fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Likely a bit of a late developer if she's not come into lay yet.

Your pullets that are in lay now *should* lay through winter and all of next year until about fall, BUT there's always a but...they don't always follow the norms.

Those that haven't come into lay yet, I'd still look for eggs soon, probably by Christmas.

Well, here's hoping!

And the first one to molt is...

Tamar!

Look at how red her comb was back in October...

 

[fuzzi]

Celery leaves and cracker crumbs...

Happy Thanksgiving all!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[NanaK]

Hope ya'll had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[fuzzi]

Thank you, all!

We had turkey, and I made broth from the bones.

And then the tidbits that fell off the bones were fed to and gobbled by my chickens!

 

[fuzzi]

Good Chilly Saturday Morning!

I've been thinking about the dearth of eggs. Twice this week when I didn't find any eggs the nesting box was warm.


I see bright red combs on the pullets.

I'm wondering, could I have missed a snake?


So...while it's dry, and chilly, I plan to go out to the hoop coop with a rake, a spading fork, and a bucket. If there's a snake in there it won't be moving fast, it's 43° right now.

 

[NanaK]

Could be???
I have not seen a snake in a while but I know they are out there. Be careful poking around. Don't let sometime surprise you!

I really would have expected your girls to be giving you a few eggs through the winter. My 6 pullets, born around May 1 are laying as well as 3 1.5 yr old Wyandottes. I'm getting 4-6 per day.

I will say some breeds are less likely to lay in winter. I've raised 2 groups of Cream Legbars from 2 different sources in 2 different years. Some are 3 years old, some are almost 10 yrs old. Both groups started laying late summer/early fall of their first year. Both groups quit laying that first winter with no molting. They both started back laying early Feb. They lay like crazy spring and summer but no winter eggs. The older ones still lay a few each year in spring.

I really would not expect this laying pattern with Speckled Sussex or Dominique.

Now an 'Old Wives Tale'.... Collard greens and cayenne. Old lady swears it will help them get back to laying. Who knows???

 

[fuzzi]

Could be???
I have not seen a snake in a while but I know they are out there. Be careful poking around. Don't let sometime surprise you!

I really would have expected your girls to be giving you a few eggs through the winter. My 6 pullets, born around May 1 are laying as well as 3 1.5 yr old Wyandottes. I'm getting 4-6 per day.

I will say some breeds are less likely to lay in winter. I've raised 2 groups of Cream Legbars from 2 different sources in 2 different years. Some are 3 years old, some are almost 10 yrs old. Both groups started laying late summer/early fall of their first year. Both groups quit laying that first winter with no molting. They both started back laying early Feb. They lay like crazy spring and summer but no winter eggs. The older ones still lay a few each year in spring.

I really would not expect this laying pattern with Speckled Sussex or Dominique.

Now an 'Old Wives Tale'.... Collard greens and cayenne. Old lady swears it will help them get back to laying. Who knows???

I have been feeding them collards!

I did a pretty thorough search of the coop, no snake.

While I was doing that I also cleared out the clutter I had added when they were small and needed places to hide.

Finding insects after I moved a block...

"Ooh! Grape Lady made us a new perch!"

"Three Sussex hens..."
(Martha, Rahab, Hannah)

After digging out some of the composted litter from the front I added more leaves.

Naomi

Most of the pullets have bright red combs...I don't get it.

 

[fuzzi]

 

[fuzzi]