Colorado

[COChix]

Just got a few updated shots of the pullets....

We ended up with two pullets with the puffy cheeks and five that don't have any muffs. I think the muffs girls are the cutest!

 

[Latestarter]

hey there guys! I have a quick question!

I was wondering what an egg laying song sounded like. This is our first time owning chickens and we got our Rhode Island Reds in April, I'm thinking they were born the first week. We've been (Im)patiently waiting for our first eggs and tonight one of the girls was on top of the coop making A LOT of noise. The other three were roosting inside but Sweety was SCREAMING haha we were worried something was in the chicken area hurting the ladies. My husband freaked out thinking we had a roo, but I'm 99% sure she's a hen. She does hen things, looks like a hen, and has never seemed rooster-ish, but what do I know. I'm definitely no expert haha. Is her screaming her beautiful song that will give me an egg soon!? Please say yes haha. You know, just in time for shorter days

Typically you'll get your first eggs between 20-26 weeks, so depending on when they were born in April, you have about another month (or more) to wait. Sometimes one (or more) will mature a little earlier, but that amount of time is pretty standard for LF birds. There have been quite a few folks who thought they had all pullets, only to be shocked to discover one was an impostor!

If you can post a pic of the "screamer" I'm sure folks on here will be able to help you diagnose gender

Aside from that, we all love to see pics of other folks birds!

As for what an "egg song" sounds like, visit YouTube and you should be able to find examples. There are other ways to visually tell if they are getting close.

 

[Latestarter]

On another note entirely, I slept in this morning and when I went out to feed the birds, I caught one of my (worst) egg eaters! Now I have to decide what I'm going to do about it/her. She's a mature hen and well within eating criteria (weight etc.). It appears, as I thought, that she's laying her egg, then turning and eating it. I have free choice oyster shell in all the enclosures as well as free choice grit. She's not really eating the shell... she eats the yolk first, then some or most of the albumin, and then maybe a little shell. Since it's the yolk she's after, maybe @rf12345 is right... maybe adding some sulfur will help? Worth a try. So where can I pick up sulfur to add to their feed? BTW, in case I forgot...

@rf12345 and welcome to the CO thread!

Hey @COChix Good looking pullets, and I agree, the ones with the cheek feathers (are those muffs?) are pretty cute!

 

[COChix]

For those with the egg eaters you might need some more micronutrients, check into adding kelp to their diets, one of the best additives for your birds. Here are a few links for reading all about it...


http://www.treatsforchickens.com/the-nesting-box/sea-kelp-for-poultry/

http://www.noamkelp.com/slfeed.html

http://seedyeggs.blogspot.com/2009/08/kelp-meal-broth.html

 

[Latestarter]

OK, I can try that as well... Where do I get kelp for them?

Edit: Thanks for adding the links, I sent a request for cost quote to the place in Maine. CO wasn't listed in their available "ship to" states.

 

[COChix]

Good question, call the local feed stores/Jax etc. I have never bought in bulk as the fed we are feeding has it as an additive. you should be able to pick up a 50# bag fairly cheap....

"Kelp Meal fresh from the Atlantic Ocean and naturally 100% solar dried, is an excellent source of trace minerals that can conveniently be added into the regular feeding program.

There are so many benefits to all livestock when feeding 100% solar dried Kelp including:
• enhancement of the immune system
• increased feed efficiency
• encouragement of regular heat cycles
• improved conception rates and increased number of healthy births
• decreased birth related complications
• reduced incidence of mastitis, retained placenta, abortions and infertility
• milk fever can generally be avoided
• increased milk yield, extends lactation periods
• combats molds in feed and helps to detoxify the body after exposure to moldy feeds"

Cheapest site we found...

http://compostwerks.com/

PS - when googling kelp, make sure you get fed grade supplements and not kelp made for gardens.

 

[21hens-incharge]

My egg eaters vary as to who sees the soft shelled egg first. It is the only eggs they go after. Mine also have oyster shell and grit as well as supplements in the diet. I think it is just from the thin or soft shelled eggs being there that there is an issue at all. The ones that lay those eggs are slated for removal from the flock. We will see what transpires once they are out of the picture.

Uzi I am so sorry you ended up having a rough month. Man to buy the birds only to find they have worms is a complete downer.
Back in the day when I had some mean roosters I would put one in a rooster cage in the coop for the day while the other was out and about then switch them the next day. This was temporary of course since the mean ones had to go but did keep injuries from happening. It was not fun for me or them I am sure. The mean ones I had were 4 silkie cockerels that would attack the cochin and Japanese black tail bantam. Yes the two being attacked were also caged for a time so only one male was out at a time. My coop was a converted horse stall in the barn and I basically ended up with a wall of rooster cages. Keeping multiple roosters is difficult. I got away with the cochin and black tail together since there were 30+ hens in the coop. Some were bantam but most were BA. The big ladies kept the little fellers in check but adding the silkies sure threw that into a downward spiral since that was to many roosters for the top hen to have to keep lined out.

 

[Percheron chick]

OK, I can try that as well... Where do I get kelp?

Source is a horse supplement made from seaweed. Easy to find.

 

[suncatcher]

We have downsized our flock here for winter again too, just makes sense to not feed those who are older, or extra roos. I have more grow outs to go through later this fall, and we will put the extra cockerals from my late hatching in the freezer too.

Mine were laying well, but then I switched feeds, not a good idea, they are mostly on strike now. Also, doesn't help that four are broody again!!! What is with this girls, one never gave up, and the other three decided to follow her! lol

Egg eaters, nothing worse! Thanks for the links COChix!

Feathers everywhere, can't seem to keep them out of the water dishes, I change out water three times a day, and they still seem to float into them!

 

[COChix]

So holly molt man........here is a shot of our worse molting girl currently. Saffron, our Welsummer. Poor girl, at least she has pin feathers coming in....pulled out ingredients for anothe molt meatloaf.