fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

This afternoon:

 

[lightm]

I got 4 eggs out of 7 hens today!!!

One from Honey (golden comets, 2y9m), who was laying 1 per day and only recently slowed down to 1 every 3 days.

One from Light (golden comets, 2y9m), who has been laying 1 every 2 or 3 days.

One from Poopy (golden comets, 2y9m), who lays about once a week.

One from Meimei (barnyard RIR mix, 1y6m), who laid her first egg since molt. Last egg was probably 2 months ago.

(And I have another regular layer who didn't lay today)

Impressive birds!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I finally have 2 Doms that have decided molt is OVER! At least getting a couple of eggs every few days is better than nothing

 

[fuzzi]

I finally have 2 Doms that have decided molt is OVER! At least getting a couple of eggs every few days is better than nothing

Yep. I'm still at "nothing"

I got 4 eggs out of 7 hens today!!!

One from Honey (golden comets, 2y9m), who was laying 1 per day and only recently slowed down to 1 every 3 days.

One from Light (golden comets, 2y9m), who has been laying 1 every 2 or 3 days.

One from Poopy (golden comets, 2y9m), who lays about once a week.

One from Meimei (barnyard RIR mix, 1y6m), who laid her first egg since molt. Last egg was probably 2 months ago.

(And I have another regular layer who didn't lay today)

Impressive birds!

I'm jealous!!!

 

[fuzzi]

Last night, they were good:

All 9 on the roost.

And they're not segregated!

 

[fuzzi]

Found this article online, goes into studies about what makes the best, most nutritious eggs...backyard chickens!

But the author also writes about the free-range and cage free eggs we see in the stores, and what those terms really mean:

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/well-being-eggs

Before I read this I did not know the actual definition of free-range and cage free sources.

 

[NanaK]

Found this article online, goes into studies about what makes the best, most nutritious eggs...backyard chickens!

But the author also writes about the free-range and cage free eggs we see in the stores, and what those terms really mean:

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/well-being-eggs

Before I read this I did not know the actual definition of free-range and cage free sources.

I was very surprised when I first read those definitions straight from the USDA.

Scroll down to "Question: What is the difference between Free Range and Cage Free eggs?"
https://www.ams.usda.gov/publicatio...ed in USDA,outdoors during their laying cycle.

Your birds and mine are "free range" by this definition.

I found this company called Kipster interesting. They are raising "Certified Humane". They also have several live webcams. Who doesn't like to watch chickens?

https://www.kipster.farm/#home

Certified Humane® defines Free-Range as having at least 6 hours of outdoor access and a minimum of two square feet of outdoor space per bird. The term “Pasture-Raised” is not regulated by the USDA and is a marketing term used solely to confuse consumers.

So we have cage free, free range, humanely raised chickens. Just not certified.

 

[fuzzi]

I was very surprised when I first read those definitions straight from the USDA.

Scroll down to "Question: What is the difference between Free Range and Cage Free eggs?"
https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/qa-shell-eggs#:~:text=Answer: Eggs packed in USDA,outdoors during their laying cycle.

Your birds and mine are "free range" by this definition.

I found this company called Kipster interesting. They are raising "Certified Humane". They also have several live webcams. Who doesn't like to watch chickens?

https://www.kipster.farm/#home

Certified Humane® defines Free-Range as having at least 6 hours of outdoor access and a minimum of two square feet of outdoor space per bird. The term “Pasture-Raised” is not regulated by the USDA and is a marketing term used solely to confuse consumers.

So we have cage free, free range, humanely raised chickens. Just not certified.

Thanks for the additional information.

If my girls don't start laying soon I am going to have to buy eggs, and now I don't want to buy even the "cage free" eggs at Aldi's.

I wonder if the farmer's market will be open on Saturday...

 

[fuzzi]

Raining all day here, cold and rainy.

Cleo hates having to go outside in the rain, so I got her a raincoat. She still hates the rain!

The yard is covered in puddles. I went out to check on the chickens. They were making unhappy noises.

But while the deep litter is wet, it's "surface wet" only.

I left no footprints

We had pork roast for dinner. I took the fat out to the feral cats, but offered little tidbits of meat to the flock, first...

FOOD FIGHT!

As I was flicking little bits of meat at the chickens milling around my feet an occasional piece would land on a hen's back. I couldn't help but laugh as the hen would try to reach around and grab it before others tackled her!

No birds were harmed.

Next wave of weather is on the way:

 

[NanaK]

I wonder if the farmer's market will be open on Saturday...

It's at the Fair Grounds? Not sure. I haven't been there is a while.

Cleo hates having to go outside in the rain, so I got her a raincoat. She still hates the rain!

Love this! I had a Lab that hated the rain. He would hold it long as he could. When it would snow I'd have to literally push him out the door. He'd run out, take care of business and scratch on the door and whine. I had a fenced area for him out the back door. If his feet were wet, he'd pick up a paw and let me wipe them off. He was my big baby.

But while the deep litter is wet, it's "surface wet" only.

Mine is the same. It works great. Amazing stuff.

Next wave of weather is on the way

It has been raining all day. Not too much wind here. So far anyway. We live very close. I'm pretty much under the same blue dot.