Elven's Questions... Pictures Added and more ???s

[Elven Dreams]

Okay, so I've been on BYC for a while now and have learned sooo much and met some great people!

But I keep having little questions that I don't want to post a new post every day! lol

So I'm going to put them all here!

Okay, so here are a few to start me off, lol.

About when do they start laying? My roos are starting to crow so I'm guessing the girls should start laying some time soon?

Also, I have them in a coop but I move them to a tractor around 7 am and they stay there all day... Do I need to start leaving the girls in the coop to lay? I won't get home til after one most days and kinda feel bad leaving them in there that long.... I will be working on their permanent pen this upcoming week....

And I have a 'stray' chicken that has taken up living in the tree by the coop... she lays me an egg every day around noon or so in my next box in the coop. I leave the door open during the day to help air it out even though it is well ventilated.

If I start leaving the other girls in the coop with the door closed.. can I make her a little nest box right outside the door to encourage her to NOT go into the bushes or woods to lay? lol
Also.... I would like to know what kind she is! She won't let me get close enough to get a decent picture.. she is a sort of grey color with a rusty brown head and neck, both colors are muted not bright. Small comb, long legs.. makes me think of a road runner when she runs! lol

I will try to get a picture but until then that's the best I can do.
Oh Her eggs are fairly small and off white, they are about the size of golf balls.

PHEW! IF you got through all that you get a cookie! lol
But seriously thanks in advance for any help and advice!

I know I'll probably have more questions in the next few days so I'll add them here as I go...lol

 

[fargosmom]

Most hens start laying around 18-20 weeks, I think. My BR's started at 19, and I think my EE just started today (21 weeks). So it depends on the breed, but I think 24 weeks is about the latest. I imagine if they're in your tractor and they need to lay they're gonna lay. . . not perhaps the safest spot for them but they may not have much choice. Good luck on getting your construction done before they get to work! And as for your stray chickie - got no experience there, but I bet if you offered her a really enticing alternative nesting spot and seed it with some golf ball "eggs" she might get the idea. Good luck!!

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

About when do they start laying? My roos are starting to crow so I'm guessing the girls should start laying some time soon?

4 months at the earliest; up to 9-12 months at the latest I think. My girls started laying at 4 months almost to the day.

Also, I have them in a coop but I move them to a tractor around 7 am and they stay there all day... Do I need to start leaving the girls in the coop to lay? I won't get home til after one most days and kinda feel bad leaving them in there that long.... I will be working on their permanent pen this upcoming week....

I do the same thing to mine, you don't have to leave them in until they lay although I think they would be more comfortable in the coop/nest boxes. Mine lay on the grass if they are in the tractor. I leave mine in their tractor for longer than that 8-10-12 hours and then I let them loose to roam on our lawn.

can I make her a little nest box right outside the door to encourage her to NOT go into the bushes or woods to lay? lol

You can try, I don't know if she will do it or not, maybe since she is going into the coop to lay already. Very cute

I'm not sure what kind she is based on the description, a more experienced chick-ite will have to help you with that.

 

[Elven Dreams]

okay thanks... I need to count up and see where they are now! lol

Yeah I don't want them to lay in the tractor.....

I think the golf ball I put in the nest box for the others 'just in case' is what got her to lay there! lol

I am going to TRY to get a pic of her in the next day or so.. she's slowly letting me get closer.. but my camera isn't the best so I have to be fairly close....


Thanks GSL~ we posted at the same time! lol

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

No problem

We are in the processor of building a single moveable nest box to put in the tractor, but it may still be too big, as the "tractor" is a converted large dog cage (I only have two chickens, so it works). I move it all over the yard so they have fresh pickings every day.

 

[Elven Dreams]

I keep mine in a tractor as well, and have been thinking of putting a small single nest box in there.. Hopefully I'll have their permanent run finished by the time they are ready to lay.

I counted up and they are only nearly 3 months. I got them as chicks on March 24. So looks like the end of July I can be on the look out!

The stray chicken didn't leave me an egg today.

I guess that is normal for them to take a day off? lol

I'm going to try to take some pictures today as I would like to know what type of chickens I actually have! The only two for sure I know are the RIRs.... they were labeled at TSC. The others were just in a big tank all together as Straight Run Chicks.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

I guess that is normal for them to take a day off? lol

yep, one lays 7 eggs/week, the other on average 6 eggs/week. she's the loafer

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
yep, one lays 7 eggs/week, the other on average 6 eggs/week. she's the loafer

I have 6 laying hens at the moment and I get anywhere from 4 to 6 eggs a day. I have 8 RIR hens that are 13 weeks old, 1 white one that I don't know the breed of and an EE that are also 13 weeks old. I'm expecting to see some of the RIR's laying soon. The white one is a bit bigger than the rest so I suppose she may start sooner.

As far as you hen in the tree, is it possible to catch her after dark? A coon could get her there. Think she may go into a live trap to nest if you put it in the spot she normally lays? Or try using a net to catch her when she's not in the tree. I have to corner my older hens to catch them.

 

[Elven Dreams]

Quote:
yep, one lays 7 eggs/week, the other on average 6 eggs/week. she's the loafer

I have 6 laying hens at the moment and I get anywhere from 4 to 6 eggs a day. I have 8 RIR hens that are 13 weeks old, 1 white one that I don't know the breed of and an EE that are also 13 weeks old. I'm expecting to see some of the RIR's laying soon. The white one is a bit bigger than the rest so I suppose she may start sooner.

As far as you hen in the tree, is it possible to catch her after dark? A coon could get her there. Think she may go into a live trap to nest if you put it in the spot she normally lays? Or try using a net to catch her when she's not in the tree. I have to corner my older hens to catch them.

That's good to know how many to expect, lol. I told people I was getting a 'few hens for eggs' and I have a LIST of people wanting eggs now! lol

I really need to get some pics and figure out what I have, lol!

I don't know if she'll go in a trap..... but I think if she's made it this long she's a pretty smart bird! lol We have had several EVIL dogs roaming the neighborhood and my neighbors lost a few of their chickens to them...

but I have a feeling they are related to the dog owners or friends or something.. BUT now the dogs have either been disposed of or kept up, haven't seen them in a month or so.. But still not letting my babies out of protection!!!


And

today my boss called me and her feed store has thirty chicks.. if I can get there by 5:30 I can have them.. well, I can't.. cuz at the moment she called I was in another county about an hour away picking up our feral cats from being spayed!

I am going to stop by the feed store tomorrow and see if the offer still stands... My husband said I could!!

I was SHOCKED! lol

Of course, I know he's thinking any roos will make yummy dinners! (still got to get my head round that bit.......)

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

how many is also breed dependent, but i'm sure you'll be fine.

i hope you get the chicks! good luck!

you could also sell the roos if you don't want to butcher/process them yourself.