Sheesh. ALL SUMMER LONG exactly ONE of my six hens has been laying. Nada from the others.
They are three magpies from Holderread and three runners hatched from McMurray stock. I have a feeling it's a runner laying because the egg is green. But tonight I'm going to split the flocks in half. If it's a runner laying, I'm going to sell the entire quad of Holderread magpies. They are gorgeous, but I am sick of feeding birds who don't repay the favor.
My friend has runners from McMurray stock who have been laying all summer AND most of last winter. I'm going to ask her for some eggs to hatch, and also hatch a few from my one girl who is laying, and replace the whole darn flock (except the one laying).
It's possible it's husbandry that's keeping them from laying but they are on the same property as the flock I had last year who laid faithfully on a daily basis. They are fed laying pellets daily, with optional cat food (which they refuse to eat), free range morning from night on over an acre of grass and weeds. They have two kiddie pools and access to a lake (which they never use). They are never chased or otherwise troubled, and their routine is, well, routine. I can think of not a single thing that is keeping them from laying other than poor genetics.
I am especially disappointed in the magpies. I had read (in Holderread) that they are almost as productive as runners, but they laid last fall and then very briefly this spring, and that is IT. They are Holderread stock...
So, anyway, that's my plan. If anyone has any ideas other than replacing them, I'd love to hear it. I hate to start all over again. HATE it. But honestly--twenty eggs a year is simply not going to cut it.
And has anyone else had better experience with magpies? I am a HUGE fan of Holderread and I have always found him to be right about everything, and am very pleased with the appearance of birds from him but... I am wondering if maybe production stock might be better for my purposes. Thoughts?
They are three magpies from Holderread and three runners hatched from McMurray stock. I have a feeling it's a runner laying because the egg is green. But tonight I'm going to split the flocks in half. If it's a runner laying, I'm going to sell the entire quad of Holderread magpies. They are gorgeous, but I am sick of feeding birds who don't repay the favor.
My friend has runners from McMurray stock who have been laying all summer AND most of last winter. I'm going to ask her for some eggs to hatch, and also hatch a few from my one girl who is laying, and replace the whole darn flock (except the one laying).
It's possible it's husbandry that's keeping them from laying but they are on the same property as the flock I had last year who laid faithfully on a daily basis. They are fed laying pellets daily, with optional cat food (which they refuse to eat), free range morning from night on over an acre of grass and weeds. They have two kiddie pools and access to a lake (which they never use). They are never chased or otherwise troubled, and their routine is, well, routine. I can think of not a single thing that is keeping them from laying other than poor genetics.
I am especially disappointed in the magpies. I had read (in Holderread) that they are almost as productive as runners, but they laid last fall and then very briefly this spring, and that is IT. They are Holderread stock...
So, anyway, that's my plan. If anyone has any ideas other than replacing them, I'd love to hear it. I hate to start all over again. HATE it. But honestly--twenty eggs a year is simply not going to cut it.
And has anyone else had better experience with magpies? I am a HUGE fan of Holderread and I have always found him to be right about everything, and am very pleased with the appearance of birds from him but... I am wondering if maybe production stock might be better for my purposes. Thoughts?