Dark Egg Breeds Thread

[geebs]

Good morning MM!!! How are my egg layers today...( I am cyber adopting) I need MORE eggs.. sheesh...My girls can't keep up... I will hatch out some more cochin leghorn crosses this year.. (great cross)....They are fluffy and cute and lay like mad all through winter.. Keeping darkie layers has it's drawbacks... I shouldn't complain...I am averaging 5 eggs a day from 8 chickens from the old marans...Wish I had some pullets laying...don't know what is going on with the pullets...I suspect someone is eating the eggies.... I do have some BHB that just simply aren't laying yet....Might be squirrels egg stealing...Those buggers are as bold as bulls.

 

[Medicine Man]

Hi.

I'm mixing food now to go see them. They've been giving me 14-18 a day, about 40 girls and 6 boys. I don't think the boys ar laying. If I don't have to use lights I won't, but I lost a lot of weight in order to feed them last Winter.

 

[pinkchick]

MM~

Very nice eggs! Love the olive eggs!!! YUMMY!

 

[Wynette]

MM, your eggies are just gorgeous! That 2nd one in on the 2nd line is to die for - what a gorgeous shade! Aqua colored...very, very, VERY nice!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I had it on at night, but the chickens wouldn't get on the roost til the lights went out. Then they were left in the total darkness trying to figure it out. There was general chaos in the coop. Also, had trouble with the blood spots from the marans hens. Mine seem super sensitive to the sudden lights off. NOW, if I get Dh to hook up a dimmer system on the lights - - - that would be PERFECTION!

I don't think they make an auto (timed) dimmer system

 

[Medicine Man]

it's commonly accepted to put the lights on in the morning for those reasons.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Which brings us full circle to my current scenario - - - as soon as they wake up under the lights they leave the coop to socialize in the dark for a couple hours . . .

Even this morning, they left they nice lighted, warm coop to stand outside in the 30 F cold DARK run!

I just can not be beat by a chicken

, so I will have to keep working on outsmarting them

 

[cherylcohen]

Quote:
I know i want that aqua egg layer!!!

 

[Valencia7]

I think genetics and for the feeding will affect only the color of the yolk. Here some pics of my eggs comparing to the ones from the store.

 

[Valencia7]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/71229_photo.jpg