First Egg Countdown

[fallenangel79]

Oh, and for those that don't know - this is an egg skelter filled with welsummer eggs:

I want one I like it

 

[chynasparks]

Hello Happy Chooks. I have no eggs yet. Don't expect any till spring. My girls just don't look ready. Meantime, I added recent pics to my album. Got a great shot of my roo. I'm concerned about him. I think he's grabbing the girls around the face and combs. They have some scabs. I started supervised free ranging thinking it may help. In still checking for eggs though. Maybe???

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hello Happy Chooks. I have no eggs yet. Don't expect any till spring. My girls just don't look ready. Meantime, I added recent pics to my album. Got a great shot of my roo. I'm concerned about him. I think he's grabbing the girls around the face and combs. They have some scabs. I started supervised free ranging thinking it may help. In still checking for eggs though. Maybe???

I'm not positive on your question. I looked at your pics and you did get a nice shot of your cockerel, but I can't see any of your pullets faces. He will be ready to mate before them, but I have never seen a cockerel go for their faces. They usually grab them from the back of their head. Are you sure you don't have another issue, like Dry Fowl Pox?

How old are your pullets? They look old enough in the pictures to start laying before spring, but again, I can't see their faces/combs.

 

[Too Fast]

I found that the egg skelter should be available in my neck of the woods, at TSC. Going to get one this weekend, maybe today. That thing looks awesome!

And congrats everybody else on your first eggs!

 

[chynasparks]

I really didn't have a question just posting. However you raised one, what is dry foul pox? I've seen the roo grab one of the girls in the face the other day. And back of neck. He has no scabs what so ever. I hope they aren't sick, they don't act sick.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

I'm not positive on your question. I looked at your pics and you did get a nice shot of your cockerel, but I can't see any of your pullets faces. He will be ready to mate before them, but I have never seen a cockerel go for their faces. They usually grab them from the back of their head. Are you sure you don't have another issue, like Dry Fowl Pox?

How old are your pullets? They look old enough in the pictures to start laying before spring, but again, I can't see their faces/combs.

How long has your roo been trying to mate your girls? Because when my roo first started, he was so excited to catch one of the girls that he'd just jump on them anywhere he could. Lots of times that was their face. Poor girls. I wish I'd filmed it! That only lasted for a few weeks. He did eventually get the hang of it, and as the girls matured they weren't as likely to run away from his incredibly inept advances. He's an old hand at doing his business now.

Happy Chooks has a good point about checking for disease, though. A photo of your girl's heads would be good. But if they're disease free, and of course if the injuries aren't tooo bad... then just wait it out. Your little feathered man will figure it all out soon enough.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Hello Happy Chooks. I have no eggs yet. Don't expect any till spring. My girls just don't look ready. Meantime, I added recent pics to my album. Got a great shot of my roo. I'm concerned about him. I think he's grabbing the girls around the face and combs. They have some scabs. I started supervised free ranging thinking it may help. In still checking for eggs though. Maybe???

Just finished looking at your pictures of Wild Bill and his girls. Nice set up you have in your coop and your chicks all look good to me.

 

[Jaggs]

Ok Ladies, I need some help. I have 23.5 week old EE's who still haven't laid an egg. This is my first time with chickens so I'm new to this. Can you tell by the waddles if they will lay soon?


#1 Princess Jasmine (Can you tell I have little girls)


#2 on left Big Mama, #3 on right Anna (Anastasia)



#4 Ariel



#5 Midget



#6 Snow White



And just for show... my super sexy rooster "General"! He's so pretty!



Thanks Ladies and Gents!

We now have TWO layers! Found 2 eggs in the coop this morning. Midget is still laying in the box instead of the nesting boxes, and now we have Anna laying in the corner of the coop behind a shovel. I messed up both the nests in hopes that they use the boxes instead. Golf ball still in the nesting boxes. Any tips on making my girls use them? I can officially stop buying eggs. We will now get barely enough from the 2 hens. YEAY!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I really didn't have a question just posting. However you raised one, what is dry foul pox? I've seen the roo grab one of the girls in the face the other day. And back of neck. He has no scabs what so ever. I hope they aren't sick, they don't act sick.

Dry fowl pox is a virus caused by Mosquitos. It causes sores on the comb and wattles. But if your flock had it, then your rooster likely would as well.

Sounds like your boy is over eager and clumsy for mating. It shouldn't be too long before he gets the hang of it. It is difficult when he's ready, but the pullets aren't.

 

[meemnum1]

Fowl pox?????? Some of my girls have sores. I live is S.E. Louisiana and our state bird the mosquito is usually around all year round except to the two weeks that the temperature drops below 60 degrees. Does it make the birds sick?