Arizona Chickens

[GreatWhiteAfro]

That's what my one new layer does. Todays egg is small, yesterdays was much bigger, tomorrow who knows. I found that her bigger ones are usually double-yokers (which explains the bigger size). It is quite normal for a new layer to lay different size, color, and shaped eggs when she is just starting out laying.

I thought the size thing may have been normal, but I thought that if I had one that was laying eggs with blue shells, that wouldn't change. Either way, I'm happy they are laying now, and my oldest daughter says they are the best tasting eggs she has ever had.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I thought the size thing may have been normal, but I thought that if I had one that was laying eggs with blue shells, that wouldn't change. Either way, I'm happy they are laying now, and my oldest daughter says they are the best tasting eggs she has ever had.

You are probably correct about the color not changing...or at least not changing drastically. Some days my hen lays a very brown one, and others is is the palest brown, and every shade between. But she is not likely to lay a green or blue egg.

 

[flower]

Technically a male chicken is called a cockerel until it is a year old. When it is more than a year old it is called a cock or cock bird. "Rooster" is a generic term for a male chicken of any age. "Roo" is BYC slang that is not recognized as a term outside of forums like this.

Good advice regarding extra roosters and spent older hens, Flower.

You are right, guess my thinking cap needs fixen !

 

[flower]

You are probably correct about the color not changing...or at least not changing drastically. Some days my hen lays a very brown one, and others is is the palest brown, and every shade between. But she is not likely to lay a green or blue egg.

Over the course of the laying cycle I notice slight variations in color and shape. But i can usually tell which egg was made by which hen. But I have worked to get a variety of colors.

 

[Arizonachicken]

What beautiful eggs! I love the variety of colors!

 

[BakinInAZ]

Those are beautiful eggs flower. You certainly wouldn't find that in a grocery store-Happy eating!

 

[Arizonachicken]

I gave my co-broody's 6 chicks last night. They are still alive this am, but the hens still seem to want to sit. My other broody got off her nest of eggs this am the the co-broody's moved in on it...with all the chicks. They fluff up at the chicks, but allow them to peck their wattles and snuggle under them. But they don't seem really thrilled to have the chicks. They peck at them a bit. So it's not a COMPLETE rejection, but I also don't feel they have completely accepted them. More like the broodys are TOLERATING the chicks.

 

[desertmarcy]

Officially a female chicken is called a pullet until one year of age. Being broody means that the hens system has an increase in hormones which causes the hen to sit on eggs for three weeks until she can hatch them and become a mother. While sitting on eggs, she does not lay eggs, get off the eggs once a day to eat,drink and poop. If you do not want your chickens to become mothers because you already have enough chichens and just want her to lay eggs, you need to try tricks to change her.

So a broody hen is called a broody for short. Male chickens are cocks until one year of age and then they are called roosters. We all do not want or need many roosters, so if you plan on keeping chickens be prepared to "harvest" or process young male birds and/or old hens who do not lay any longer. This is only practical since feed is expensive. In my opinion once you buy animals, you are responsible for them.

Flower, one little correction. Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age and then they are called cocks. Rooster is a layman's term.

 

[flower]

Those are beautiful eggs flower. You certainly wouldn't find that in a grocery store-Happy eating!

Thanks ! I'm a show off !

 

[flower]

Arizonachicken Seems like a partial success ?

desertmarch Yes another post fixed my error about the cockerel. I guess that I was thinking that cock and cockerel are the same ?