Colorado

[wsmith]

Do fake eggs in the nest boxes help or not? How long should I leave the actual eggs in the box during the day? Just seeking tips to get me through this painful wait...

Fake eggs let them know where to lay.... They will lay when they are ready. Keeping young pullets with older hens is the best way. The younger hens learn from the older ones, and some say the young ones lay a little earlier, but I haven't got data on that to support it. My two non-laying pullets are looking like they will start within a 4-5 weeks.

 

[wsmith]

That is smart with the wireless thermo...definitely going to use that idea!

We also use wireless thermometers...One in the main coop and another in the brooder house.

 

[wsmith]

I've some breeds are slower than others, but I thought my RIR would be the first.

I've had the girls on layer feed since about week 18 (Ranchway Organic Easy Feed 16%). I offer oyster shells everyday. I supplement with meal worms. Their feed consumption has slowed down because they're eating lots of greens and fruit scraps. Should I limit "treats"?

As has been said, each breed starts at differet imes, generally speaking, and breeding lines within the breed itself can vary when they start laying. Some Dominique lines have been known to start laying at 14 weeks! Not mine though.

I have oyster shell in a tray in the coop all the time. They eat it when they want it. We feed our chickens scraps, weeds, etc. When encouraging good laying, make sure they have lots of protein. 16-20% protien is fine for the regular feed. Mealworms have a great protien, but have lots of fat too. Giving mature hens lots of meal worms can put on fat. So can lots of corn.

 

[wsmith]

So many pages to read, not sure I have the time just yet..... a big "howdy" to all the new Colorado thread peeps!!!!!

I too live where it can get really cold, so coop is well insulated, and of course no drafts. I don't use heat in the winter, just LOTS of bedding, and they all hunker down together, so far, so good!

As to the late bloomers on laying their first eggs, look at it this way, they will lay for longer, so no worries, you will still get the same amount of eggs!! LOL

Wendel happy belated birthday to Beth!!!!!!

Thanks! She had a great time!. She was worn out afterwards. We had nearly 200 people at the house last Saturday for the party. There were people there from BYC and also the FB group. Over 24 either staying in the house of in the RV parked next to the house.

Last week I had the week off and spent most of my time getting ready for her party, so not much time on BYC or the FB group. Too busy. This week there were some internet issues, so my internet activity was somewhat limited.

Time to start on the fall chicken projects...

• Run wiring for the chicken compound
• Paint and trim the feed shed
• Repair some fencing
• Clean up the small pens
• Process the turkeys and cockerels in late Oct or early Nov
• etc
• etc

 

[maggiemo]

another fun video to give you a chuckle...
this one is on How to Teach you chickens that you are the boss

"I laid a nine pound human with less fuss"

 

[Wendi C]

As has been said, each breed starts at differet imes, generally speaking, and breeding lines within the breed itself can vary when they start laying. Some Dominique lines have been known to start laying at 14 weeks! Not mine though.

I have oyster shell in a tray in the coop all the time. They eat it when they want it. We feed our chickens scraps, weeds, etc. When encouraging good laying, make sure they have lots of protein. 16-20% protien is fine for the regular feed. Mealworms have a great protien, but have lots of fat too. Giving mature hens lots of meal worms can put on fat. So can lots of corn.

How fat is too fat? My girls seem really lean and I thought it might be beneficial to try and plump them up before the cold weather sets in? I'm guessing my RIR weighs 5lbs and the 2 EEs weigh a bit less. Somehow I thought they would be bigger.

 

[wsmith]

How fat is too fat? My girls seem really lean and I thought it might be beneficial to try and plump them up before the cold weather sets in? I'm guessing my RIR weighs 5lbs and the 2 EEs weigh a bit less. Somehow I thought they would be bigger.

Some extra fat during the winter can be beneficial, but I try to keep mine on the lean side during the summer. Last year, a couple of weeks before processing, I added about 25% more corn to the scratch mix for the cockerels we would be processing. There were two cockerels in the main yard that didn't get the increased corn ration. The cockerels in the growout pen had much more fat on them than the ones in the main yard. And we cut off most of that extra fat during butchering.
The extra fat is useful during the winter, expecially if you don't heat your coops. In the fall, I up the corn ration from 5 parts Wheat. 3 parts whole oats and 2 parts cracked corn, to 3 parts cracked corn. In December, I increase the corn to 4 parts. For my Dominiques, corn seems to keep more fat on them than the other grains. That's just what I do. Others results may vary....

 

[ladybug96]

I am in Kiowa and we have been adding to our flock over the summer, we have 13 hens, a rooster, and a turkey. My chickens provide endless entertainment for us - I love it!

 

[Mtn Margie]

I am in Kiowa and we have been adding to our flock over the summer, we have 13 hens, a rooster, and a turkey. My chickens provide endless entertainment for us - I love it!

Ladybug96! Glad to have you here!

 

[P-Funk]

Hi Ladybug! It looks like we're neighbors

Franktown here.

We hung an ad for free roo's up at the Elizabeth Big R. Today a lady called from right here in Deerfield and said she wanted to start raising chickens. It seems she wants to swing by tomorrow to see the whole setup and maybe take the last roo (a B.O. BTW hint hint). Without a coop, food, or anything associated with all that I just don't see how that could be possible.

Anyway she wants to start with a full grown, already laying flock. I don't see that happening either.