California - Northern

[ronott1]

I have a question, I purchased the vertical nipples, they didn't come with any instructions....there is one part that sticks out a bit, does that go on the bottom? An does anyone know what size of drill we should use? They came with NO instructions. We picked up a 16 Gallon Bucket and it is heated,the cord comes out the bottom, we will set it up on something. We have figured out that would be enough water for them while we're gone....

Yes, that goes on the bottom. The drill, is usually an 11/32 bit.

The nipples will work with about 5 chickens per nipple. More per nipple in cool weather.

Keep us updated!

 

[QueenMisha]

Hey there everybody! I just wanted to check in and let everybody know that my workplace - The Poultry Palace - will be getting pullets in next week, Wed. the 16th of December. We will have Easter Eggers, New Hampshires, White Leghorns, Barred Rocks, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Light Brahmas, and Rhode Island Reds. All are hatchery stock and will be great layers. The GLWs and especially RIRs are in a more limited supply than most other varieties, and EEs usually sell quicker than the other breeds, so if you are interested in any of those breeds, you may want to get here on or soon after the 16th for the best selection. The birds will be exactly 8 weeks of age on the 16th and most breeds are $14. The birds are guaranteed female (our sexing is around 98% accurate) and we will take back "oops" cockerels if need be. We are located in Placerville, CA. You can find our phone number, address, and more at our website, thepoultrypalace.com.

 

[caychris]

What age is good for an EE to start laying? I picked up 2 chicks for my broody this summer and they just turned 19 weeks. Im figuing that maybe should start laying mid Jan if not holding off because of winter. The Jersey Giant I got with them is going to be much slower as I understand. She is getting big and almost the size of my hatchery buffs and larger than some of my hatchery delawares already. (though not as heavy)

Im going to rearrange my space after Christmas to allow me to get some eggs for hatching come January.

I will probably put the 2 EE's in with my 2 CLB girls and the Barred Holland covered by my CLB boy. Should produced some interesting chicks all with Blue egg genes for eggs.

I will have one of my Pita Roosters over my hatchery delawares and buff orps while I have the other over the pita girls (and a couple of buff Orps just because of space issues)

Should make some very interesting chicks come spring.

I couldn't be happier with the boys at this point. The 2 (CLB and Pita) that were raised together get along very well with each other and the 11 girls roaming free in the back yard at the moment.

 

[Granny368W]

Yes, that goes on the bottom. The drill, is usually an 11/32 bit.

The nipples will work with about 5 chickens per nipple. More per nipple in cool weather.

Keep us updated!

I sure thank you so much for always helping me..... Last night we got home late and I ran out to check on my hens and they were ALL in the hen house!! Today I put the night light in today... Tomorrow we will get that timer to screw into the light socket, then I can put the light in so it will stay on until they all get in.....We are getting everything together on Friday so that will give us a little over a week to make sure it all goes good before we leave..... I worry so much.... Rae I bought 10 of them so I think we should put 4 on the 16 Gallon Bucket and we still will have the 2 5 gallon Buckets so they'll have enough nipples to all be able to drink....

 

[QueenMisha]

What age is good for an EE to start laying? I picked up 2 chicks for my broody this summer and they just turned 19 weeks. Im figuing that maybe should start laying mid Jan if not holding off because of winter. The Jersey Giant I got with them is going to be much slower as I understand. She is getting big and almost the size of my hatchery buffs and larger than some of my hatchery delawares already. (though not as heavy)

Im going to rearrange my space after Christmas to allow me to get some eggs for hatching come January.

I will probably put the 2 EE's in with my 2 CLB girls and the Barred Holland covered by my CLB boy. Should produced some interesting chicks all with Blue egg genes for eggs.

I will have one of my Pita Roosters over my hatchery delawares and buff orps while I have the other over the pita girls (and a couple of buff Orps just because of space issues)

Should make some very interesting chicks come spring.

I couldn't be happier with the boys at this point. The 2 (CLB and Pita) that were raised together get along very well with each other and the 11 girls roaming free in the back yard at the moment. 

EEs can take a while to start laying. In my experience they tend more towards 26-28 or even 30 weeks to get started. Some may start around 24.

Never heard of a "Pita" chicken. Is that another rare breed?

 

[ronott1]

What age is good for an EE to start laying? I picked up 2 chicks for my broody this summer and they just turned 19 weeks. Im figuing that maybe should start laying mid Jan if not holding off because of winter. The Jersey Giant I got with them is going to be much slower as I understand. She is getting big and almost the size of my hatchery buffs and larger than some of my hatchery delawares already. (though not as heavy)

Im going to rearrange my space after Christmas to allow me to get some eggs for hatching come January.

I will probably put the 2 EE's in with my 2 CLB girls and the Barred Holland covered by my CLB boy. Should produced some interesting chicks all with Blue egg genes for eggs.

I will have one of my Pita Roosters over my hatchery delawares and buff orps while I have the other over the pita girls (and a couple of buff Orps just because of space issues)

Should make some very interesting chicks come spring.

I couldn't be happier with the boys at this point. The 2 (CLB and Pita) that were raised together get along very well with each other and the 11 girls roaming free in the back yard at the moment.

It depends on if they are hatchery EEs or non standard ameraucanas. EEs from a hatchery will start laying closer to the normal 20 to 22 weeks old. Non standard Ameraucanas take longer.

It is the lowest daylight hours now though--without supplemental light they will not start until January.

 

[caychris]

they are hatchery EE's from what i can tell.
Ill get some pics when I can

A Pita is a Pita Pinta Asturiana they are a rare spanish breed and as far as we can tell all US birds stem from an original import of eggs a few years back. You can read about them here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/920104/the-pita-pinta-asturiana

@Petrock (Debi) probably has the largest selection of them. I currently have 9 girls and 2 boys and will be breeding next year from a mix of birds from Debi and Ron who has some as well.

They are great birds for back yard, mature quite quickly for a heritage breed, lay plenty of eggs and have a very friendly disposition. I will raise the boys out for meat if not selected for breeding.

 

[QueenMisha]

It depends on if they are hatchery EEs or non standard ameraucanas. EEs from a hatchery will start laying closer to the normal 20 to 22 weeks old.

Dang, where are you getting your EEs? I haven't had an EE that laid any younger than 24, no matter the hatchery they came from! I've probably had... maybe 15 EEs over the last decade... they all took veritably FOREVER.

A Pita is a [COLOR=333333]Pita Pinta Asturiana [/COLOR]they are a rare spanish breed and as far as we can tell all US birds stem from an original import of eggs a few years back. You can read about them here.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/920104/the-pita-pinta-asturiana

@Petrock (Debi) probably has the largest selection of them. I currently have 9 girls and 2 boys and will be breeding next year from a mix of birds from Debi and Ron who has some as well.

They are great birds for back yard, mature quite quickly for a heritage breed, lay plenty of eggs and have a very friendly disposition. I will raise the boys out for meat if not selected for breeding.

Sounds like a great bird. Maybe I'll try to add some next year for my production breeding groups. So busy with my dang Silkie project, it's hard to focus on other breeds! They sure are pretty though... Mottled birds will get me every time.

 

[ronott1]

Dang, where are you getting your EEs? I haven't had an EE that laid any younger than 24, no matter the hatchery they came from! I've probably had... maybe 15 EEs over the last decade... they all took veritably FOREVER.
Sounds like a great bird. Maybe I'll try to add some next year for my production breeding groups. So busy with my dang Silkie project, it's hard to focus on other breeds! They sure are pretty though... Mottled birds will get me every time.

I picked up a couple from Hayes feed--I think they get them from Pritchet Hatchery. They started laying as fast as the hatchery Australorps. The Dorking x wheaten Amearaucana took much longer to start.

 

[h2oratt]

I was given some large buckets of wheat. It was someones food storage wheat. Is it ok to feed to my chickens? Do I just feed it like scratch. I.e. Don't give them to much. My mcmurray hatchery chicks are all laying now. I my old gals are laying about every other day. We are getting about 7 eggs a day. I am really pleased with my ornamental layers except that they like to fly. But if I had wings I would be trying to fly also. Their eggs are really nice. Thick shell and beautiful colors.
Not sure I need more layers. I prob should cull my old layers but I don't have the heart.