Colorado

[ChickenCanoe]

My older hens usually don't start laying again until Jan sometime. The daylight needs to start increasing in order to trigger their egg laying hormones.

Exactly.
It is day length but more importantly, they need to detect a gradual change in the light/dark cycle and the length of each.

I wrote the following in another thread and it may explain a bit more of the science behind light.

Light exposure to the retina is first relayed to the nucleus of the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that coordinates biological clock signals. Fibers from there descend to the spinal cord and ultimately project to the superior cervical ganglia, from which neurons ascend back to the pineal gland. The pineal gland translates signals from the nervous system into a hormonal signal.
The gland produces serotonin and subsequently melatonin, a hormone that affects the gonads for sperm production in males and ovulation in females. An increase in melatonin causes the gonads to become inactive. As photoperiod in relation to day vs. night is the most important clue for animals to determine season. As it lengthens, the gonads are rejuvenated. The duration of melatonin secretion each day is directly proportional to the length of the night because of the pineal gland's ability to measure daylength. Besides reproduction, it also affects sleep timing and blood pressure regulation.

 

[suncatcher]

Interesting about the light and the brain, but works the same way for us humans too!

I was really starting to worry my 2 year old hens were done, but since they are not the standard production type breeds, and even though they are from a hatchery, I am glad they are back on track!

I will better manage my grow outs next year, and keep a few from my first hatches, so they can be of laying age when my older ones go through their molt! Live and learn!

So sad about your turkey and your daughter finding her, big shock I am sure.

 

[Latestarter]

Well, after 4-6 inches of the white stuff and morning temps today in the low 20s I finally broke down and installed the water bucket heaters. The nipples were frozen solid this morning, and there was ice in the buckets. Not solid mind you, but still... Everything is plugged in, no shorts and no popped circuit breakers, so despite all the chicken dust, I guess all is well. Now I just hope the dog doesn't decide to chew the extension cords. Nothing else out back seems safe from him LOL.

Also went out and removed the empty deep and empty double syrup feeder from the bee hive and put the outer cover back on right above the inner cover. I was amazed at the hordes of yellow jackets/wasps patrolling the hive. Trying to get in a last feed before it's too late. The honey bees have the entrance jammed, so the wasps aren't getting inside. The bees never moved the honey from the medium super frame I left in the deep, so I'll scrape and drain that this evening and have another pint of beautiful honey.

I left it out by the hive for now, until dark, so they can scavenge it if they want.

Man, I guess winter is finally here. And the month of November is almost 1/2 gone! Geeze... Hope y'all had a great Friday. I'm going out with a friend for a Chinese food feast for dinner tonight. The left overs are the best part. They always taste super reheated.

 

[Latestarter]

As an aside, while out working around the coops this afternoon I noticed fox tracks alongside the runs in the snow. My LGD was out back by the coops barking the last couple nights and he's been spending extra time out there so I'm guessing he scared the fox off. The area is fenced so the fox can't get in to where the coops are, and Mel can't get out to where the fox was. Good dog!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Gotta love a good dog.
We have been hearing an owl lately in the trees in the morning. No fox for a long time around here. The racoon have left large foot prints in the dust on the coop windows. I noticed it while making my winter closures last weekend. The windows when open are nearly flat to the roof of the run which is wire. I am guessing he was on top of the coop testing the waters. I started carrying a large heavy flashlight with me in the mornings when I go out. NO need to surprise one of those nasty buggers. I am pretty sure a scream from me would get the dogs to jump the kennel fence to protect me. NOT that I would ever want them to do that.

I hope everyone gets to enjoy the warm weekend before the storm rolls in.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Got as ready for the winter storm as I could this weekend. The coop got cleaned, new roost set up for the old ladies (to much griping at bed time), put up more metal roofing in the run to give a bigger dry area, and made sure the windows close tightly with the new latches. The new latches are of PVC so I was worried the sun may bend them. They are good and tight.

I am bracing for the worst and hoping for the best.

 

[COChix]

Hey gang been a minute since I posted. We are getting ready to move the birds next Saturday. We have been working on the city coop, winterizing, splitting the run and coop in 1/2 preparing for integration of our flock and existing flock. There are three existing members and we will be taking 12 with us.

Here is a shot of how we attached the plastic to the run and coop for wintering. We used 1 X 1 pieces of wood and screws. Make quick work of it...

 

[maggiemo]

Looks great. Hope the move goes ok. Are you moving as well, or just the chickens?

I got 50 bales of straw/hay given to me this weekend. I filled up the run area with the bales. I stacked some but opened most of the bales. The run area has very little soil so I am hoping to increase the soil life with this organic matter. The bales were oat straw that went to seed so the farmer didn't really have a use for them, so I said; "I'll take 'em"!
I'll throw down some cover crop seeds in the spring and hopefully something will sprout or at least open up the soil in that area.

I cleaned out my coop too, and my husband fixed the electrical outlets in the coop so they are all safe now.
It seems certain now...Winter is coming!

 

[Percheron chick]

I have given my chickens bales of oat hay. They provided hours of entertainment and by spring, there was nothing left. Oats did sprout up bit those were quickly taken care of.
Great score. I can't understand the reasoning. It has good feed value with the seed or harvest the oats and bale the straw. But don't tell him that.

 

[COChix]

Looks great. Hope the move goes ok. Are you moving as well, or just the chickens?

I got 50 bales of straw/hay given to me this weekend. I filled up the run area with the bales. I stacked some but opened most of the bales. The run area has very little soil so I am hoping to increase the soil life with this organic matter. The bales were oat straw that went to seed so the farmer didn't really have a use for them, so I said; "I'll take 'em"!
I'll throw down some cover crop seeds in the spring and hopefully something will sprout or at least open up the soil in that area. 

I cleaned out my coop too, and my husband fixed  the electrical outlets in the coop so they are all safe now. 
It seems certain now...Winter is coming!

Wow, lucky you to get all that straw, I am sure your girls are just loving it.

We will be home basing from Englewood and Boulder truly becomes just work at least through the winter. We will be leaving Rocco, Left Eye (the feather eaters) and Left Eye (soft shell eggs) in Boulder for a week or so, until we process. Come spring I wouldn't mind having birds in Boulder as well. Who knows....it could all change. I have done minimal winterizing of the run in Boulder. Hoping this storm tonight isn't too bad!!! I gambled and hope to not come up too short.