Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I have an olive egger named Spot also!

And mine will rarely use the nesting box if I set it outside while cleaning the coop. They whine and squawk and scratch at the door. It always stresses me out!

Glad I'm not the only one. I had never seen anything quite so frantic in my life (well, it rivaled trying to Frontline the turkeys and the cornish games this morning in addition to the regular chickens).

 

[Mainechick168]

Finally figured out who was laying the olive colored eggs for me--Spot, a BR x, who came from MaineChicks' girls.

She & Janice were quite distressed that they couldn't get into the coop Saturday while I was cleaning & whitewashing. I thought they were just being nosy like Mrs. Kravitz was all day. I finally had to shut the people door to keep her out. When I did let them in, they both headed straight for the nesting boxes.

How cool! She must have come from one of my EE's eggs!

 

[CoopChick719]

The worst was a RIR of mine who, despite being plump, continued to launch herself off the ground and into the window hoping to break through to get to the nest boxes. I ended up not following the directions on the bomb (re: wait 2 hours for things to settle then air it out for 30 minutes) because I was worried for her safety.

Oh my goodness, talk about determined!!

I have an olive egger named Spot also!

How cool! She must have come from one of my EE's eggs!

Would she still look like a BR if she came from an EE?

 

[MEMama3]

Would she still look like a BR if she came from an EE?

I saw some EEs on the EE forum that were barred. Since they are mixes, I guess anything goes. My EE who is mixed with buff orp looks just like an orp, but with a muff.

 

[hoppy]

HA! Shows how much I know! DH says we are getting 18 panels. 5.1 KW

 

[buckabucka]

That looks great, Hoppy! I can't wait to see ours after school today. Yesterday they put up all kinds of brackets on the roof, and the electrician worked inside all day, so I haven't seen any panels yet. If they are done (and I am home in proper light) I will take a photo.

 

[Mainechick168]

Oh my goodness, talk about determined!!

Would she still look like a BR if she came from an EE?

Maybe? I have a suspicion that the Dad, who was supposedly just a BR, had a little EE in him.

 

[lazy gardener]

My girls (7.5 mo. old) production has dropped to 50% within the last several weeks, prior, it was in high 90's. If I were to add light now, would it mess with their rhythm much? I think they are headed into a molt. The EE have shed their beards, with new prickles growing back in. When I handle one of the girls, she leaves a few feathers behind. I'm on the fence re: adding light now, vs. letting them coast through, and then starting some light after the winter solstice. I expect they will gear back up in Feb anyway. I'd love to hear people's experience. THOUGHTS/COMMENTS?

 

[MEMama3]

My girls (7.5 mo. old) production has dropped to 50% within the last several weeks, prior, it was in high 90's.  If I were to add light now, would it mess with their rhythm much?  I think they are headed into a molt.  The EE have shed their beards, with new prickles growing back in.  When I handle one of the girls, she leaves a few feathers behind.  I'm on the fence re: adding light now, vs. letting them coast through, and then starting some light after the winter solstice.  I expect they will gear back up in Feb anyway.  I'd love to hear people's experience.  THOUGHTS/COMMENTS?

IF you choose to add light, don't do it all at once. Use a timer and tack on 30 minutes every week until you're up to 14 hours of light (daytime+artificial). If you go out and add 3 hours right now you'll seriously stress them.

As far as IF you should add light, it's a much debated personal question.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

IF you choose to add light, don't do it all at once. Use a timer and tack on 30 minutes every week until you're up to 14 hours of light (daytime+artificial). If you go out and add 3 hours right now you'll seriously stress them.

As far as IF you should add light, it's a much debated personal question.

Excellent answer. Also if you add light do it in the morning, before sunrise, not at night. Otherwise once the light goes out, they'll be plunged into darkness wherever they are, and they don't have the foresight to roost before it goes off.

They will still need to go through molt before starting to lay again; so it won't be instantaneous, either.

Generally mine start to pick back up mid-February, and I don't add light. I like them to get a little break. But mine are pets, with the added benefit of eggs.

Also make sure to check them for lice/mites, and treat if necessary.