Illinois...

[Faraday40]

More pics

The winter (Nov 30th) hatch is 4 weeks old now.
Here's mama teaching them how to use the heated drinker.

Side by side: One always stands taller. From hatch I've said he's a male. Now his legs are getting slightly thicker

Safety cage is still in place.

My June 17th hatch (Trouble their Sebright mama on the feeder)
GG = Buff Colombian Orp
Blizzard = Silver Blue laced orp
(What's funny is that I tried to sell these two pullets with no success. Now I'm kind of happy to still have these beauties.)

 

[Molpet]

wow GG and Blizzard are beautiful.. those English orps are really puffy ... the 3 hatchery orps I had were nothing like that

 

[cavemanrich]

I see a treadle feeder. How do you like it? I also see the other no waste bucket style.

 

[Faraday40]

wow GG and Blizzard are beautiful.. those English orps are really puffy ... the 3 hatchery orps I had were nothing like that

Thank you.
Yes, I'm a sucker for the round, fluffy English orps. They will continue to fill out until 12-18 months. (They're only 6mo now!) However, I'm sure your hatchery orps will lay more eggs. The big girls are not economical with their feed vs production. Plus, it takes 7-9 months before getting that 1st egg.

"Mr Dummy-Pants" & "Moose" are both taller than my knee. Add the muscle & fluff & they look like round turkeys. When people see them in person...
Of course, they are the sweetest roosters. Moose was rehomed and I am hoping that the ?male will be a good replacement. Moose was great around all people & hens, but mean to Mr Dummy. If the ?male turns out to be yet another female, then I may look to artificial insemination using Mr Dummy. (There are too many hens for him to cover - especially at his age!)

 

[Molpet]

the orps were the first ones to quit laying and the last ones to start... I was looking for broody's and that didn't happen.. so when some one was looking for hens near me I sold the 3... the daughter of one is my best broody's though

 

[Faraday40]

I see a treadle feeder. How do you like it? I also see the other no waste bucket style.

I like both styles. The treadle stays put in the run and holds a full bag of feed. It was made 5-6 years ago using a plan from BYC. (My family made it for me when we 1st got our flock.) It has a divider, so I can put layer pellets on one side & a higher protein crumbles on the other side. It works great with very few drawbacks. 1. a little harder to clean since it's made from wood and 2. my Sebright & Silkie are too light to open it. I always have multiple feeders, so it's not a big deal

The kitty litter feeders are made with a 90' PVC elbow. They're very easy & inexpensive to make, so I have several. That way there's no bullying.

In the summer, I hang them from trees during the day or put them inside the tractors. I don't leave any feed outside overnight. The kitty litter feeders can have some waste.... a fussy hen can dig a bunch of feed out or a hungry dog can crawl into the chicken run & tip it to let feed fall out.

 

[Faraday40]

the orps were the first ones to quit laying and the last ones to start... I was looking for broody's and that didn't happen.. so when some one was looking for hens near me I sold the 3... the daughter of one is my best broody's though

My bantam orp is our broody queen. Her name changes from Cookie to Cookie Monster about 4 - 5xs per year.

My lav orps have never thought about it, but Oopsie & her daughter Jewel are good LF orp broodies. They're slightly clumsy during incubation, but can handle raising as many chicks as I give them! Oopsie set the record at about 30 chicks! Oopsie went broody for the 1st time at 1 year old, but Cookie & Jewel started at only 6 months. I swear they laid less than 1/2 doz eggs before going broody! I actually don't even want broody hens, but when my kids fall in love with them..... This year I added a broody breaker box to my coop. Of course, I haven't used it yet. LOL

 

[Molpet]

My bantam orp is our broody queen. Her name changes from Cookie to Cookie Monster about 4 - 5xs per year.

My lav orps have never thought about it, but Oopsie & her daughter Jewel are good LF orp broodies. They're slightly clumsy during incubation, but can handle raising as many chicks as I give them! Oopsie set the record at about 30 chicks! Oopsie went broody for the 1st time at 1 year old, but Cookie & Jewel started at only 6 months. I swear they laid less than 1/2 doz eggs before going broody! I actually don't even want broody hens, but when my kids fall in love with them..... This year I added a broody breaker box to my coop. Of course, I haven't used it yet. LOL

I have been hatching for the cockerels.. need to sell some pullets, just don't have the heart to process a perfectly good pullet... much easier to let the hen incubate them ... well except this last suicidal batch in winter LOL

 

[Faraday40]

Anyone else get frozen eggs today? (and yesterday?)

We've been checking on the chickens several times per day & also replacing the frozen quail waterers. I technically didn't tell the kids to check for eggs. (To me that's obvious when going out to "check on the chickens.") Anyway, we only got 4 eggs in these 2 days & 3 were frozen hard & cracked open.

but, Guess who laid her 1st egg? (She hatched April 15th)
I'm surprised b/c last year my Spitz started at 5 mo, but then began molting just shy of 7mo old. I thought they're like EEs & simply "turn off" for the winter.

BTW- Somehow the name I gave her didn't catch on & this bird is now my DS's "Poof Poof." In general I'm not opposed to the kids claiming a chicken, but it's somewhat embarrassing when people ask, "Ooh, what's that pretty bird's name?" Also, I still write the date & abbreviation of the hen's name on each egg.
Poof Poof = PP (NOT appetizing!)

 

[Molpet]

Not today but the last 2 days, frozen eggs for the dog... now he is waiting for them
I have been getting 6 to 12 since the five 4th of July pullets started acouple of weeks ago