Maine

[ejcimd]

Hoppy - How on Earth is that people don't notice your weight loss? Size 12 down to a size 1?

Congratulations!

 

[gracejr]

Hoppy, you are amazing! A 12 to a 1?! Way to go, seriously!! That is a huge achievement!!


bucka, I'm sorry about your hen.

 

[hoppy]

how many boxes do you have? if they are not sharing, and they are not laying, they sound like they are broody. more boxes might just make more setting birds.

I picked up the last two heated electric dog bowl waterers at Tractor Supply for my birds. Now I need to actually get them plugged in and working. Yet, I find myself thinking OMG I'm gonna burn my chicken coop down!!!!

I already have electricity out there and just need to get an extension cord to get the waterer in with my Buckeyes from the outlet. My OEG bantams and the two Buckeye's that prefer to hang with the little birds can have theirs plugged into the outlet direct.

Also I am not getting any eggs!!!

Going to work on getting a timed light to come on at 4:00 am over the long weekend. Hopefully that will work. Oh and I need to add some more nest boxes. Ladies aren't sharing with each other.

 

[Mainechick168]

DH killed our lame hen yesterday. We had her in the house for 10 days, without seeing improvement in her ability to walk. I feel badly because she was so alert and had a great appetite, but there was no way to put her back in with the flock if she couldn't walk. I will miss her, but not the constant clean up of smelly, soiled newspaper and spilled water. Life goes on.
All the shopping stories have me anxious about having to go out and pick up some things today. It seems like black Friday is being pushed up to Wednesday now. I am thrilled, though, to have this day off.

sorry about the hen bucka- that stinks.

 

[ejcimd]

I only have two boxes for the 9 big hens and they are only 14 months old. Seems once the daylight decreased they all stopped laying.

 

[hoppy]

2 boxes is enough. I have 13 and they only use 2 of them. the rest they try to sleep in (hence poop in) so i blocked those off and no more pooping in the boxes.

I only have two boxes for the 9 big hens and they are only 14 months old. Seems once the daylight decreased they all stopped laying.

 

[ashandvine]

what does this mean?"melanized gals"?

Melanizers, those pigment imparting traits. Marans are a gourmet bird with high standards dating back for a really long time. French, but of course!
Here:
http://maransofamericaclub.com/blackcoppergenetics.php

Like anything if you only breed for one trait you have trouble. Marans standards are waning in general because people are selling them only for eggs and breeding as fast as they can to make a buck off those people who only want them for eggs-- not judging, just saying this is part of the process when it comes to breeds and standards. I picked the melanized gal because I wanted her to bring in her great feet feathering and her type isn't too bad either. I am not scared of melanizers at this point because while bringing her in might cause me to have to cull more of the birds, folks will buy them, they eat well and it counteracts having too much copper in the breasts/neck. Who knows what else she might have to offer.

 

[ashandvine]

Melanizers, those pigment imparting traits. Marans are a gourmet bird with high standards dating back for a really long time. French, but of course!
Here:
http://maransofamericaclub.com/blackcoppergenetics.php

Like anything if you only breed for one trait you have trouble. Marans standards are waning in general because people are selling them only for eggs and breeding as fast as they can to make a buck off those people who only want them for eggs-- not judging, just saying this is part of the process when it comes to breeds and standards. I picked the melanized gal because I wanted her to bring in her great feet feathering and her type isn't too bad either. I am not scared of melanizers at this point because while bringing her in might cause me to have to cull more of the birds, folks will buy them, they eat well and it counteracts having too much copper in the breasts/neck. Who knows what else she might have to offer.

Wanted to add: I lost TWO of my Orloffs today-- or discovered two. One had been eaten! My son ran out to close everyone in the cottage as I had done the barn. His video game was still waiting inside soooo he made a speedy close up job and left one out. The real kicker is that these were both very nice Orloffs, as in one of my two breeds I am focusing on. Sucky day for me.

 

[ejcimd]

AshandVine, So sorry to hear you lost some birds. It's never a good day when that happens.

 

[gracejr]

I'm sorry ash


Let my flock out to free range again this afternoon. Go back outside a few minutes later, and this is what I see...

Straight towards the road! Just hoping they are all there at the end of the night. Silly things want to give me a heart attack! Neighbor came over today after I let them all out, asked if Sgt Pepper (english orp, not pictured) was a Jersey Giant. Really need to get a recent picture of him, he has gotten HUGE!