California - Northern

[Nikon]

It's just a feather follicle. Absolutely nothing to worry about and totally normal (since this is a marans X). If that were on a clean legged breed, it would be a "stub" and cause for DQ from the show table (unless you pulled it out first, LOL).

Oh few! I was like.... I have a mutant Frankenchicken!

 

[OR4-hmom]

Low egg production?
My girls range from 1-3 years old. They're barred rocks, rirs, new hampshires, and black sex links. I have 27. I get about 12-14 eggs a day. They're fed fermented feed (layer crumble) and get lots and lots of fresh vegis and fruit from our restaurants. They have a light that gives them 15+ hours of light a day. Fresh clean water, plenty of room. Only one rooster. What is wrong? Are the older ones too old? These are my layer hens and were from a feed store/factory. Thanks for any suggestions.

Mine don't like temp swings, if a day or two runs 10° warmer than usual their numbers drop. They slow up in our 95°+ summer days only laying about half as many as spring.

 

[ronott1]

Low egg production?
My girls range from 1-3 years old. They're barred rocks, rirs, new hampshires, and black sex links. I have 27. I get about 12-14 eggs a day. They're fed fermented feed (layer crumble) and get lots and lots of fresh vegis and fruit from our restaurants. They have a light that gives them 15+ hours of light a day. Fresh clean water, plenty of room. Only one rooster. What is wrong? Are the older ones too old? These are my layer hens and were from a feed store/factory. Thanks for any suggestions.

They could be too old--well not really. My 2.5 year old Hatchery hens are still laying fairly well.

I read that they can be fed too much and it will lower egg laying. Check for parasites--take a manure sample to a vet for a float test. A Vet that will float test for Dog manure can check chicken manure too. Treat based on the test. Also they will lay less sometimes if they need calcium.

What feed are you fermenting? I fermented for a couple of weeks and just gave up on it. The King Freedom feed seems to do better for me.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Mine don't like temp swings, if a day or two runs 10° warmer than usual their numbers drop.  They slow up in our 95°+ summer days only laying about half as many as spring.

I forgot to add that in there. It's been like this all spring too, not just since its gotten hot

 

[Chickengirl1304]

They could be too old--well not really. My 2.5 year old Hatchery hens are still laying fairly well.

I read that they can be fed too much and it will lower egg laying. Check for parasites--take a manure sample to a vet for a float test. A Vet that will float test for Dog manure can check chicken manure too. Treat based on the test. Also they will lay less sometimes if they need calcium.

What feed are you fermenting? I fermented for a couple of weeks and just gave up on it. The King Freedom feed seems to do better for me.

It's nutiena 16 percent layer crumble

 

[Chickengirl1304]

It's nutiena 16 percent layer crumble

It just puzzles me because all my other flocks are laying wonderfully and they're all breeder stock. Wyandottes, EEs, And Marans.

 

[ronott1]

It just puzzles me because all my other flocks are laying wonderfully and they're all breeder stock. Wyandottes, EEs, And Marans.

The laying curve is very steep with hatchery hens. Heritage breeds will not normally(Penedescecas and other medeteranian breeds lay a bunch during the first couple of years too) lay as much at first but they will be steady longer.

These are your layers and you have a rooster with them? Does he pester them? Stress, like the temperature swings can lower egg laying. Does something bother them at night, like rats running around or predators roaming around the coop?

I think nutreena is a good feed but you should give them free choice calcium and grit. I wonder if some Big Old Bird by southland organics might not help too.

I was also very serious about parasites. Mites can infest one part of your place and they are very hard to see along with round worms--They will lower hatch rates.

 

[lawatt]

i didn't have a photo for my earlier story, but have a feeling these might be appreciated here:



my dad and stepmother are moving house & gave me these on friday, they used to belong to my grandmother -- they were very grimy & full of old wax, but i heated them in the oven to melt & got them cleaned up, and they really have the *perfect* chicken expressions!!

 

[OR4-hmom]

The laying curve is very steep with hatchery hens. Heritage breeds will not normally(Penedescecas and other medeteranian breeds lay a bunch during the first couple of years too) lay as much at first but they will be steady longer.

These are your layers and you have a rooster with them? Does he pester them? Stress, like the temperature swings can lower egg laying. Does something bother them at night, like rats running around or predators roaming around the coop?

I think nutreena is a good feed but you should give them free choice calcium and grit. I wonder if some Big Old Bird by southland organics might not help too.

I was also very serious about parasites. Mites can infest one part of your place and they are very hard to see along with round worms--They will lower hatch rates.

Beat me to the rat comment, thanks Ron. Mine really slacked off when the rodents found the feeders I used to have inside the coop.

 

[Miss Molly]

Cool! Is he what they call a snow leopard? I want to see a picture! Who did you get yours from? I got my female (pet quality) from a breeder in Penn Valley and my male is (show quality) from a breeder in Lincoln, Jungle Katz Cattery. Here is my boy, Leo (5 years old) and my female, Sashi is going on 8 and still looks and acts like a kitten! My two are only 2 generations removed from the wild Asian leopard cat breeding, so they are very active. My female loves to be put in a fabric, kitty crackle bag and swung around in circles! She is crazy cute and fun! I hope mine are as long lived as your boy! I am going to be heartbroken when I loose mine Leonardo Sashi

WOW, I love the markings..BEAUTIFUL!