Arizona Chickens

[Geranium]

@SonoranChick interesting about your two leghorns! I have an Austra White that has always been at the head of the pack development-wise. And lol about the bumblefoot!

 

[BlueBaby]

I have checked them for bugs and pin feathers and see nothing other than pissing them off I can try the light. I know for sure it is certain hens that are on strike. One of my EE’s is for sure on strike I haven’t had an egg from her in about two weeks.

Sometime's you just have to wait until they are able to start up again. The day's are getting a bit shorter now, some are molting. I have 8 girls that should be laying eggs right now, and today there were only 2 eggs out there.

 

[SonoranChick]

Can you even reach your feet with your belly these days?

I can barely even SEE them around the belly these days

 

[SonoranChick]

Sometime's you just have to wait until they are able to start up again. The day's are getting a bit shorter now, some are molting. I have 8 girls that should be laying eggs right now, and today there were only 2 eggs out there.

Mine have also slowed down. With the weather and season change, and the molting, I only get 3 or 4 eggs a day now.

 

[FeatherPugs]

I use supplemental lighting. I've been getting 14-18 eggs a day. Many of my girls are old and don't lay hardly at all - 6+ years. Six of my girls are in that 3 year old range and lay - the sex link breed still lays crazy right through their molt. My EEs pout and don't lay often during their molt and about 8 are 1 to 2 years old. Then I have 12 new layers (average at LEAST every other day layers) and 3 that should lay any day now! SO as you can see I am doing okay - I should average 14 and on the days that I get more I know some of the old timers laid or an EE. IF I took light away from them I'd probably go down to about 6 eggs a day. After molt it will probably hit the 20 per day mark........

 

[meetthebubus]

I don't use light, imo, az has enough light to keep them going,, I look at these seasons as a good break from eggs myself but like featherpugs said it's a choice. I wouldn't worry too much unless you see signs of stress or illness

On another point everyone is being really mean to Rambita when I let her out even though they see her all day and go to her enclosure to growl at her I'm going to see if putting her in a outside enclosure will help to reintegrate her it makes me disappointed as they search her out to fight with feet and everything it's so bad that when marshmellow goes to intervene he gets whopped one too lol

 

[igorsMistress]

I can barely even SEE them around the belly these days

I couldn't stand it and had pedicures during the last two months. I have Flintstone feet though

 

[cactusrota]

I don't use light, imo, az has enough light to keep them going,, I look at these seasons as a good break from eggs myself but like featherpugs said it's a choice. I wouldn't worry too much unless you see signs of stress or illness

On another point everyone is being really mean to Rambita when I let her out even though they see her all day and go to her enclosure to growl at her I'm going to see if putting her in a outside enclosure will help to reintegrate her it makes me disappointed as they search her out to fight with feet and everything it's so bad that when marshmellow goes to intervene he gets whopped one too lol

Wow! Do they ALL do it, or are there certain instigators? If you can pick out the instigators and separate them for awhile it might be more effective... Poor thing.

 

[meetthebubus]

Wow! Do they ALL do it, or are there certain instigators? If you can pick out the instigators and separate them for awhile it might be more effective... Poor thing.

Probably just a few with some sisters coming to fight taking the side of those they've been roosting with. Mocha is bad bc she goes to the enclosure to growl at mama hen, and tigger was bad bc she sought mama out who was hiding by the Bush.

This morning I was proud of marshmellow the roo bc he corralled mocha away from growling at mama hen.

 

[DesertChic]

I know it's too early to tell boys from girls, but I'm giving Blue the side eye. She's a Blue Orpington but has always been bigger than my two Buff Orpingtons. Shouldn't different color varieties still be the same-ish size? Her comb is also bigger, and she has noticeable wattle already. Nothing is pink or red yet, but still, I'm keeping a close eye on her. She's 17 days old. I'd be really bummed if she's not a pullet, she's got such gorgeous coloring. View attachment 1545031

Only 17 days old? Sorry...that looks all boy to me.