Barred Rock thread!!

[luvmychickenz]

This is my barred rock she is five months old!!! she would never come to me and ley me pick her up like my other hens... well long story short all the sudden today she gets in front of me all day and does this lay down thing wanting me to pick her up!!! why the change of heart???

I agree with Jess. Usually when they do a submissive squat, that is one of the signs they are close to laying. Start watching for comb and waddles to get more red than they have been, too. So fun when they start to lay.

 

[ALY1313]

this is my cockerel lol he's so sweet. His name is pip and he was supposed to be a girl but turns out he's a roo !!!

 

[RodNTN]

Fanny my BPR, she is very sweet!

 

[Jess72180]

We believe this is my girl Claire all grown up. She loves to sit on me when I go outside to the table.

 

[sebloc]

When did your barred rocks start laying? We have 2 18 week olds and they still haven't started. Not sure if that's normal but most people are making it seem like it's a bad thing. Thanks.

 

[VickisChickis]

Mine didn't start laying until 20 weeks. But she has been the most consistent layer of my pullets. Also, at 18-22 weeks old it was in the 100's here in North Texas.

 

[sebloc]

Eh, in Connecticut the highest it gets to is the lower 90s. (unless there's a heat wave, then it gets into the 100s)

Does anyone have any problems approaching theirs? Ours are afraid of us for some reason, not sure why. We try feeding them worms some times and hope they trust us a bit more. Thanks.

 

[Cluck-a-biddy]

My two BR girls are going on 21 weeks. So far they've laid a couple of dud eggs each. By that I mean, they dropped them while roosting and they had very soft shells. Almost transparent. Of all my hens, they are in the oldest group, but are the most immature of the older girls. They only just started doing the submissive pose a few days ago. The BSLs are a week younger and have been laying fairly consistently for about a week and a half. Somebody the other day tho, left me a yolk in a gelatinous sac on the ground in the run on the straw. I thought it was a runny poop at first, but realized it was a yolk with no shell. I picked it up with the litter scoop and it didn't break. It was rolling around all blobby-like. It was kinda funny. I'm still feeding all the girls grower feed, so tonight after work I'm going by the feed store to get some layer feed! I've been putting out a bowl of the grower feed with some crushed eggshells mixed in for a few days hoping they'll get some thicker eggshells going. Wish they'd hurry it up tho! LOL

 

[sebloc]

Well, here's the results after opening the egg box:
We noticed both our barred rocks go inside. No one else dared to. They walked around in it, sat in it, etc. Hope they're gonna lay soon. We also have two buffs, but I think they're a little younger.

My two BR girls are going on 21 weeks. So far they've laid a couple of dud eggs each. By that I mean, they dropped them while roosting and they had very soft shells. Almost transparent. Of all my hens, they are in the oldest group, but are the most immature of the older girls. They only just started doing the submissive pose a few days ago. The BSLs are a week younger and have been laying fairly consistently for about a week and a half. Somebody the other day tho, left me a yolk in a gelatinous sac on the ground in the run on the straw. I thought it was a runny poop at first, but realized it was a yolk with no shell. I picked it up with the litter scoop and it didn't break. It was rolling around all blobby-like. It was kinda funny. I'm still feeding all the girls grower feed, so tonight after work I'm going by the feed store to get some layer feed! I've been putting out a bowl of the grower feed with some crushed eggshells mixed in for a few days hoping they'll get some thicker eggshells going. Wish they'd hurry it up tho! LOL

So 21 weeks with eggs? Hope that means something for us, too. Thanks.

 

[Sherryxander]

Why is it some Barred Rocks hens have a short comb and others a much taller one.

I noticed this also. I am looking for the answer seeing as this was posted in 2014. LOL