Arizona Chickens

[Mikey D]

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How do you do that?

So can you tell me when my chickes will start laying?

Yep. Their combs will grow bigger and turn bright red, then they'll start squatting for you. That's when you start watching the nest box. The last batch I had at this time of year started at about 22 weeks, all within a few days of each other.

Edited for Mikey's sake: 22 weeks for these is February 14th.

Very cool - I'll put that date on the calender!

Why does that ring a bell???

 

[Mahonri]

I have my pre-surgical appointment set up with Dr. Anderson to decrow both of my roos for Monday the 2nd.

 

[Fuzzybird]

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Now THAT'S a cute goat!

Thanks!

 

[Fuzzybird]

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[pastrymama]

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What breeds and where did you get them? I've had two batches of "production" egg layers from Ideal and both batches started around 22 weeks.
Breed and time of year make a big difference.
(If they are just getting to egg laying age when egg laying should be picking up or when it's slowing down.)
Feed matters too. I feed a high quality (read expensive

) organic corn and soy free feed and mine haven't slowed down this winter at all. I've been getting mostly 4 eggs a day from 4 layers.

I have 3 Ameraucanas and one Marans who've yet to lay. The Marans is a internal layer, I think, so I'm not expecting anything from her. The others look like they are ready, red faces and going into the nesting boxes, but I'm not noticing much squatting. I think the time of year is the biggie here. I have been feeding Nutrena but the last bag I picked up was Layena. They also free range and get treats. My PR and BO are great. They've been laying for a while now and I get an egg almost every day from those two. I have been looking over the yard for blue eggs, too, but I haven't found any. I've kept them in their run for the past few days as well, I thought that maybe they were hiding the eggs or the dogs were getting them, but no eggs in the coop or run. They're just not laying. I hope they start soon. DH is getting impatient with the "free loaders" and has been talking about having Ameraucana stew if we don't get eggs soon.

I think they just want to set a record.

hee hee that's funny, but not really. i have a dark brahma that is 43 weeks and is STILL NOT LAYING!!!!!!!!! no, not a roo. just stubborn i think. her sister is mean as all get out. she just started laying a few weeks ago. silly brahmas. i swear, i don't know why i keep getting them except i love to look at them. i think they are prettier than the cochin that southern desert has gogglie eyes for (but don't tell him that)

 

[Arizonachicken]

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I have 3 Ameraucanas and one Marans who've yet to lay. The Marans is a internal layer, I think, so I'm not expecting anything from her. The others look like they are ready, red faces and going into the nesting boxes, but I'm not noticing much squatting. I think the time of year is the biggie here. I have been feeding Nutrena but the last bag I picked up was Layena. They also free range and get treats. My PR and BO are great. They've been laying for a while now and I get an egg almost every day from those two. I have been looking over the yard for blue eggs, too, but I haven't found any. I've kept them in their run for the past few days as well, I thought that maybe they were hiding the eggs or the dogs were getting them, but no eggs in the coop or run. They're just not laying. I hope they start soon. DH is getting impatient with the "free loaders" and has been talking about having Ameraucana stew if we don't get eggs soon.

I think they just want to set a record.

hee hee that's funny, but not really. i have a dark brahma that is 43 weeks and is STILL NOT LAYING!!!!!!!!! no, not a roo. just stubborn i think. her sister is mean as all get out. she just started laying a few weeks ago. silly brahmas. i swear, i don't know why i keep getting them except i love to look at them. i think they are prettier than the cochin that southern desert has gogglie eyes for (but don't tell him that)

43 weeks?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Fuzzybird]

Happy New Year all. Hope you all aren't tired of my Ivy saga. I haven't gotten any remarks about it. I just have to share that Ivy/Ivan went out with the older chickens Christmas day. It was so nice and sunny. Well poor Iv looked up at me and than looked at the 4 older silky chicks that was checking him/her out. One buff chick came over and looked at Iv's feet and picked at them. He has the 5 toes but no boots. He is the only bootless one in the coop!. He looked up at me and run over and tried to fly back up to my shouldar! Well Heart heavy I did make him stay in the coop checking on him every so often. If he saw me the same reaction. " Get me outa here!"
When dark fell I went out to see if he was bedded down and there he was all by himself a little heap of feathers on the ground all alone.

I picked my baby up and cuddled him all the way into the house. He told me all about it for at leat 30 minutes. I put him back with his white silky chick friends in my room. I have some pictures below of his first day outside.
Yesterday I took him back for the day thinking I would just bring him in at night. I guess things went better for him. I took a picture of Sage saying hello to him. At dusk he didn't want me to catch him and found him eating with the others. At dark I checked one more time and found him in Sage's box all cuddled under her wing!

Awwwww.
This morning I asked him how he was doing and he went over to Sage and got under her and looked at me. Yup Ivy you have a new mother. I think I know how mothers feel when their chicks leave you! I never had human kids.:lol

 

[Fuzzybird]

Cotton has layed 13 eggs. Thinking that is way to many for her to hatch I gave Jferlisi 5 eggs to hatch in his bator. Cotton is happily sitting on her 8 eggs. I am so excited!

 

[Arizonachicken]

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That's a cute story and a super cute chick!

 

[Fuzzybird]

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That's a cute story and a super cute chick!

Thank you. I hope I am not boaring anyone!

Have any idea if Ivy is a she or a he yet anyone?