April 2017 chicks, who will lay first contest...

[AlleysChicks]

4 have taken the day off today. Ester is a terrible layer and I think the 2 reds are in on it this week.

 

[dobermanacres]

2 so far today! I figured out Seven is the hen laying the larger eggs.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

4 have taken the day off today. Ester is a terrible layer and I think the 2 reds are in on it this week.

So far my Ester the easter egger is good for 4ish a week. I like the multi colored egg basket so I may just have to get more to make up for the slackers... The plan is 4 more in the spring and cull some in the fall to keep consistent young blood and high production. It is going to get hard come next fall. So Ester needs to pick it up if she wants to make the cut!

3/7 is all so far today but someone was in the nest box when I was out there last.

Gary

 

[AlleysChicks]

So far my Ester the easter egger is good for 4ish a week. I like the multi colored egg basket so I may just have to get more to make up for the slackers... The plan is 4 more in the spring and cull some in the fall to keep consistent young blood and high production. It is going to get hard come next fall. So Ester needs to pick it up if she wants to make the cut!

3/7 is all so far today but someone was in the nest box when I was out there last.

Gary

Mine from last year are still laying and they are a good size! They are good layers. I thought last year I'd be able to cull some this fall but there's no way. I'm too attached, even to the ones that get on my nerves.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Mine from last year are still laying and they are a good size! They are good layers. I thought last year I'd be able to cull some this fall but there's no way. I'm too attached, even to the ones that get on my nerves.

I have a feeling it is going to be tough to make decisions, I am already thinking ok I could increase flock size by half... But that is just postponing culling. I figure at 18 months I could re-home 3-4 decent layers pretty easily, but the longer I wait the choices are fewer for older birds...

Thankfully I have a year ahead of that decision right now.

Gary

 

[AlleysChicks]

I have a feeling it is going to be tough to make decisions, I am already thinking ok I could increase flock size by half... But that is just postponing culling. I figure at 18 months I could re-home 3-4 decent layers pretty easily, but the longer I wait the choices are fewer for older birds...

Thankfully I have a year ahead of that decision right now.

Gary

It's horrible. I started with 10 chicks last year and sold 4. I now have 40 chickens 10x4?

 

[Chickassan]

How in the world did you increase when you sold four? Note to self, don't sell any chickens!

It's horrible. I started with 10 chicks last year and sold 4. I now have 40 chickens 10x4?

 

[AlleysChicks]

How in the world did you increase when you sold four? Note to self, don't sell any chickens!

My mom bought me 6 during tsc chick days in the spring, then I bought 6 and I hatched a bunch of eggs. Then in June I ordered some from a hatchery and bought eggs on eBay I actually had a lot more but I've sold a lot. All within a year lol

 

[Treerooted]

0/13

waiting waiting...

 

[SueT]

1/6 today.
My "broody apartment" within the coop was a failure. Moonshine totally freaked out when she saw she couldn't get out. She would neither eat nor drink, she just kept flying at the partitions. I had to let her out. I think I'm going to just have to remove it all and que sera sera.....