Easter Egger club!

[Shawneegyrl]

I have to admit, I'm really digging these chickens. They look like hawks. BUT, I also adore silkies and cochins. Does anyone have EEs with silkies and/or cochins? I think I just want one of each, and the rest EEs, but I also don't want murders in my coop. I only want 6 chickens total (the infamous chicken math not withstanding). I also wonder if one cochin and one silkie will be okay, or if they would be happier with similar looking buddies. Or would they even care?

I have a hodge podge and they get along fine. 1 brahma, 1 RIR, 1 Maran, 2 GLW, 1 EE and 4 cochins. I also got several of them at different times. A lot has to do with how you introduce a new girl to the group.

 

[MEMama3]

I have 13 chickens, 1 roo, 12 hens. I have 2 ee's and 2 silkies. They get along fine. I have a question about my silkie, she isn't laying anymore and just sits in the nesting box. I have to take her out to get her to eat. She will eat then go right back in the nesting box. Will she get out of this funk?

She is broody and will need help to snap out of it, I haven't dealt with that first hand, but heard if you keep her in a dog kennel or something uncomfortable for a few days it should break the spell

x2 She's broody (silkies are notorious for it). You can try moving her off the nest repeatedly, but she may get aggressive. A wire bottom crate/cage for a few days will literally cool her off and do the trick. Search the forums for "broody breaker" for more info. Also, if caught early she may resume laying immediately. If not, it may be a few weeks before you'll get eggs from her again.

I have a silkie EE that will go broody, goes in the crate for three or four days, waits another three weeks to lay an egg, lays for a week or two and then we do it all over again. At this point I get cheap eggs from the farmer market to let her hatch out then I sell off the chicks.

 

[gootziecat]

Does anyone have EE bantams? I'd like to learn more about them, ie, egg size, temperament, winter laying, etc.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

Does anyone have EE bantams? I'd like to learn more about them, ie, egg size, temperament, winter laying, etc.

I have bantam easter eggers, but they are only 25.5 weeks old. One of them just started laying this week... her eggs are about 31 grams. Everyone is friendly.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6451923/easter-egger-bantams/

 

[Lorraine436]

Thank you!!!! I was hoping that was it, I wanted to make sure she wasn't sick. She is funny, I take her out of the box, she argues with me, pecks around then goes back in. I locked her out of the coop for about an hour and she was fine. Once I opened it she was right back in. I will definitely try the crate and check the "brrody breaker" forum. Thanks to all!!

 

[carriebain]

Good luck!

 

[fosterson]

1- Post a picture of your EE(s) (If possible)
2- Tell us their names
3- Have fun!

I was EEer crazy BEFORE I got chickens, but I just got my first two EE 'mutts' today. They are well bred mutts, mind you, but still EE crosses.

There's my Silkie/Ameraucana roo Sir Fugly von Pumpkin, who is about the cutest thing EVER...about halfway between a Silkie and a full sized chook:




He has black skin and 5 toes on each foot and an extremely high opinion of himself. The hens are less than impressed. (yes, that's me grinning like a fool...he kept crowing AT me like he was saying 'ExCUSE me! You are wounding my dignity'. He has the LONGEST hackle feathers for his size, and a puffy crown that flares up when he's showing off to the ladies.

And there's Bling, who is half English Blue Orpington (daddy) and half EEer (mom). We're FAIRLY sure Bling's a pullet but at only 12 weeks we could get a surprise. Either way, I'm looking forward to the Blue genetics!

 

[ChicKat]

Nice pictures. Good explanation of their backgrounds too. Pretty chickens as well.....

 

[Delight30]

They need at least 14 hours to stimulate laying. We use a cheap walmart timer.

I found an LED remote control light (battery operated) for 14.00 at walmart. I use it for a hen that was laying from the roost, this light has made all difference in that situation. May help here and you don't have to run electricity or go to the coop to turn it on or off.

 

[ChicKat]

I found an LED remote control light (battery operated) for 14.00 at walmart. I use it for a hen that was laying from the roost, this light has made all difference in that situation. May help here and you don't have to run electricity or go to the coop to turn it on or off.

More info? I'm off to get one next time I go to Wal*Mart.... was it in Camping, or their regular lighting? Was it a fixture, or a lamp, or one of those glue-on undercounter lights? -- Do you leave it on all the time or turn off in day time. How does the remote control work? Too many questions? :O)