INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[DuckiesGarden]

Question about light brahmas -- are they good egg layers or just so-so?  I have isa browns, orpingtons & australorps.  How do the light brahmas compare with egg size and quantity?  I'd like to add something different to my flock & still trying to figure out what.  Also, in general, what size eggs do bantams lay?  I assume it varies from breed to breed, but how much smaller than their LF counterparts?  Any recommendations for bantam egg layers?  My daughter thinks it would be fun to have a couple...

I've got 6 light brahmas, 3 of which are almost a year old (the other 3 are chicks) and I haven't had one single egg from any of them yet! I've read that they're fair layers of large eggs though. Despite mine not laying yet they are some of my favorites in my flock. Very friendly and beautiful! Mine sit on my lap and chatter at me while I pet them. So sweet! Here's my 1 year olds, nevermind the cats, they think they're chickens. Mine are just hatchery birds but I think they're so pretty!

I've got Old English game bantams and my hen-Georgie-lays a little cream colored egg about the size of a strawberry. Her eggs are the three small ones in the middle:

I just got 2 bantam cochin today. I haven't learned much about them yet but I can tell you they are super cuteness! So tiny! I have heard that cochin make good pets for kids.

 

[ellymayRans]

Question about light brahmas -- are they good egg layers or just so-so?  I have isa browns, orpingtons & australorps.  How do the light brahmas compare with egg size and quantity?  I'd like to add something different to my flock & still trying to figure out what.  Also, in general, what size eggs do bantams lay?  I assume it varies from breed to breed, but how much smaller than their LF counterparts?  Any recommendations for bantam egg layers?  My daughter thinks it would be fun to have a couple...

After the weighing of eggs I've done for this hatch most of your average LF are going to run about 55-70 grams and my bantam Cochins weighed in at most 37grams and Silkies about the same some even a bit larger than that so I would say bantam eggs are about half the size of the LF.. We love to use them as hardboiled snacks or in salads. They are wonderful bitesized treats. Adorable deviled too.

 

[ellymayRans]

Quote:
Have you been seeing lots of hawks lately? I saw at least 5 hawks or the same 2 multiple times today. But typically a hawk leaves a few feathers behind. We are close enough that a hawk over my pens could be visiting your pens too. Is anyone else having minor dificulties with the editor. All of the cute editing buttons are not showing up for me. I wanted to post a few pictures but I need my user friendly buttons.

I have definitely seen my fair share of hawks but no more than normal even throughout the winter. They are always around! Coopers Redtail and a few others.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well another gone! I haven't a clue what's gotten them! First Silkie the other day now my momma Cochin bantam. .no feathers just gone! Her daughter started laying a bit ago..she is now my only girl..with 3 frizzled boys!
Poor girl!

Oh my, thats a sad loss. Were they free ranging? or did something get them from the coop, For a bird to be just gone, my first thought is fox or hawk.

Quote: X2, its always fun to swap and trade!

Can't wait for Thursday! Scrappy is getting two friends from Raisinemright!!! Two lovely Khaki girls to keep little Scraps company. Now I just have to figure out where to put them ;-) lol

Oh congrats!!!! Yes, hear you on space and room. DH found me 2 8x10 sheds last weekend, free!
He was doing tree/land clearing for them, and they want them gone. Wow is that going to give me the room I needed for breeding coops

 

[ellymayRans]

Thanks. Ya, I thought it looked dead lol!

Great pics CCCCCCCCHICKENS!

 

[ellymayRans]

Oh my, thats a sad loss. Were they free ranging? or did something get them from the coop, For a bird to be just gone, my first thought is fox or hawk.

X2, its always fun to swap and trade!

Oh congrats!!!! Yes, hear you on space and room. DH found me 2 8x10 sheds last weekend, free!
He was doing tree/land clearing for them, and they want them gone. Wow is that going to give me the room I needed for breeding coops

They do free range ..no pens here but what I have for separating egg layers and an AM roo from my Marans. The bantys all free range too. The daughter of missing mamma is in the garage because she's got a thing for laying her eggs in there. My peahen adores her too and I have my Pea pair in there for the time being so they are quite the little odd trio!! Lol

Wooohooo for you on the extra space! Congrats! !

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

Quote: Sally, very cool idea on the netting! And yea, power failures are really painful and often expensive too! Battery backup is an absolute "want" for me.

Good thing I was given a all white EE cause the one I thought was gonna be.... is not... oh well I still think she is pretty, but her muffs and beard is almost all gone....

these 2 are just beautiful!! love the color in the feathers, but 1 is a roo I think>????

the 2 on the far right BR's, I think I have a Roo in this breed too and I think I got 2 Ro's in the EE's, and the SLW got 1, and my Lt. Brahmas, plus the 2 Silkie Roo's.... got too many Roo's, don't know what I'm going to do??

SLW's

Lt. Brahmas

let me know what ya think...

What cuties!! I do see some roos. Wait it out a while yet tho!

I set some eggs tonight. I managed to get 20 into my little homemade 'bator. Eastereggers/Black Australorp mix and purebreed Black Australorps. All provided by my girls!

I love hatching eggs from my own flock! Gives me a feeling of accomplishment that I can work within my own birds.

Quote: It does help to follow those steps, a lot. I always rest them a day. I set them in an egg crate with open holes until day 3 to "set" the air cell.
Good post! I am out of ovations again lol.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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I try to not touch the eggs once set til lockdown if I have room. Right now, I candle weekly.
Its duck and geese season so I am setting a LOT of eggs from them, and I have to candle weekly.
Goose eggs are flat huge!

Quote: LOL its just hard to not hope for a good hatch

good luck

Quote:
They are all flat out adorable!

jchny2000-thanks for the opinion on the sex of my BR! I sympathize with your need of certain roos! I've been trying to find some since last year! I kept getting thwarted at every turn! I'm actually hoping one of those pullets I got DO end up roos! Good luck!

Good luck to you too! It just takes time. Roosters are easier to find, for sure!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Wow! The chicken cake is great -- trying to figure out how to construct it -- probably lots of fondant?? I LOVE the little deviled chicks. Might have to do this the next time I make them. Wish I could pin these pics for my pinterest board!

PeacefulWalls~ The hen cake picture did come from Pinterest ~ Here's the link: Cakes Sara Weber 47 Pins - Pinterest I happened to see it on Google Image.
Leah's Mom posted the deviled eggs, so I'm not sure where it originated, but don't believe her if she said she made them! lol

Originally Posted by racinchickins

Chicken math strikes again. Saw a 'Buy it Now' on Blue Partridge Brahma eggs..... Could. Not. Resist.
Actually, should work out perfectly. They should hatch with or just before the Bourbon Red turkey eggs Jchny2000 gave me.

(in case anyone is wondering - this is textbook rationalization.....)

racinchickins ~ Of course-- it was "meant to be."

I swear chickens are like my kryptonite! Went to get some play sand for my kids and came home with two more chicks! Don't know what they are yet, I think cochins maybe. They were listed as assorted bantams. I tried to resist....really I did!

Here's some pics!

Duckies Garden ~ Ooh! They are sweet! Btw, some chicken people think that Play Sand is too fine and can cause respiratory problems. Like everything related to chickens, there are many views, but I just wanted to mention it. Here's one explanation if you're interested: The Chicken Chick: Chicken Coop Bedding: Sand, the Litter ...

RIP Harriet I was out shutting down the coop and was heading in to do a headcount when I heard her scream. On day four of escaping the fence she was lost to dogs just as I feared. I am so sad. She was my only barred rock and she was awesome. I take small comfort in knowing the egg eating won't spread, but the fake eggs seemed to have stopped her anyway. I'm so sorry pretty girl

ChickCrazed ~ Oh, I am so sorry!

She was beautiful. I am going to have to really keep an eye on my floppy combed RIR, Nene, who like Harriet thinks the grass is greener on the other side.

 

[racinchickins]

Question about light brahmas -- are they good egg layers or just so-so?  I have isa browns, orpingtons & australorps.  How do the light brahmas compare with egg size and quantity?  I'd like to add something different to my flock & still trying to figure out what.  Also, in general, what size eggs do bantams lay?  I assume it varies from breed to breed, but how much smaller than their LF counterparts?  Any recommendations for bantam egg layers?  My daughter thinks it would be fun to have a couple...

I have two dark brahmas, but lights are similar. Started laying around 28 weeks. Eggs are size large ~4/week. They'll never keep up with your browns and lorps. They are also supposed to tend towards broodiness. Mine haven't yet, but just hit 1year old. My biggest girls, but very gentle. Near the bottom of the pecking order. Want more.