California - Northern

[OR4-hmom]

Haha. I'm feeling the same way you are. This thread is full of enablers! I've got mealworms in a bookshelf and my red worm composter arrives today.

All to take care of the ever expanding number of city chickens....

Here's my question: with just a small(ish) number of chickens (with names!) what do you do when they stop laying? Keep them on as yard ornaments or into the stock pot they go?

I have barred rock that will be 5 next month. I'm the exception up here because I will feed them during the winter when we only get enough eggs for the three of us and a few for the neighbors. Other laying hens turned 4 this month. By keeping my girls over the winter I get bigger eggs sooner than having to start over with new chicks. No broody box, heat lamps, pecking, unexpected roosters, with daughter record keeping for 4-H they have broken even as far as feed. We do have a strong market for our eggs at the growers market, if we had to sell them cheaply they would be costing us over the long run. Most people here donate the old layers to a couple of wild animal parks in the area.

 

[lawatt]

hello everyone -- sorry to have been absent so much lately! miss molly, glad to see you have good news from the doctor!

one of my silver penciled plymouth rocks may be going broody -- she's been in the nesting box all morning, and makes unfriendly noises when i open it to look at her -- which is very exciting! i think i will get some eggs to put in with her, in addition to the cross-breed eggs my own chicklets are laying -- but i am curious, is it okay to leave a broody hen (and later, with chicks) in the same coop/run as the rest of the flock? i don't have a separate coop or house to put her in...

thanks! i love the idea of her doing all the work of raising the baby chicks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here's my question: with just a small(ish) number of chickens (with names!) what do you do when they stop laying? Keep them on as yard ornaments or into the stock pot they go?

My oldest hens just turned 4 and they haven't stopped laying yet. A couple have slowed down drastically, but most are still laying 5 or so a week.

It has been really difficult for us being so far away from my FIL. They are all the way in Indiana. We had him start a high-dose selenium supplement, and the nutritionist at the oncology center scared him into stopping it. They also frown on raw milk and eggs because they are too dangerous. But the chemo and radiation are safe and what is best for you? BS. We know that surgery usually hastens the spread, but that is still what they are recommending after the chemo/radiation. My DH is so frustrated. He feels like he could make a bigger difference in his dad's decisions if we were not so far away.

Thanks for the kind thoughts and support. I will find out if they would like to talk to them when they call later today.

That is tough being so far away - I'm sorry and wish him luck. Chemo and Radiation are really tough.

hello everyone -- sorry to have been absent so much lately! miss molly, glad to see you have good news from the doctor!

one of my silver penciled plymouth rocks may be going broody -- she's been in the nesting box all morning, and makes unfriendly noises when i open it to look at her -- which is very exciting! i think i will get some eggs to put in with her, in addition to the cross-breed eggs my own chicklets are laying -- but i am curious, is it okay to leave a broody hen (and later, with chicks) in the same coop/run as the rest of the flock? i don't have a separate coop or house to put her in...

thanks! i love the idea of her doing all the work of raising the baby chicks!

Just in time for the Easter Hatch! You should come join the rest of us!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Priority boxes are free at the post office. You can also go online to usps.com and order Regional A boxes. They are a top loading small box perfect for shipping 8-10 eggs/ 12 if they are small. The cost to ship in a Reg. A Box is usually $9.88 across the US and $5.65 within CA. Much cheaper than having to pay $11.85 for Med. Priority for small orders.

Unfortunately, they only carry the side loading boxes at the Post Office so you have to order the top loading online. They come in bundles of 25 and are FREE .. oh and they drop em at your door!!! There are other box sizes available on-line too. Check it out. It usually take up to 10 days for delivery, so order well in advance.

USPS priority boxes are free...that's what I use.

I see 10x7x5 in priority a top load that is the only size I can find in top load. does that sound right

 

[ronott1]

I am back from visiting the nice folks at Western Pet and Feed in Davis. I picked up 2 bags of Natural Non Soy Starter and 1 bag of Natural non Soy Layer Pellets. They gave me thee two dollar off coupons too..I have a week to go before the Azure drop so I should be ok for feed until then. Next time I will need to get more layer than starter I hope.

Jason: Did you say the Crele Penes take longer to hatch too? I have 5 working on hatching but no pips yet.

I still have 13 Bresse developing. 14 were shipped but one of them was smashed. Do Bresse always develop this well?

 

[WaterKat]

The new chicks are up and chirping - eating like teenage boys, too! And waaay too cute

Clucks & coos,

Jan

 

[juststruttin]

I see 10x7x5 in priority a top load that is the only size I can find in top load. does that sound right

The Regional A1 boxes are 10 X 7 X 4.34 and the
Regional B1 are 12 X 10.25 X 5
(see post below for link to USPS regional page)

for comparison the Medium Flat rate box is 11 X 8.5 X 5.25 (in the middle between the two Reg. Boxes)

I keep all three boxes on hand and depending on Zip Code ship accordingly. It is usually cheaper to ship using the regional boxes (by weight) than using the Flat Rate Boxes.

I ship my eggs rolled like burritos standing up in the box so the the 4.75" or 5.25" height works very well. I don't use the taller boxes.

 

[juststruttin]

I see 10x7x5 in priority a top load that is the only size I can find in top load. does that sound right

Here is the link
https://store.usps.com/store/browse...ailingShippingSupplies:subcatMSS_RegionalRate

You want to order Regional A1 and Regional B1 - they are top lading. The 2's are side loading and don't work for eggs.

 

[WaterKat]

Howdy - I'm up in the foothills of Sacramento in a town called Auburn. Anyone near by?

Right down 1-80 from you - always drive to Auburn to get my Yule tree!

Clucks & coos,

Jan

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I am back from visiting the nice folks at Western Pet and Feed in Davis. I picked up 2 bags of Natural Non Soy Starter and 1 bag of Natural non Soy Layer Pellets. They gave me thee two dollar off coupons too..I have a week to go before the Azure drop so I should be ok for feed until then. Next time I will need to get more layer than starter I hope.

Jason: Did you say the Crele Penes take longer to hatch too? I have 5 working on hatching but no pips yet.

I still have 13 Bresse developing. 14 were shipped but one of them was smashed. Do Bresse always develop this well?

seems like 23 days is the norm