MARYLAND THREAD!

[CristinaB]

How are all the Marylanders doing with this miserable snowy windy weather? My girls are holed up in the coop with absolutely no interest in coming out to play in the snow. I tossed a cabbage in there this morning and some treat to spice things up. They don't seem to mind the cold, but they seem to dislike the snow on the ground.

When it started snowing in earnest yesterday my speckled girls decided to huddle under the patio table instead of heading off to the coop, I had to carry their silly fuzzy butts to the coop because no amount of coaxing was going to do it. The French Coppers seemed to enjoy the snow and looked amazing against the fluffy whiteness. Strangely enough, the coppers are still laying eggs, both started to lay this winter. Crazy birds.

 

[DCchicken]

DC, I am west of Frederick and would love a batch of Cream Legbar eggs or chicks once your ladies start laying again. Will you be selling either of these?

Yes I will be selling Cream Legbar eggs and chicks. Hopefully I will start incubating in February.

 

[SunnySkies]

How are all the Marylanders doing with this miserable snowy windy weather? My girls are holed up in the coop with absolutely no interest in coming out to play in the snow. I tossed a cabbage in there this morning and some treat to spice things up. They don't seem to mind the cold, but they seem to dislike the snow on the ground.

When it started snowing in earnest yesterday my speckled girls decided to huddle under the patio table instead of heading off to the coop, I had to carry their silly fuzzy butts to the coop because no amount of coaxing was going to do it. The French Coppers seemed to enjoy the snow and looked amazing against the fluffy whiteness. Strangely enough, the coppers are still laying eggs, both started to lay this winter. Crazy birds.

Mine seem to be fine. One of the SFH roosters was shivering this morning, but he was better after jumping down to eat. They came out, went back in, came out again to supervise us clearing the road (takes us 4 hours to clear our driveway) and and just hanging out. One egg froze, but we got the rest before they froze solid...I'm baking a cake with today's eggs.

My LGDs LOVE it.

 

[CristinaB]

4 hours to clear the driveway! Yikes.
I am with you, baking is such a good idea when the weather is cold and miserable, makes the house smell yummy and keeps you warm too!

 

[pfanny4ever]

I keep forgetting that chickens don't lay much in the cooler months. Is it cooler months or shorter days?

 

[pfanny4ever]

Any egg layers (for eating) in the Catonsville, MD area? for me to buy, that is, when conditions are better for egg laying.

 

[DCchicken]

We got 4 inches here in Upper Marlboro. I gave up on clearing the driveway. I don't need to go anywhere since I have plenty of coffee and the new issue of Practical Poultry.

 

[HaplessRunner]

We got ~ 5-6 inches of snow here in Lovettsville, VA (on the border). Kept all of my chickens in coops with this bitter wind. Do not need any more roosters with frostbitten combs.

As far as egg laying goes, my ladies had dropped off markedly from just before Thanksgiving to just before Christmas due to a late molt and the season. Since then they have been on a tear! I even have nine cream legbar eggs ready for the incubator. I have 27 hens/pullets laying. Over the last three weeks, I have been getting 15-18 eggs/day. Two days ago I got 21 eggs. So it looks like my girls are looking forward to spring already.

 

[SunnySkies]

My SFH quit after I managed to get a dozen together for the NYD hatch. But now, after the solstice with the days getting longer, some hens have started in, and I expect everyone to start up again soon.

I'd have ignored the drive, but I have to leave for work before dawn tomorrow...someone has to clear it...

 

[DCchicken]

My SFH quit after I managed to get a dozen together for the NYD hatch. But now, after the solstice with the days getting longer, some hens have started in, and I expect everyone to start up again soon.

I'd have ignored the drive, but I have to leave for work before dawn tomorrow...someone has to clear it...

You should train the chickens to scratch it clean for you. What do they think they can just roost all day?