffish, and the 13 Dark Cornish we have are so engaging. Love them too!

I don't have any RIR's or Plymouth Rock (yet), so I can't answer to those breeds. My goal is to have as many different breeds as possible. I love chickens and the diversity you can create in a flock is amazing!

 

[chicksurreal]

RobJones, It depends what you want and what is available in your area. Do you want blue eggs or green or dark brown or...etc? There are all different colors and shades of eggs out there. I had thought that if I was to have any white egg layers then the birds must be very pretty So I have some blue Andalusian. Wonderful color... and since I had some Roosters for a while I have a few more and some half breeds. I love the dark brown eggs my Cuckoo Marans lay... but this is all personal opinion. You may have to just run some searches and also talk to your local feeds stores and see what they get. I am not sure about your area but here we normally find chicks at the feed store only in the spring... Good luck.... It looks like you have an amazing setup...
Debbie I am so jealous... that is such a pretty blue... My older girls are taking a break... (which I am very happy that they are doing. They needed the rest) so I am only getting 1 - 3 eggs a day. My baby girls are now 22 weeks old... One looks Americana/EE and one looks like a mix with BO/EE. Then I have my others... a couple of Andalusian and some other mixes. Of course I am excited about the EE and EE mixes. Trying to watch them when ever I can but they don't seem all that interested yet in the boxes. And I will not let the boys out with them any more so they can't tell me anything So I will just have to be patient and see what comes... This is so wonderful
Andalusian

Americana / EE ~ Penny

BO/EE ~ Iris

Wow! Gorgeous!

 

[chicksurreal]

I have now white loghorns just for eggs but I would like to add hens that will breed, I dont have any experience so what ever I do will be a new venture, I dont know what are available here in the Philippines dont seem to be much going on where I live regarding ckickens. theis weekend I will have the extension finished then I will start looking around ans see what I can get.......you have any sugestions ?

I guess it totally depends on what's available in your area and what your looking for. personally, I love chickens, end of story. but some people are looking for very specific traits or behaviors in their chickens. I'd love to know what's available in your area!

 

[CB3fish]

Hi I think all hens are open to breeding depending on their age; the question is making sure there is a rooster to do the job. A rooster crowing in the early AM can be a problem and ones neighbors can be unhappy with a early morning wake up call.

 

[chicksurreal]

Hi I think all hens are open to breeding depending on their age; the question is making sure there is a rooster to do the job. A rooster crowing in the early AM can be a problem and ones neighbors can be unhappy with a early morning wake up call.

I have a couple of hens that are over a year old and will absolutely not squat for the rooster in their flock. They're silver Spangled Hamburgs and are very independent, they free range during the day and if the SS Hamburg roo comes up to them with the idea of breeding he gets a wing in the face. Most of the SSH hens in that flock are willing to breed, but I do think it has something to do with individual temperament as well as breed.

Generally speaking I'm sure most hens would be willing, no matter the breed, because otherwise some breeds would become extinct in short order. Lol!

 

[CatSol]

Sorry Debbie... no light bulb down here for my girls. Yes, I am only getting 1 - 3 eggs a day. But my girls have been really good till now and they are all getting over their molt. I am sure they will pick up after the solstice. But then again... We get a lot of light here in Sunny Southern California. I am still hoping for some rain down here.... Hopefully some of the others in Northern and Eastern states will chime in for you Still Jealous about your blue eggs

Thanks Chicksurreal... I am so proud of my babies