Colorado

[TracieJS]

So get this..I traded a friend of mine two little bantam brahma roos for two little spangled hamburg mix pullets....this was a few months ago, I think late August or very early September.  The pullets were probably 10 weeks or so when we traded.  Until today I firmly believed I had gotten two pullets....until today I saw one of my pullets mount the other....have NEVER heard a crow out of this guy.....who is obviously a rooster....totally surprised.  This roo has no saddle feathers, doesn't have a "rooster" tail, neck feathers aren't significantly pointed either....I have been completely fooled by this roo. 

 

[TracieJS]

I just went through this - thought my Ancona (Panda) was a roo. She started jumping on one of black australorps (lil sis). Chased her around trying to mount her. This went on for two, three days. Then Lil Sis layed an egg. Panda kept it up for another two days and then SHE layed her first egg. After that, everything went back to normal. They have both been laying regularly for the last three weeks. Now for my other two black australorps, Lil Sis's sisters, Ned to start laying. Are they laying? Maybe getting close....
Tracie

 

[Mommato5]

We got our first egg today!! It's tiny, but otherwise perfect.

 

[Pozees]

We got our first egg today!! It's tiny, but otherwise perfect.

Woo hoo!

 

[coloradogal]

So I have a Friend who wants to buy chicks from me in early spring. He wants me to hatch them for him and only charge around $1.00 a piece. I thought this was a little low. So I went on line and to various resources and checked out 7 breeders/hatcheries that supply Dominiques. I noted and then figured out the average prices of straight run, pullets, and cockerels. here's what I came up with: The average cost each for Straight run Dom chicks was #3.20. the average cost for pullets was #3.26, while the average cost for cockerels was #1.78. I think what i will tell him is that if he wants inexpensive chicks that will give him a good return for meat birds, he should go with hatchery cornishX, and not a Heritage breed that 1. costs more initially, 2. Take twice as long to mature, and 3. can be raised efficiently in smaller areas.

I agree with everyone else...way too low. Heck, a dozen eggs is $3 a dozen and he wants a life chick that will eventually give him 20 eggs a month.

Speaking of eggs... my pet peeve with eggs is my friends who give me empty egg cartons and tell me, "I saved 10 egg cartons for you, that should at least be worth 2 dozen eggs...'. First, I won't reuse those egg cartons and second, at least ask me.

Are your dom eggs pink in color until you wash the bloom off? I'm getting one or two pinkish eggs and can't figure out who is laying them.

Denarahhl, so sorry for your loss.

 

[wsmith]

I agree with everyone else...way too low. Heck, a dozen eggs is $3 a dozen and he wants a life chick that will eventually give him 20 eggs a month.

Speaking of eggs... my pet peeve with eggs is my friends who give me empty egg cartons and tell me, "I saved 10 egg cartons for you, that should at least be worth 2 dozen eggs...'. First, I won't reuse those egg cartons and second, at least ask me.

Are your dom eggs pink in color until you wash the bloom off? I'm getting one or two pinkish eggs and can't figure out who is laying them.

Denarahhl, so sorry for your loss.

We have a couple who lay a very light colored egg.

 

[wsmith]

So how much feed does everyone use per chicken? I'm talking an adult pullet or hen. On other threads, I keep hearing about using 100# or more pellet or crumble feed per month for 15 birds. We are currently using (no growing adolescent birds) just over 50# per month for 18 birds. Add to that about 50# per month of scratch grains, but this is a high estimate. Thoughts? Are mine just food efficient or are others wasting food?

 

[Ashdoes]

Since starting the fermented feed I use about 35# a month for 12LF and 2silkies. And used 50# of scratch in two months, this was used in the FF and to help the flock learn to move further away from the run during free range time. I've been keeping track of the feed since starting the FF, because we were blowing through too much while they wasted the dry stuff. I'm hoping when spring comes, and all the bugs and plants are back, we'll use even less feed.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Before we started hatching and such we went through about a 50# bag of layer crumbles every 3 months for three LF and two banties. My banties were master food wasters. Snowi is gone(sold her) but Summer remains and they both had a habit of scooping feed out of the dispenser, pecking once or twice at the little pile and then eating the rest of their meal from the feeder. I found a good quarter inch layer of food under the sawdust around the feeder when I cleaned last before selling Snowi. That averaged out to 3.3# per bird per month.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Forgot to add, my girls get loads of table scraps and boss. I don't have any means to measure the weight of the potato skins, stale rolls, casserole portions or getting-too-ripe fruits. :/