How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

[karenerwin]

Still poodling along with 2-3 a day.

Bad (?) news is that Hermione the warrier silkie has decided to go broody AGAIN! I am not sure if it is a good idea to hatch chicks now. We have pretty mild winters generally but can get nippy overnight. If I do let her brood will she be alright on her own in the broody coop (thinking heat wise)? Will our eggs actually be fertile (I read somewhere that they aren't in winter??)? Really not sure what to do.

I have had broodies hatch eggs in the dead of winter here in the states. We get pretty cold in Missouri and some winters have a lot of snow and ice. So, in my "professional" opinion, yes she should be just fine hatching eggs in the winter.
Chickens actually have a much harder time in the summer because they don't sweat! In the winter, they puff up their feathers and trap air, which then warms up because of their body heat! They actually stay very comfortable. You just have to watch out for drafts.
If you doubt your chickens are staying warm enough, just go out and pick one up and put your hands up under their feathers and feel how warm their skin is. I think you'll be surprised. I know I was when I tried this a few years ago.
As far as non fertile eggs in the winter, as long as your rooster is "doing his job" the eggs will be fertile.
I had never heard that rumor that they wouldn't be.

I just came home from the feed store Tuesday with 6 new chicks! They had marked the black Astrolorps down by $1.00 each, so they cost me $1.29 each!! Then I convinced them to mark down some Americanas too. (Easter eggers). So, I got those for $2.97 each. I bought 3 of each.
I had just mentioned to my hubby a few days before that that after I butchered all the extra roosters, I was going to hatch out or buy some new pullets. But, then they went on sale! So, I had to "strike while the irons hot". Right?
I think I have a hungry raccoon snooping around again . I got home around 8 PM last night, ( well after dark here). When I went to lock up the chickens and collect eggs I saw that the 2 turkeys were upset and not in their usual roosts and 2 of the chickens from 1 coop were out in the dark ( 1 hen and 1 rooster). I rounded them up and put them away, but I saw some feathers on the ground that indicated that someone had been attacked. I never did find any blood or other remains. I do believe that I am missing a young black rooster from the coop. However, I haven't made it home with enough light to be able to tell for sure. The odd thing is that the feathers on the ground were grey (like 1 of the turkeys and 3 of the chickens, but they are all accounted for).
My husband wants me to bait the trap, instead of just setting the trap. I guess I may have to.
Oh,I got 5 eggs today 1 from the coop that had the disturbance and 4 from the other coop.

 

[bruceha2000]

But, then they went on sale! So, I had to "strike while the irons hot". Right?

Absolutely!

You can't let a coon get anywhere near the birds. It will keep coming back until your flock is gone.

2 eggs today. Double the usual.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have had broodies hatch eggs in the dead of winter here in the states. We get pretty cold in Missouri and some winters have a lot of snow and ice. So, in my "professional" opinion, yes she should be just fine hatching eggs in the winter.
Chickens actually have a much harder time in the summer because they don't sweat! In the winter, they puff up their feathers and trap air, which then warms up because of their body heat! They actually stay very comfortable. You just have to watch out for drafts.
If you doubt your chickens are staying warm enough, just go out and pick one up and put your hands up under their feathers and feel how warm their skin is. I think you'll be surprised. I know I was when I tried this a few years ago.
As far as non fertile eggs in the winter, as long as your rooster is "doing his job" the eggs will be fertile.
I had never heard that rumor that they wouldn't be.

I just came home from the feed store Tuesday with 6 new chicks! They had marked the black Astrolorps down by $1.00 each, so they cost me $1.29 each!! Then I convinced them to mark down some Americanas too. (Easter eggers). So, I got those for $2.97 each. I bought 3 of each.
I had just mentioned to my hubby a few days before that that after I butchered all the extra roosters, I was going to hatch out or buy some new pullets. But, then they went on sale! So, I had to "strike while the irons hot". Right?
I think I have a hungry raccoon snooping around again . I got home around 8 PM last night, ( well after dark here). When I went to lock up the chickens and collect eggs I saw that the 2 turkeys were upset and not in their usual roosts and 2 of the chickens from 1 coop were out in the dark ( 1 hen and 1 rooster). I rounded them up and put them away, but I saw some feathers on the ground that indicated that someone had been attacked. I never did find any blood or other remains. I do believe that I am missing a young black rooster from the coop. However, I haven't made it home with enough light to be able to tell for sure. The odd thing is that the feathers on the ground were grey (like 1 of the turkeys and 3 of the chickens, but they are all accounted for).

So far knock on wood I have not lost a bird to a coon almost to our own white dog and once had a hatchery barred escape my Lab insisted he would bring it to me much to the hens annoyance
7 from my main coop 1 silky just like most often but have three peeps in there from the Halloween hatch

 

[PouleChick]

We get pretty cold in Missouri and some winters have a lot of snow and ice. So, in my "professional" opinion, yes she should be just fine hatching eggs in the winter.

Yeah see we dont' get anything like that - winter tends to be rainy and a bit miserable with some weeks were it will be frosty in the morning. A couple of winters back we had a week or 2 of -12c everynight but that is the exception. We haven't even had any snow other than a 1cm covering last year since we moved here even if I did rush out and buy sleds one year! Drafts should be OK, I have 2 broody coops - one is wire fronted and usually just lean up a bit of perspex but I may actually cover it up and just leave a bit at the top for ventilation As I prefer that as a coop as it has a sperate little area to put water and food (it is an old rabbit hutch). I can feel myself being talked into this LOL!!!!

as long as your rooster is "doing his job" the eggs will be fertile.

William the Araucana seems to have knocked King Louis of his head perch and he seems to be most randy with the ladies when they'll let him!! I might go open one and look for a bullseye!

So, I had to "strike while the irons hot". Right?

Absolutely you did! I am just happy that the only chicks you can find here are red layers and only in the spring otherwise I think I'd be in big trouble LOL

 

[PouleChick]

You are getting Poodle eggs @PouleChick ? French poodle I assume

Of course Bruce

 

[PouleChick]

Where are my glasses?? Gee I'm getting old can't see a thing! So I'm looking for a little dot inside the round thing on the yolk aren't I??

 

[bruceha2000]

Pulled this from the web. Lots of pictures I found were not nearly this definitive.

 

[PouleChick]

Pulled this from the web. Lots of pictures I found were not nearly this definitive.

Fab - that was what I remembered seeing adn yes the one I checked was fertile! Hubby going to pull eggs out over the weekend and keep the clean ones for me then I'll clean the broody coop when I get home and get her on them. I'm off to the UK tonight for my little brothers wedding!

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm off to the UK tonight for my little brothers wedding!

Oh boy! Have a good time. We'll understand if you don't post egg counts until you get back.

1, the usual.

 

[Spartan22]

Still averaging 5-6 Eggs a day, but not enough for my regular egg beggars (5 friends that want couple of dozens a week each). Though few days ago a couple of late hatches started giving me mini eggs every few days. So to answer @PouleChick previous question regarding Marans chicks that mature in winter, they did started laying and didn’t wait for spring.