I'm an 80 yr old country gal who used to have chickens then moved to where we couldn't have them for 18 years. When we retired to the home ranch I started begging for chicken again. Finally bought a coop, built a yard (can't free range because of the many predators)and got my chickens. Always before I've bought laying hens, usually 2 years old. This time I went for pullets, about 8 to 10 weeks old. I asked the gal I bought them from how to feed. She had hers with older hens and said just feed them lay mash, that's what I'm doing. Dumb me, I took her advice and fed them lay pellets, green grass as we weeded the garden, and some corn and other grains (rolled) left from our cattle. It did't help that we had a month of 90 to 100 degree days. Anyhow here they are 21 to 23 weeks old, only a few and showing signs of maturing and no one is laying. I have 12, 1 cookoo (spelling) Moran, 1 Welsummer, a silver lace and a golden lace Wyandot and the rest are mostly Rhode Islands although she thought some might have a little Wyandot in them. I know I've fed them wrong and I'd like to know if I can correct my errors, if they'll survive my stupidity and ever start to lay?
from Nellthe Novice
from Nellthe Novice
