Leghorns -19 weeks to first eggs

[AllenK RGV]

I am glad they don't live outside my bedroom window.
That would drive me nuts.

They aren't that bad at all as they sing from sunrise until the clouds burn off and it is full sun(9:30-10ish), then pick back up at dusk until full darkness falls. Were I still doing the Nursing thing and 12 hour nights i'd take issue with them.

 

[AllenK RGV]

So my heater finally kicked on for the first time this morning. I set the thermostat last night but apparently the house held the heat nicely. So at noon today we got that lovely smell from the heating element burning off all the dust and such that filled the house. A smell every Texan can identify with this time of year. Morning to you guys.

 

[Kiki]

So my heater finally kicked on for the first time this morning. I set the thermostat last night but apparently the house held the heat nicely. So at noon today we got that lovely smell from the heating element burning off all the dust and such that filled the house. A smell every Texan can identify with this time of year. Morning to you guys.

Yuk...I know that smell.
I won't smell it for a while hopefully.

I really really hate turning the heater on and usually will only run it first thing in the morning for only a few minutes.

I have my windows open today.
Nice and cool.

 

[AllenK RGV]

We are finally up to 66 for the day, have the windows closed so the sun heats the house. My heat kicked on just the one time so far and hoping tonight it won't heat either. Tomorrow for sure we are opening the windows again during the day as it will be high 70's and we will be finished with the cool front then. The chicken didn't complain and did their usual thing this morning taking off like olympic sprinters in the 100yd dash as I opened the coop door. I was thinking I would start their day with a bit of scratch but they were off with things to do and no time to chat.

 

[Toctoc]

You should have eggs they might need more protein and calcium

They get layer feed, but free range most of the time and I have shells available all the time. Even spread them out a bit. . . Any suggestions for us?

 

[AllenK RGV]

They get layer feed, but free range most of the time and I have shells available all the time. Even spread them out a bit. . . Any suggestions for us?

@RUNuts likes to finger em between their legs for pelvic width to see if they are ready. 2 of his finger widths means thy are close to being ready, additionally they might not be ready until spring due to natural lighting conditions. You can research lighting for layers if you want nature to move faster and on your schedule provided their pelvic spaces say they are ready.

edit- also I understand layer feed to be lower in protein(16%) vs grower(20-24%) you could be the problem shorting them on the protein as you currently have no layers to feed layer feed to.

 

[RUNuts]

They get layer feed, but free range most of the time and I have shells available all the time. Even spread them out a bit. . . Any suggestions for us?

You can't rush mother nature. Since you are so far north, you may get to wait until spring if you don't put a light in the hen house.

I learned a while back, you don't rush women. This applies in gardening and chicken keeping. Patience. You don't have to like it.

How much light are you getting?

 

[TexasSam]

Try some tuna or salmon even crushed boiled eggs

 

[AllenK RGV]

OK for those of you familiar with my posts about my rooster/hen ratio I finally figured out exactly what I have. The light went on for me today looking the flock over. Turns out meyers sent me an exact 50/50 mix of birds. I already did -2 roos to a neighbor, so, we only have the three bachelors competing for the rose. I was totally basing my sexing information on tail morphology plus the saddle. But today all of my 100% sure males have tons of pin/blood feathers all up and down their necks. The females don't, however, behaviorally the females will challenge the males and raise their hackle?neck feathers when doing so I thought these were my prepubescent males. Looking at the feathering on the ventral side of the body the males feathers end in points and the females have a two lobed feather think the top of a valentines day heart.

On a positive note 10 her(wife's) favorite roo is just a bitchy challenge the males female and is now no longer at risk of a date with the stump. My wife is happy she was gunna raise a stink were I to cull that bird. I'm happy because I only have 2 to get rid of either to someone else or just the neighbors pig.

 

[RUNuts]

Allen,
You will have to show me pictures of the feathers. Sounds very interesting. I vote soup pot. Cooked another one of my Barred Rocks today. So much more flavor and texture than store bought.

Yes, wife, daughters and neighbor all picked out their favorite chick and informed me that I couldn't eat theirs. Then they got feathers. Then they got bigger and no one knew who was who. I love it. Now I'm the only one scratching backs.

7 eggs yesterday and 5 eggs today. Another RIR is squatting. We may get another brown layer in the mix. So far, all the brown eggs look like from the same RIR.

@KikisGirls Yesterday was 50 eggs! Today makes 55 eggs. So eggciting!

Got a couple of girls missing pieces of their combs. A couple with scabbed combs. Guessing we are pecking ordering. No one missing feathers, thank goodness.