Guess what??? I got 2 eggs from the 3 Orps today!
They're the first eggs from them all week. I started let them out to free range the last couple of days, so maybe their showing their appreciation.
Actually, maybe they needed a boost of protein or something... even though I did give them some chopped up hard boiled eggs recently. Anyway, I hope they keep it up.
The only thing bad about letting them free range is that I stupidly let the Andalusian rooster and hen out at the same time, and it looks like the extra-large Orp rooster had his way with the smaller Andie hen. I had watched for a while and it looked like her rooster was able to run interference for her and keep the bigger roo away. I should've expected he would eventually wear them down and overpower them. She has some missing secondary feathers from the brute... and she failed to lay an egg today! I think it's the first time she's ever missed. Poor thing!
From now on, I plan to free range the flocks separately on alternating days.
The only thing bad about letting them free range is that I stupidly let the Andalusian rooster and hen out at the same time, and it looks like the extra-large Orp rooster had his way with the smaller Andie hen. I had watched for a while and it looked like her rooster was able to run interference for her and keep the bigger roo away. I should've expected he would eventually wear them down and overpower them. She has some missing secondary feathers from the brute... and she failed to lay an egg today! I think it's the first time she's ever missed. Poor thing!
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