I'm very behind on everything but I did think if you knew what colour eggs she laid it would help.
Dark brownish would definitely indicate Marans. I'm not sure but I think they're the only hens to lay such dark coloured eggs. I will be interested to see what she lays when she starts up again.
They are a handsome pair. I see. I've now been told that the grey hhen in question is a Legbar/Marans cross. I really don't know enough about these breeds to know if that's right or not. Shame some crosses do not inherit the copper hackles and do inherit the feathered legs. Also the Marans crosses that were in the tribes had a deeper grey colour. I'm going for Legbar/Marans cross for now, not having anything more concrete to go on.
That should be an interesting coloured egg!
Whip has one of those full of character faces. Great name as well.
Don't forget the box of tissues to wipe your eyes when you say goodbye to them as house chicks.
I think in the US that is how they create the so-called 'olive eggers' - a blue egg layer x a brown egg layer results in an olive colored egg (khaki really).
Sounds good to me Bob. The only tweak I'd suggest is a second place to hide from a Phyllis attack, at the other end. I'm worried she will be between them and the little escape door at the nest boxes. A sheet of ply on bricks maybe?Tentative Integration Plan
It breaks my heart but the littles are too big to remain in the indoors brooder much longer. I'm going to miss their little voices and our evening perch time.
I have a basic outline of an integration plan. Phyllis roosting in the run, by her choice now, provides some opportunity and potential complications but I think I can make it work for me.
It is supposed to be chilly yet tonight so I will be moving the littles out tomorrow morning. I'm going to put an escape door across the nest boxes so they can get away from Phyllis. Then tomorrow night Phyllis will join them in the coop.
In the morning I will let Phyllis out and leave the littles in the coop alone. I will probably repeat that for several days. Then I will segment off the big run where the Cluckle Hut is and let the littles have access to the big run.
After they demonstrate that they will go to bed in the coop, then I will start providing evening access to the yard where the big girls roam.
All this time I will have Phyllis roost in The Hut with them each night. Provided nothing untoward occurs I hope to continue that through the full integration.
I will be moving the heat block out for the littles. I expect they will sleep under it at first before roosting. Additionally I have purchased a coop heater as it will be getting pretty chilly and I don't want anything happening to them.
What does everyone think of the plan?
If you do end up with the coop, eventually it might need bracing under the nest box. Last year we added shelf brackets to keep the nest box from sagging.Ok peeps, I have a conundrum that I need input on.
This is the prefab I have now that becoming derelict. I hate it which is why I’m looking to upgrade to the cubby coop idea…
View attachment 2855106
ok, so I’ve just seen this and other than difference in height the living space is roughly the same size as the cubby I was going to purchase.
View attachment 2855107
Now, after I fit a floor, raise it on stumps, add ventilation, windows, nest boxes, and all the other stuff to make the cubby safe and secure for my girls, it will end up costing me at least $100-$150 more than this one.
This is the cubby…
View attachment 2855109
All I’ve bought so far for my project is paintso…I’m torn.
As I said, I’m not handy with building so I tried to keep my plan simple for a build but for me, that’s a fair chunk of money. And considering what the girls have now the new prefab is a fair but bigger.
They roam each day so the size of the run isn’t worrying me (and at least it is covered unlike now in the run.)
And I could add more roosts in the prefab, and use my paint if I want to hahaha.
Input?
Sorry I haven’t cropped the photos, first day back at work after the holidays so I’m tired
I hope this all makes sense!
For me too sweetie! High altitude cross wind. Low visibility, and I only flew over Pismo beach, and out to sea for a while.It's been a fast hard and eventful day .
