First Egg Countdown

[mithious]

The first set of pictures I put up could've been closer to 20 weeks, but the last set I just took this afternoon....forgot to add that....I could be wrong on when I took the first set of pic's, It might've been august not september, but the last was just this afternoon...the ones inside their coop that is.

 

[mithious]

Do you feed them a measured amount per day, or is food available to them all day long?

They have free access to food all day...I didn't do treats and such though, until it got colder and added the scratch and mealworms. They also get grit as I haven't let them free range yet. I wanted them to be full grown, as I live in northern NH and have tons of predators, including a family of hawks, so they have a 200 square foot run with the 8' by 8' coop as a grow out setup.

I feed starter grower, then all flock, then layer.

 

[mithious]

Oh yeah and they get local apples, whole, once a week...they stay in their system longer than the apple cider water does, so it gets their whole intestines and not just the crop...I find it works much better and less bowl issues and pests!

 

[mithious]

Here is a pic of my "grow out pen"...not done yet, but mostly cosmetics left. Coop with 3 roosts inside, outside attached, 6 nesting boxes all 12 feet square and a 200 square foot attached run for 15 birds. Dirt floor in run, straw and pine shavings for run/coop floor.

Two top vents, two windows w/hardware cloth, 1/2", on inside.

Look for paint and flowers next year lol.

They'll have plenty of mint nest spring too, just outside their door to eat and run in. I planted an herb garden for them too with thyme, sage and oregano.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, I've asked all I can think of. All you have to do now is wait. By the looks of the last pictures, it shouldn't be too much longer. Just think about how much better it is on their bodies. (early layers can have laying problems later on in life) My hatchery BR is almost 5 years old and still lays 5 jumbo sized eggs a week. (when she's not molting like she is now)

 

[chynasparks]

3rd day in a row, got 3rd egg. Same color and size as the first 2. In the nest box. I have 2 girls that aren't laying yet. This is so exciting I can't wait to get home and go on the egg hunt. Hubby says "cool"

 

[LadyCluck77]

The first set of pictures I put up could've been closer to 20 weeks, but the last set I just took this afternoon....forgot to add that....I could be wrong on when I took the first set of pic's, It might've been august not september, but the last was just this afternoon...the ones inside their coop that is.

Thanks for posting pics. Your roo looks really good. I love him!
The hens red coloring around the eyes is starting to come in, or seems to be from what I can
One other sign to look for is if you witness that gorgeous rooster and the ladies "fooling around"
Do they allow him to do this?

 

[mscarole]

Do Golden Sexlink chicks lay at 17 weeks? I thought they didn't lay until they were six or seven months.

 

[kmollyhughes]

Do Golden Sexlink chicks lay at 17 weeks?  I thought they didn't lay until they were six or seven months.

All my sex links started around 18-19 weeks. Early compared to some in our super sized flock.

 

[Happy Chooks]

3rd day in a row, got 3rd egg. Same color and size as the first 2. In the nest box. I have 2 girls that aren't laying yet. This is so exciting I can't wait to get home and go on the egg hunt. Hubby says "cool"

I still enjoy my egg hunt every day.

Do Golden Sexlink chicks lay at 17 weeks? I thought they didn't lay until they were six or seven months.

They can. They are hybrids (crosses) that are designed for laying well. Crosses (mutts) have hybrid vigor and are great layers. I have several crosses from BSL to Olive eggers that I crossed using pure Ameraucana's and they outlay everyone else.