Eggs

[1st time]

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Lol my husband loves ducks we were going to getthem until i realized they (if they found something they liked) would eat the leafs of my plants that was a deal breaker i do a garden year round so yeah no. Lol my chickens found my tomatoes and cucumber and squash plants

as soon as possible i going to fence that off from them.

 

[1st time]

They are entertaining for sure. That's nice to know if I decide to do a small garden. I kinda worry about the cold weat her coming up with their waterers. I have seen some ideas pn pintrest. I currently have a 3 and 5 gal plastic waterer.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Ah yeah this will be our first year with chickens in winter i going to put the heat lamp in their coop but most are cold hardy and living in south texas winters are mild 20degrees is normally the lowest we get. I heard about water heater were you get those i havent a clue.

 

[1st time]

I have seen them in stores and on pintrest. Some take the plastic ones and set it on top of a cinder block with like a 40 watt bulb made into it. It can get down into single digits here in Richmond Va.thinks for talking I have enjoyed you sharing. 5am comes early for me.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Yikes ditto and thats cold. Good night! Talk to you later.

 

[aart]

I made their nests from milk crates. I hope they will like them. I put pine tags in them. It is 6 on the top row and 2 on the bottom. It's hard to see the black ones. Has anyone else used milk crates?

Milk crates nest can work very well, just make sure the nests are about a foot lower than the roosts, or they will want to sleep in the nests...bad habit.
They need a perch about 8" in front of nests to hop and and take a look before entering nest.

If you're free ranging you may need to 'train' them to use coop nests.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

No but mine lay in the coop not in the hen boxes they like the boxes to sleep in just not nest in.

@Jesusfreak101 You really don't want them roosting(sleeping) in the nests, makes for poopy eggs.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I know but they dont lay in the nest they only lay in the area they sleep in. On hen made her nest there and wont us another spot at all.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I am so proud of my hen she finally used the nesting box to lay

 

[1st time]

Got my first egg. So excited.