I'm in the Egg Donut Hole

[donrae]

I was talking with my Mom about their Medicare, and this time of year is the "donut hole" for a lot of folks, where they have to pay out of pocket until the new year turns over.

Made me realize I'm in the Egg Donut Hole

. My old girls have tapered down or stopped for the winter, and the young girls aren't quite old enough to take over. So, I'm paying out of pocket---and man, have eggs gone up in price!

Anyone else in the same spot, buying eggs and chicken feed?

 

[1muttsfan]

Thank goodness my youngsters have kicked in - I get 4-5 lovely little pullet eggs a day. My big girls are down to less than one egg daily.

 

[Blooie]

Not quite to the point of buying eggs, Rachel, but I went from feast to famine real quick. Last year's chicks are molting - most of them are anyway. And this year's chicks are laying but more than a few of them have bounced into that light, first time molt. I went from an average of 17-20 eggs a day to today's huge haul of 9. I've let Daphne, one of my Easter Eggers, slide too long. She hasn't laid an egg in months so why I'm still feeding her I couldn't answer. She's heading for freezer camp. If she won't feed us one way, she'll feed us the other.

 

[aart]

I'm using lighting as usual,
but all but 1 of my 6 yearlings is molting anyway.
the 8 pullets are cranking them out tho.
Had famine earlier this year tho,
when I harvested the old girls before the pullets kicked in.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Not yet, but close. My Easter pullets are mostly laying (still 3 slackers), which is helping. I'm getting enough right now to squeak by but not any extras.

 

[song of joy]

This happened a couple of years ago, and it was really painful to have to buy eggs from the grocery store. After that, I started freezing 5 to 10 dozen eggs during the spring bounty to make sure I have enough to get through the egg-less periods.

 

[donrae]

This happened a couple of years ago, and it was really painful to have to buy eggs from the grocery store. After that, I started freezing 5 to 10 dozen eggs during the spring bounty to make sure I have enough to get through the egg-less periods.

I really need to do this. I see a lot of folks do, but I always feel the abundance is never ending

. And most years I get new chicks early enough in the year they're starting to lay now. Just got a really late start this year.

 

[Blooie]

Katie and I did that few weeks ago. We ended up freezing 9 dozen eggs. I have a feeling I'm going to be glad we did, and wish we'd done more.

 

[BBQJOE]

I've let Daphne, one of my Easter Eggers, slide too long. She hasn't laid an egg in months so why I'm still feeding her I couldn't answer. She's heading for freezer camp. If she won't feed us one way, she'll feed us the other.

You cold hearted wench you.

 

[Blooie]

You cold hearted wench you. 

Yup - and well fed.....don't forget well fed!