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

[Ridgerunner]

Each hen is individual, but the average is about a 15% drop in egg production after every molt after 2 years old. That means if she was laying 7 eggs in 10 days, after this molt she might only lay 6 eggs in 10 days. With only 2 hens, the averages may not mean much to you since they are very individual. Hope that helps.

I haven't had mine that long, but I intend to put them in the stew pot after they start the molt when they are about 2-1/2 years old. Every year, I will start half the pullets I want to keep. This way I will always have some laying full sized eggs and some coming on.

 

[urban dreamer]

Do you ever get attached to your birds? I have really fallen for Zoii nad Eva and it bothers me to think about eating them. All this time, attention, and love for a dinner? I have nothing against people who do eat thier birds, its just I don't think I can eat mine. During her peak, Zoii was laying 4-5 eggs a week. Do you think she will lay some this spring (she stopped laying about two weeks ago)? Eva has only layed once in the two months I've had her. Her comb is rather pale comparred to Zoii's. I think that has to do with the accident and vet trip she had a month and a half ago. I guess if I want eggs I will have to depend on my one year old and my little pullet.

Thanks for the input!!!!

 

[juliechick]

I'm in the same boat. Most of my hens are 2 years old now. I really don't know how well they will lay. Right now they are either molting or just not laying for some reason. As far as eating them, it won't happen as long as my two sons are young. My little ones prays for his hens and chicks at night. I guess we're stuck with them til they go of natural causes.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When I started, my goal was meat and eggs, so there was never any intention of them becoming pets. I have not handled them any more than I need to for lice checks and such and I have not named them. They do have different personalities but I have always been able to choose the birds for my breeding flock based on the traits I want in my flock. Personality is not one of those traits that I choose to keep. I have been called ruthless by a good friend because I process my own birds and I kind of agree with that assessment. I think I have to be to get the traits I want in my flock. It is real easy to see where someone could get attached to specific chickens though. There are plenty of people on this forum that will never eat their own birds. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

 

[urban dreamer]

Quote:
Like I said, I don't have anything against it, I just can't do it. But you also said that you have birds for eggs and meat so it would make more since that you wouldn't name your birds. To each his own I reck'n.

 

[verycherry]

Urban, I wouldn't worry too much. I'd bet they'll start up again in the Spring, even if a few less.

Mine are doing the same thing, just went through a molt, and most are about a year and a half. Out of this group of layers, I get about 2 to 4 eggs a week, when I used to get almost 3 dozen! This Spring I was selling any extra eggs at the feed store, but I don't even have enough for my own family now. The owner of the store asked me recently if I'd gotten any eggs lately. He said no ones chickens are laying and he doesn't have any to sell. Last three times I've gone in to buy feed his cooler was empty!

Thankfully a couple of my Spring pullets in my breeding/grow out pens have just started laying.

Also, I have a Silkie hen that layed a few eggs over the past few days (I took them and used them), and then I found her this morning acting broody sitting on another egg! Wacky hen, wanting to sit this time of year, and she only has one egg to sit on! Hopefully one of my bantams will lay an egg or two I can put under her. It's just so darn cold though, I'm worried about having baby chicks out there now.

 

[19Dawn76]

wow! we were way back on page 2.

I went up to Tontitown this weekend to see my cousin. She got chickens in May and I hadn t been up there to see them yet but the last couple of months she kept complaining that her rooster wasn t crowing, her eggs weren t fertile blah blah. I took one look at the "rooster" and had to inform her that it was a hen. I am 99% sure. No saddle feathers, no spur buds. I gave her a really hard time about it so I hope the thing does not start crowing. She only has 5 chickens and 1 duck and had collected 6 eggs a day before.

The chicks one of my Marans hatched this summer are turning out to be very pretty girls so I will try to post pics. One is a from a Welsummer egg and the other is from an EE. Both were covered by an ameraucana roo. the ones I hatched in early october are still a little rough looking.

 

[Tala]

So....it's 29*F and falling! Is anyone else freezing their tootsies off??

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's 17*F this morning up here. A lot better than the 9*F predicted. I'll still probably spend most of the day inside.

 

[urban dreamer]

OMG YES! And I've been sick too so that don't help. Dose anyone have a heated waterer for thier birds? I can't find one and I have been chipping ice for the last couple of days. The chickens sure love that warm water though. I was throughly motivated this morning to finish knitting my scarf. Baby its cold outside!!! I feel bad for the birds. Mabey I will knit them scarfs too. I have no idea how cold it is out there but I know its no place for me!

I took my chickens to the vet yesterday to get some stuff to worm them. I've just got to give them this stuff once a day for three days and in a week my vet said they will be safe to move in with my other birds. Im gonna wait two just in case. That would have given them a whole six weeks apart. What a terrible time for them to be molting (all three of my layers are molting so that explains why I haven't been getting any eggs).