Arkansas folks speak up.........

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know how you are managing them, specifically the lights John mentioned. And different birds are different. They don't always do the same thing.

Some birds are fast molters and some are slow molters. You want the fast ones because they get over it and are more likely to go back to laying eggs. The slow molters usually start early and stay late. The fast ones start late and get over it. I'd think if yours have not started by now, it's probably a good sign. Of course, if it is so gradual you don't even notice them molting, that's not good. Some of mine, the only way I can tell they are molting early on is all the feathers flying around.

I've noticed that a hen that hatches a brood late summer often molts while she is raising the chicks. That way she is ready to go back to laying soon after they are raised and she has finished her fall molt. Just another reason to like a broody.

 

[gritsar]

I don't know how you are managing them, specifically the lights John mentioned. And different birds are different. They don't always do the same thing.
Some birds are fast molters and some are slow molters. You want the fast ones because they get over it and are more likely to go back to laying eggs. The slow molters usually start early and stay late. The fast ones start late and get over it. I'd think if yours have not started by now, it's probably a good sign. Of course, if it is so gradual you don't even notice them molting, that's not good. Some of mine, the only way I can tell they are molting early on is all the feathers flying around.
I've noticed that a hen that hatches a brood late summer often molts while she is raising the chicks. That way she is ready to go back to laying soon after they are raised and she has finished her fall molt. Just another reason to like a broody.

And because my friend Ridge does so love a broody, I'm willing to make the extreme sacrifice of gifting him with every.single.one of my serama hens. Broody? Think silkie X 10.

I've got the mama and her three daughters. I'll even give you the little pipsqueak roosters. What do you say Ridge, will you accept my generous offer? Huh? HUH??

 

[Ridgerunner]

No thanks Kat. While you can eat any chicken, those are just too small to fool with. I'm a little more selective in what I have in my flock.

 

[gritsar]

No thanks Kat. While you can eat any chicken, those are just too small to fool with. I'm a little more selective in what I have in my flock.

Well it's like this. Remember my crossbeak, Dragon? Yep, still alive and thriving. But alas, Dragon needed a female friend. Enter Widget, the original serama. Widget laid eggs for a week then went broody. Oh how cute, let's give her half a dozen serama eggs to hatch...just this once. Hatched 3 roosters, 3 hens. Widget raised three of them, Dragon stole three and raised them. Gave two of the roosters away, keeping only the least obnoxious of the three. Came back from the long trip to Florida to find that although our caretaker had checked carefully for and removed all eggs from the serama coop daily, Widget hid and hatched one; another roo.

So now I have 4 serama hens that follow the same routine like clockwork - lay eggs for 7days straight, go broody. Get broken. Lay eggs for 7 days straight, go broody. Get broken.

Now actively seeking homes for all the seramas!! I've decided to keep only the youngest cockerel, Oops, as a companion for Dragon. I think this is a safe combination. Dragon neither lays eggs nor goes broody.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hopefully someone on here will want your Seramas. They really don't fit my goals.

I love it when people make plans when dealing with animals. It's a great way to make Mother Nature laugh.

 

[gritsar]

Hopefully someone on here will want your Seramas. They really don't fit my goals.
I love it when people make plans when dealing with animals. It's a great way to make Mother Nature laugh.

Ain't that the truth! But you know me. My chickens (well now the geese and ducks too) are my entertainment and my therapy. Without them I'd have to do something totally useless, like *gasp* clean house.
My plans for spring include overrunning the farm with goslings. On this Keith and I agree; geese are most awesome. Only hitch in that plan so far is that my goose Lucy has taken an extreme liking to Keith and will only squat for him. Somehow or 'nother over the course of winter I have to convince her that Keith is my mate and Tuffy is hers.

 

[John farmer]

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote: We may have some in the spring.

 

[caj1985]

We may have some in the spring.

Wonderful to hear from you, Jim. I hope things are improving.

 

[draye]

We may have some in the spring.

Welcome back, Jim.