Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Ridgerunner]

I have a stupid question. Is a hen the full size and weight when it starts to lay or does she grow more? And the same thing with a rooster?

That's not a stupid question, but I'll have fun with my anwer.

The pullets will keep growing after they start to lay. They will gain some height and overall size, but a whole lot of the additional growth is spreading out. But no they have not reached full size when they start to lay.

On the other hand, I've never had a rooster start to lay before he reaches full size. But they will start trying to mate during their adolescence and well before they have reached ultimate size. Their saddle, hackle, and tail feathers will not be nearly as magnificent until they are a lot older either.

I have not studied it or paid that much attention to when they reach full size and glory, but at least for roosters, it is over a year and I'd guess more likely at least two years. It would not surprise me at all if someone comes on and says it is even longer.

 

[stonykill]

That's not a stupid question, but I'll have fun with my anwer.
The pullets will keep growing after they start to lay. They will gain some height and overall size, but a whole lot of the additional growth is spreading out. But no they have not reached full size when they start to lay.
On the other hand, I've never had a rooster start to lay before he reaches full size. But they will start trying to mate during their adolescence and well before they have reached ultimate size. Their saddle, hackle, and tail feathers will not be nearly as magnificent until they are a lot older either.
I have not studied it or paid that much attention to when they reach full size and glory, but at least for roosters, it is over a year and I'd guess more likely at least two years. It would not surprise me at all if someone comes on and says it is even longer.

lol, I actually had to restain myself from responding the same way. All in good fun of course.

Reminds me of a customer that was at my house picking up furniture. He commented on the roosters crowing then asked if I get a lot of eggs from them

 

[wsmith]

 

[Leahs Mom]

Has anyone had experience with Night Guard Predator devices? I would appreciate input, negative or positive.

I have some on all sides of my coop...wanted to try just in case they would help. Put out a "trail camera" and took several photos of raccoons right next to them

during the nights so I'd say they aren't working for me!

Bummer, too...I had really hoped they would be effective.

I guess that doesn't mean they won't work EVER. I set traps and caught 10 raccoon adults and 3 racoon babies so now that things are thinned out a bit, maybe the newer ones will be more cautious.

Neighbors have told me there is a coyote or 2 around. Never caught one on camera. The camera was borrowed so I don't have it out now to continue to monitor but I'd like to get my own sometime to continue to observe to see what's happening out there.

 

[ldutch123]

Thank you. I'm gong to look into the necropsy fee for Illinois. I'm not going to do it this time cause its too late. I'm not too worried. Everyone seems pretty healthy.

Now on another note.......this week and next week we are getting into the 100's and staying in the 90's for Weeks. Anything I can do for these poor chickens. They have shade and water everywhere. But they have to be miserable under all those feathers lol.

Any suggestions? Does anyone spray em down with the hose? Lol

 

[Beekissed]

Shade, cool dusting spots in the shade, cool water daily....I've had chickens during that kind of heat and never provided anything other than what I've mentioned. Of course, I manage chickens a little differently than most and believe wholeheartedly in natural selection, so climate stressors that cause death would be nature weeding out the weak ones and leaving the strong,IMO. I've never had a chicken die due to heat or cold.

The feathers actually act as an insulator from the heat which is why I also don't tolerate chickens who are perpetually bare-backed or scraggly in their feathering....I cull specifically for birds who have healthy feathering/healthy appearance other than when in active, natural molting.

Feathers are much like the wool on sheep or the double coat on some dogs...they have the ability to insulate them from both heat and cold and the animal adapts. That's why I hate to see anyone shear a GP or other heavy coat breeds in the summer...sure, it may look like they are happier and more comfortable to your eyes but God has designed that animal with adaptive properties and I've never yet seen a normal, healthy dog with a double coat die from overheating if they are provided shade and water.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have a few water bowls scattered around, partly because I have young ones with the flock but also to make sure they have plenty of water. Some of the chickens stand in the water when it is hot. We had 100 degrees F yesterday.

All I do is shade, plenty of water, and ventilation in the coop. Lots of shade and water.

I had a hen die from the heat last year while on the nest laying. She was not acting right beforehand so there was some pre-existing condition, but I think it is a good idea to have some ventilation up high in your nest boxes if you can manage. It has to get hot when two or three crown in there at the same time to lay.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote: My roosters never started laying even after they reached their full size!

Seriously, with the larger breeds (Orpington, Cochin, Brahma, Jersey Giants, etc) they will not be fully grown until 12 to 18 months of age. Many of true Heritage dual purpose breeds will start laying at about 8 months but continue to grow and mature till close to 18 months.

 

[MOChickenShoes]

someone had asked this in a different thread and never really got an answer, so since you guys are on the subject:

is there such a thing as "too much" panting in the heat? i'm new to chickens, and sometimes here on BYC and some other things i've read, panting is listed as a sign that chickens are "heat stressed". the common sense part of me says that chicken panting is comparable to a dog panting, just a way for the animal to combat the heat and not a sign of imminent doom. here in MO, as in most of the US it seems, we've already been hitting triple digits, with highs all this week from 96-101 my 10-11 week old pullets seem to go in panting mode when it gets to around 93-94 degrees. i assume this is normal? they act pretty much normal other than that, seem to be eating ok etc. i have a raised coop, so they have nothing but shade underneath which is where they typically hang out despite it feeling cooler in the coop to me (i don't have a thermometer inside or outside the coop). i also have a small pen attached to that with a tarp layed over the top of that for additional shade. water is available both underneath and inside the coop. i've also thrown in watermelon (both frozen and thawed) occasionally, which they seemed to enjoy. yesterday i set up a bit of a mist for them to use if they wanted, but they didn't even approach it for the 3 hours i had it running. i haven't dragged a fan out there yet, mostly because i feel like it really shouldn't be necessary. i'm rambling, apologies. bottom line question- is panting really a cause for concern? should i be taking whatever steps i can to get them to stop panting, or is it perfectly normal for them to do so? (again, common sense is telling me it's fine, but being new to chickens i just want to be sure i'm not allowing too much "stress" to my small flock).

edited to add, i have BR's, RIR's, and 1 BO, if that should make any impact on an answer. they all seem to pant at about the same temp.

 

[jazzy519]

Thanks for the answer that helps me alot my Rhode Islands and Dominiques are heritage breeds