Arizona Chickens

[Ebove06]

Does anybody here have any black copper Maran crosses? I have a BCM roo, and I want to see what his babies might look like.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Based upon all the reading I've done, some hens simply are not predisposed to laying. It happens. Her pelvic opening may be too narrow and rigid or there could be some other developmental or genetic issue that has rendered her a poor layer. Situations like this are often described in the old literature, like "The Call of The Hen" and the old poultry husbandry books.

Here's a link to "The Call of The Hen" : http://www.archive.org/stream/callhenscience00hogarich#page/n3/mode/2up

Thank you for the info Desert Chic - She's still got a place in our yard regardless.

 

[City farm]

It's so relaxing to come home from a long day and sit barefooted in the backyard with a glass of home brew and watch my chickens while my daughter has Jimi Hendrix playing in the kitchen.
How's that for a run on sentence.

X2!! Very well said..
Our kid's like Pink Floyd, they take after their mom..
I don't think most people think about putting their FEET ON THE EARTH..
So important.. If you haven't tried it, go for it..

 

[Sill]

I think it's just genetics for most hens. Some are super layers, others not. Even shell quality can be inherited so you don't ever want to raise chicks from a hen with poor shell quality. I have one that lays thin shells, I probably should cull her since her eggs tend to get broken, making a mess in the nest boxes.

 

[City farm]

Lost a duckling 

I started with 27 chicks and 3 ducklings ... lost 3 chicks in the first 3 days but it had been a week and I thought they were all out of the "danger zone" ... blah. It wouldn't have affected me as much if it had been one of the chicks ... I got those 3 ducks for my husband, he prefers ducks over chickens and now he's got even less of a percentage in the flock. Plus it was the runner duck and I picked that one out especially because I love how runner ducks look :/

@#$%^&*%$#   stupid fragile birds ... stupid getting attached to them so quickly ... sigh ...

 

[City farm]

 
Question here - I have a large and seemingly healthy olive egger.  She is about 2 years old.  She has only ever layed 7 or 8 eggs total in her life. None of which we could eat because the shell was so thin.  The size was always pullet size. I have had her since she's just 2 weeks old.  I had given up on her as laying any more. We laugh because she sits in the nest box every day and nothing is ever left behind. Today, I found one from her.  When she lays, they are greenish in color and shaped like a rocket.  What would cause a hen to only lay every 4-6 months?  I've tried to research and can't find anything so far. 

Based upon all the reading I've done, some hens simply are not predisposed to laying. It happens. Her pelvic opening may be too narrow and rigid or there could be some other developmental or genetic issue that has rendered her a poor layer. Situations like this are often described in the old literature, like "The Call of The Hen" and the old poultry husbandry books. 

Here's a link to "The Call of The Hen" : http://www.archive.org/stream/callhenscience00hogarich#page/n3/mode/2up

Thank you for this site..

 

[Born2blove]

My 11 weeks old chicks.
I release them out to my back yard 2hrs a day at 4pm, they eat all my Veggies

I feed them with Big Sky Layer Mash

 

[maryhysong]

Question here - I have a large and seemingly healthy olive egger. She is about 2 years old. She has only ever layed 7 or 8 eggs total in her life. None of which we could eat because the shell was so thin. The size was always pullet size. I have had her since she's just 2 weeks old. I had given up on her as laying any more. We laugh because she sits in the nest box every day and nothing is ever left behind. Today, I found one from her. When she lays, they are greenish in color and shaped like a rocket. What would cause a hen to only lay every 4-6 months?

I've tried to research and can't find anything so far.

Could be any number of things, fatty liver disease will do just what you are describing. Also some birds become internal layers and if you open them up their abdomen is full of egg liquid along with odd lumps of shell and membranes. Just like not all women are fertile or have regular ovulation and menses, same with birds.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

My 11 weeks old chicks.
I release them out to my back yard 2hrs a day at 4pm, they eat all my Veggies

I feed them with Big Sky Layer Mash

Cute! You should not feed them layer feed until they lay eggs though. Until they are laying eggs than can not handle the extra calcium in the feed. They should be fed starter/grower at that age.

 

[aviddamy]

I do have a few question for you guys. I'm new still so I'm always learning. I have two hens that are laying now. Yay! I'm assuming I can just supplement with calcium until the other ladies start before I switch them over to layer feed?

What illnesses are common here? I'm trying to get an idea of what to watch for. What do you do for maintenance, healthwise?

And vaccines, I know there are tons of opinions, but I'm just curious as to what I would vaccinate for here. I'd rather prevent illness even if it means it can't be done naturally. My birds do have free run of my yard, with supervision, so they could catch things from wild birds. They don't have contact with anyone else's birds.