Egg production?

[Sultan2610]

So I have made the dive into investing in some chicks. What I have are as listed

4- Blue Cochin Hens
3- Rhode Island Red Hens
1- Barred Holland Hen
1- Barred Rock Hen
1- Sultan Hen

What kind of egg production should I expect from my flock? Figured I would start with ten hen chicks and see how it goes from here, all are babies right now with the eldest possibly being 3-4 weeks old I imagine.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

See Henderson's chicken chart- google it and it gives some estimation of egg production based on breed.

Cochins go broody a LOT and will stop laying while they are setting.

 

[Sultan2610]

Sounds good just checked that chart out very interesting I might add. Are the Barred Holland really as rare as the chart suggests? If so I may have to go back and get another one. Now with Cochins going broody will this be a problem for the other hens when it comes to laying some tasty eggs? Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Sounds good just checked that chart out very interesting I might add. Are the Barred Holland really as rare as the chart suggests? If so I may have to go back and get another one. Now with Cochins going broody will this be a problem for the other hens when it comes to laying some tasty eggs? Thanks!

I have never seen any Hollands for sale locally. So I'd say they are uncommon for sure- you'd have to look around for hatcheries or breeders that carry them if you want them around here.

No a broody hen will just set on an empty nest sometimes. It is a good thing to always keep a fake egg in the nest - or a golf ball. They will set on that if that is all there is. You can collect the eggs daily- all of them. Give them at least one nest box per 5 hens. She won't let other hens in the box with her if she is very aggressive about it. Other times broodies will allow other hens in there.

 

[Sultan2610]

I think I've actually gone above and beyond, I've built ten nesting boxes 14.5" by 12" for the ten hens. With two ramps leading up to the boxes. The boxes are 2.5 feet off the ground and in one corner of the room I will be putting a roosting bar 3 feet off the ground. I converted one of my horses stalls into this self made coop home. I think I will go back to the feed store and pick up one or two more Hollands, very pretty bird for sure.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I think I've actually gone above and beyond, I've built ten nesting boxes 14.5" by 12" for the ten hens. With two ramps leading up to the boxes. The boxes are 2.5 feet off the ground and in one corner of the room I will be putting a roosting bar 3 feet off the ground. I converted one of my horses stalls into this self made coop home. I think I will go back to the feed store and pick up one or two more Hollands, very pretty bird for sure.

If I were you I'd make the roosting bar a bit higher and give them a ramp if possible to prevent bumblefoot as they hop down for the heavy breeds. With your roost bar only 0.5 feet higher than the nest boxes you may find that they will want to sleep in the boxes. Or you could lower the nest boxes, alternatively.

 

[Sultan2610]

Would it be good to make the roost bar 4 feet off the ground? What ramp would you suggest leading up to the roost bar?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Would it be good to make the roost bar 4 feet off the ground? What ramp would you suggest leading up to the roost bar?

That would be better for getting them to stay out of the boxes!

What matters is how far above they are from the nest boxes!

Here is a thread for you to get some ideas if needed for roosts. If you cannot make a ramp up to the roosts then 4 feet high is going to be too high due to the potential for causing bumblefoot - if they have a ramp then that would be fine in my opinion. See this thread as the poop board often lowers how far they have to jump down.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621363/poop-board-convert-warning-graphic-gross-poop-pictures

I hope this helps you out! Hopefully others will chime in too!

 

[DanEP]

If you don't have room for a ramp a lower roost that they can jump on to jump up to the higher roost will work too. My big coop has four roost with the bottom one being about the same height as the nest boxes that they jump on then jump up to the higher roost.Also if you don't have any layers yet you can either remove the nest boxes or block them off till the girls have gotten in the habit of roosting and are close to laying, this will stop them from getting in the habit of sleeping in the boxes.

 

[Sultan2610]

Awesome thread you posted and probably have enough room to do just that! Which looks great and I love the sand idea. Here's my nests as of now, still have to put a coat of stain on them and a few other little things as well pictures were just taken. On the opposite side of the nests is where I will put the roost and that sandbox idea as well I reckon.

[/IMG]