brand new to BYC and to chickens have many questions!

[Lady of McCamley]

Yes see we built the coop with a "hen house" that is elevated and closed in with good ventilation..for now it has 4 good size nesting boxes that have wood shavings in them.. And recently they have been going in and out of the boxes but doesnt quite seem fully dedicated to them.. None have layed any eggs yet anywhere.. And we have heard of the fake egg trick but havent tried that yet but will get that asap

With that much activity in and out of the boxes, you will be getting eggs very soon.

LofMc

 

[cottonwood23]

I sure Hope so ! Thanks for the information!

 

[cottonwood23]

And so today we got our first egg! Funny how that worked out!!

 

[azygous]

Welcome to BYC! You'll get lots of support here, and if you hang out regularly, it will substantially lower your learning curve, since you will learn from others mistakes and successes.

No one has commented on the feed issue yet. It appears you're trying to feed different feed to different aged birds? No need, really. When you feed out what you currently have, if you buy an all flock feed, which is higher in protein than layer, as well as tastier to the chickens, it will greatly simplify things as you add to your flock. Just offer oyster shell free choice on the side and the layers will help themselves to what they need.

I have been feeding all flock feed for years now, and I don't have to worry when I have chicks growing up getting into the layer feed which isn't good for their growing bodies, and roosters really shouldn't be eating layer feed, either. Frankly, I wonder sometimes why they make it.

You might also look into fermenting your feed, which makes it go farther and makes available more nutrients and pro-biotics to your flock. It's simple and easy and you can visit the "Feeding and Watering" forum to read through the thread on Fermented Feeds, but if you're interested, I can tell you how to do it.

As far as getting those pullets started laying, and I'm happy to hear one has come around, I jump start my girls along about this time of year with a little light. It only takes a tiny light, I have an electric candle, coming on a few hours before sunrise. Their hormones are being triggered anyway by the lengthening days, but a little extra light will get them started laying faster.

You've noticed increased activity in the nest boxes. That's a precursor to laying. Pullets like to "play house", making an awful mess sometimes, before they get serious. Let them have their way. It's a normal learning behavior. And salting the nest boxes with fake eggs will work wonders, too.

One last word of warning. You may not have given any thought yet to the potential chickens have as great and affectionate pets. Beware. They may bring you under their spell, and then you're a goner.

 

[cottonwood23]

Welcome to BYC! You'll get lots of support here, and if you hang out regularly, it will substantially lower your learning curve, since you will learn from others mistakes and successes.

No one has commented on the feed issue yet. It appears you're trying to feed different feed to different aged birds? No need, really. When you feed out what you currently have, if you buy an all flock feed, which is higher in protein than layer, as well as tastier to the chickens, it will greatly simplify things as you add to your flock. Just offer oyster shell free choice on the side and the layers will help themselves to what they need.

I have been feeding all flock feed for years now, and I don't have to worry when I have chicks growing up getting into the layer feed which isn't good for their growing bodies, and roosters really shouldn't be eating layer feed, either. Frankly, I wonder sometimes why they make it.

You might also look into fermenting your feed, which makes it go farther and makes available more nutrients and pro-biotics to your flock. It's simple and easy and you can visit the "Feeding and Watering" forum to read through the thread on Fermented Feeds, but if you're interested, I can tell you how to do it.

As far as getting those pullets started laying, and I'm happy to hear one has come around, I jump start my girls along about this time of year with a little light. It only takes a tiny light, I have an electric candle, coming on a few hours before sunrise. Their hormones are being triggered anyway by the lengthening days, but a little extra light will get them started laying faster.

You've noticed increased activity in the nest boxes. That's a precursor to laying. Pullets like to "play house", making an awful mess sometimes, before they get serious. Let them have their way. It's a normal learning behavior. And salting the nest boxes with fake eggs will work wonders, too.

One last word of warning. You may not have given any thought yet to the potential chickens have as great and affectionate pets. Beware. They may bring you under their spell, and then you're a goner.

Thanks for all the information! We really are open to ideas and suggestions on food and other helpful hints on our chickens. We were just under the impression that layer pellets or mash or crumbles were fed to hens ready and old enough ro lay and havent looked much into all flock or anthing like that. Maybe we will wait to see how they do since they have been through many changes recently.. But also we did start about a week with a light on in the house about 1 hour before daylight and they seem to like it. The lows tonight are in the upper teens so i decided to keep the little ones with a light all night.

 

[chicklover 1998]

Hi and welcome to BYC- glad that you have joined us. Daylight is the main issue affecting egg production and not temperature. Considering their youth and fewer daylight hours, I'd suggest continuing with what you're doing and be a little patient - that's the tough bit, I know.

All the best

Ct

Quote: X3

 

[chicklover 1998]

Me and my wife are brand new to chickens. We know a little but nothing more than basic knowledge. We bought several chickens in hopes of getting eggs but the process seems to be more in depth than we originally thought. We have 6 hens and 1 rooster in all. We have 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 RIR that may have some bantam mixture but is an Easter egger, 1 barred rock hen and one barred rock rooster. All were said to be around 6 months old when we got them about 3 weeks ago. We also have 3 EE that are 4 months old. We have read a lot and tried to set everything up accordingly. The 6 month old EE has layed a few eggs prior to us getting her but none of the others have layed their first egg. We feed the 6month olds laying mash with a 16% protein from a local feed store with occasional scratch grain and greens. we tried dumor layer pellets from TSC but they wouldn't hardly touch them. The 4 months old will eat anything really but heard grower or raiser is best. the 4mon old are in a separate coop then the others. We figured we would have our first egg by now even from at least the one that has layed before but haven't got the first egg. We know its winter but has been fairly mild so far and we heard RIR and BR would lay year round just less in the winter. Wondering if there was anything we are doing wrong or if there is anything we could do to make them want to lay their first eggs or start laying again. Also we know the smaller will not lay for a few months. We may be just a little excited and impatient. Any help would be awesome!!

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