Houdans

[Bentley]

The Barred Rocks and especially the sex-links will certainly come in to production earlier. They are breeds that are selected and bred as a production bird. Some Naked Neck lines are as well and the mix breeds could follow into that group as well. It does surprise me though that your Silkie is laying and not your Houdan. If they are the same age the Houdan shouldn't be too far behind

 

[Chambertin]

Yeah!!!  how old is your girl?  Mine was hatched in April and i am still waiting.

25 weeks. I may have had the day wrong before, but I checked my records.
Well the police checked their records...
Apperently I got hit by a camera doing 2 kmh over the limit on sone random country road the day I went to pick them up.
Annoying, but kinda funny and usefull.

She laid another one today, but it had a hard landing.
Now the "training" begins. Whee~

I havent added any extra light but there was a week between the first egg fart and a now apperently regular 2 day lay.

Good luck everyone, they cant hold their butts closed forever.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Here too!
Are you adding extra lighting at all?
They are getting around 8 hours a day. Maybe that's why..

No extra light this year. We did last year with our sex-links for 4-H but decided to give everyone a break this year. However, we have 14 active layers and have been getting no less than 8 eggs a day. Usually more, Monday we had 12, so the shorter days are not slowing the sex links, Favorelles or Araucana down. (esp. the Sex-links).

I guess I may just have to wait until spring. I do look everyday because she will be our only white layer, it will be obvious when she does lay.

Oddly, our 20 month old sex-links have yet to molt as well. I am wondering if it is because our fall has been so warm?

 

[aoxa]

Here too!

Are you adding extra lighting at all?

They are getting around 8 hours a day. Maybe that's why.. :/

No extra light this year.  We did last year with our sex-links for 4-H but decided to give everyone a break this year.  However, we have 14 active layers and have been getting no less than 8 eggs a day.  Usually more, Monday we had 12, so the shorter days are not slowing the sex links, Favorelles or Araucana down.  (esp. the Sex-links). 

I guess I may just have to wait until spring.  I do look everyday because she will be our only white layer, it will be obvious when she does lay.

Oddly, our 20 month old sex-links have yet to molt as well.  I am wondering if it is because our fall has been so warm?

My sex links last year waited until January to molt! She took 1 week off from laying, and was back at it.

Still nothing from Skittles!

Here are a few new photos of the Houdans.. Who are messy because of the weather, the fermented feed, and who knows what else.. They all need a top hat bath!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Nice pics aoxa. I thought I had an egg yesterday but upon closer inspection it was a very pale Fav. egg.

I like your frizzle in the pic above. What breed? We just picked up two bantam Cochin's and one is a partrdge frizzle.

 

[aoxa]

Nice pics aoxa.  I thought I had an egg yesterday but upon closer inspection it was a very pale Fav. egg.

I like your frizzle in the pic above.  What breed?  We just picked up two bantam Cochin's and one is a partrdge frizzle.

He's a first generation sizzle project bird

George Jr.

 

[ashandvine]

Modern chickens needs 14 hours light per day (consistently) in order to stimulate their reproductive system. kind of tricking them into thinking "hey, its Spring". It can occur on less light in breeds bred specifically for egg production but this is the rule to get, or keep, birds in production through the winter months.

It also takes two weeks typically for the influence of AI to take effect. For those who are in a hurry or on a time line but might not know. I have taken to adding a little time in the morning and at the very end of the day but not as much as I would need to make them prolific again, as they were in high summer. A rest isn't bad in my opinion, possibly even 'natural,' and since I am raising mostly heritage birds here I figure this might help them remain healthy layers (ie not burned out) longer.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

He's a first generation sizzle project bird

George Jr.

Very cute! I know we are off topic on this thread but is there a Frizzle/Sizzle thread that you like? I have seen several when I searched but none that were very long.

How cold are you up there? I understand we have arctic air headed our way so I imagine you are already chilly. How do your birds (exp. the Houdans) handle the winters?

 

[aoxa]

He's a first generation sizzle project bird


George Jr.

Very cute!  I know we are off topic on this thread but is there a Frizzle/Sizzle thread that you like?  I have seen several when I searched but none that were very long.

How cold are you up there?  I understand we have arctic air headed our way so I imagine you are already chilly.  How do your birds (exp. the Houdans) handle the winters?

I use The Sizzle Thread!


As for the cold, they are handling it just fine So far has went down to -15 and -25 with windchill. They are active and doing well.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

aoxa, thanks for the link. We may be creating a few Sizzles in the future. We are supposed to be down to about 20 tonight, our coldest night so far this year. I guess my flock will handle it better than I. Keep me posted on Skittles. I will certainly be sure to post when Spike give us an egg, althought I really don't expect it till sprin at this point.