California - Northern

[zooweemama]

So if I have 8 'good' layers can I safely expect about 4-5 eggs a day from my layers? I know that SQ anything are generally not as heavy layers as breeds of that variety that have been bred more towards production. While I like the idea of keeping my Marans close to standards- I am more afraid of losing laying ability. Since I do not plan to show them, would it be silly of me to keep an eye on standards and discard obvious rejects but breed more with productivity and size in mind? My purpose for this breed ultimately is for egg color, egg production and dual purpose so that after 2-3 years or so- we can also consume them. I am reading up on how to check vents, feather condition etc so that I can see who my good layers are. I would also like to do the same with my Orps.

At this point I would like to bring in about 1/2 dozen eggs a day from my chickens. I am hoping that 8 pullets will cover it. Thoughts?

 

[capayvalleychick]

I would guess that your plan sounds about right. Since hens are all individuals, you can expect some variability.

A friend showed me a fantastic book on how to select for egg production. I haven't read the entire book yet but it looked compatible with selecting toward the APA Standard.

The Call of the Hen by Walter Hogan

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_call_of_the_hen.html?id=PCkuAAAAYAAJ

Kim

 

[ronott1]

So if I have 8 'good' layers can I safely expect about 4-5 eggs a day from my layers? I know that SQ anything are generally not as heavy layers as breeds of that variety that have been bred more towards production. While I like the idea of keeping my Marans close to standards- I am more afraid of losing laying ability. Since I do not plan to show them, would it be silly of me to keep an eye on standards and discard obvious rejects but breed more with productivity and size in mind? My purpose for this breed ultimately is for egg color, egg production and dual purpose so that after 2-3 years or so- we can also consume them. I am reading up on how to check vents, feather condition etc so that I can see who my good layers are. I would also like to do the same with my Orps.

At this point I would like to bring in about 1/2 dozen eggs a day from my chickens. I am hoping that 8 pullets will cover it. Thoughts?

Amy, you are really thinking ahead!

Have you seen the egg laying curve? Production goes down at around 20% per year after the second year of laying, so to keep the production up you need to switch out your layers every two or three years.

With the Marans, you will also be breeding for egg color. The truth is, if you can get good dark eggs from them and some ribbons at shows(did you know you can enter the eggs?) You will be able to sell hatching eggs for $50.00 to $75.00 per dozen!

Work on the Breed and the Eggs. Use the culls for egg laying and swap them out every couple of years. Remember, light slows them down in the winter. They need 14 hours per day to lay at their best.

Also, I have read that no one has SQ Marans laying SQ Marans eggs in the US, so if you are serious that is the way to go.

How about this:

Some people treat chickens like a vending machine. The truth is you can't put in a quarter and get out an egg. Sometimes they lay an egg and some times they don't. We can't say we will give them x amount of feed and we will get x amount of eggs.

Me, I think they are amazingly good at giving me eggs and meat.

Bye,

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

I would guess that your plan sounds about right. Since hens are all individuals, you can expect some variability.

A friend showed me a fantastic book on how to select for egg production. I haven't read the entire book yet but it looked compatible with selecting toward the APA Standard.

The Call of the Hen by Walter Hogan

http://books.google.com/books/about/The_call_of_the_hen.html?id=PCkuAAAAYAAJ

Kim

Sweet! Going in my- gotta get it next book cart. Thank you!

 

[zooweemama]

Amy, you are really thinking ahead!

Have you seen the egg laying curve? Production goes down at around 20% per year after the second year of laying, so to keep the production up you need to switch out your layers every two or three years.

With the Marans, you will also be breeding for egg color. The truth is, if you can get good dark eggs from them and some ribbons at shows(did you know you can enter the eggs?) You will be able to sell hatching eggs for $50.00 to $75.00 per dozen!

Work on the Breed and the Eggs. Use the culls for egg laying and swap them out every couple of years. Remember, light slows them down in the winter. They need 14 hours per day to lay at their best.

Also, I have read that no one has SQ Marans laying SQ Marans eggs in the US, so if you are serious that is the way to go.

How about this:

Some people treat chickens like a vending machine. The truth is you can't put in a quarter and get out an egg. Sometimes they lay an egg and some times they don't. We can't say we will give them x amount of feed and we will get x amount of eggs.

Me, I think they are amazingly good at giving me eggs and meat.

Bye,

Ron

Thank you, Ron, for sharing your wisdom! I am not sure 'yet' but I am considering doing this without manipulation with lights. Letting them rest when their bodies say rest - more natural I guess? I know it sounds funny to some but my goal is to be prepared for emergencies (short ones or long ones. I don't want layers dependent on lights if electricity is down for whatever reason -disaster, power outages, worrying about generators etc). So I'd like to have a good producer in winter (naturally) and a good producer in summer (naturally) that is fair eating when spent. Mega quantity isn't my goal- really it's to feed my family with some surplus. Since I am still very new to all this- it's going to take me years to find a balance, which breeds work best for us but I am mainly drawn to larger birds, with good foraging skills, make good eating, throw me maybe 4 eggs a week per bird (on average), nice temperament (since I have young kids)...the Marans eggs would be nice to sell off my surplus because some people will pay more just because of their color. If they are fertile and have lovely #4 or higher color then even better right?

I am still reading and still working my through how to meet my family's needs but it wouldn't hurt to have a little extra to help cover cost of feed. We also have ducks that lay year round pausing only for molts. So chickens are not our only egg source. But chickens will be an occasional meat source (the ducks will not be for the most part). I am reading like 3 chicken books right now! haha!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I don't use artificial lights and laying doesn't fluxuat all that much. I feel they'll lay longer if their bodies are allowed cycle as needed. I don't feed my horses on a scheduled time either because I don't want them to colic because they're systems are used to an exact feeding time. Forcing a routine isn't good, in my opinion.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Megan where did you get the penedesenca eggs pictured on top?????

This is for Ron!

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

I don't use artificial lights and laying doesn't fluxuat all that much. I feel they'll lay longer if their bodies are allowed cycle as needed. I don't feed my horses on a scheduled time either because I don't want them to colic because they're systems are used to an exact feeding time. Forcing a routine isn't good, in my opinion.

I did the lighting last year but I won't this year, mostly because the hens got too noisy at 4:30 in the morning....I have to keep the neighbors happy since I am hiding roosters here

People do like the dark brown and blue green eggs.

Ron

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I remember going to a poultry show with a Marans table. There were several paper plates with 4 eggs on them, I guess it was a little egg show because there were ribbons on each plate

Amy, you are really thinking ahead!

Have you seen the egg laying curve? Production goes down at around 20% per year after the second year of laying, so to keep the production up you need to switch out your layers every two or three years.

With the Marans, you will also be breeding for egg color. The truth is, if you can get good dark eggs from them and some ribbons at shows(did you know you can enter the eggs?) You will be able to sell hatching eggs for $50.00 to $75.00 per dozen!

Work on the Breed and the Eggs. Use the culls for egg laying and swap them out every couple of years. Remember, light slows them down in the winter. They need 14 hours per day to lay at their best.

Also, I have read that no one has SQ Marans laying SQ Marans eggs in the US, so if you are serious that is the way to go.

How about this:

Some people treat chickens like a vending machine. The truth is you can't put in a quarter and get out an egg. Sometimes they lay an egg and some times they don't. We can't say we will give them x amount of feed and we will get x amount of eggs.

Me, I think they are amazingly good at giving me eggs and meat.

Bye,

Ron

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I thought a critter had gotten a chicken lol... nope just the crele letting everyone know there is a new sheriff in town.