Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Dreamzchaser]

Well. My girls will turn 2 this February and the 2 young pullets are only 5mo and not laying but they are fairy egg layers,lol My Rachel(RIR) has been pretty faithful in laying as well as Pelosi(ISAB) and the 2 leghorns. The Americauna has not layers since molting last fall. She finally has feathers but no eggs yet. And Sophia, I gave up on her. She is a special needs chicken now,lol [ADD/ADHD/BIPOLAR]
But the quackies, nothing. One of the boys was under the stairs just nesting there. Did check for egg but maybe he might lay an egg,lol

 

[Sally PB]

At what age do ducks start laying?

 

[1muttsfan]

That's great news, Randy. I'm so happy that you are so much more secure now. Now get busy chopping that firewood!

POL birds are a lot more expensive than chicks, but I'm not sure you don't make that money back considering all the time, effort and food that goes into raising chicks to laying age. Not to mention avoiding unwelcome cockerels.

My hens are all still on winter vacation. I don't usually add lights before March, as it gets so cold up here. Any eggs layed during the day while I'm at work tend to freeze. No point in increasing the number of eggs layed if I'm not going to benefit from it.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

At what age do ducks start laying?

Mayberry Randy can answer that 'cause I have no clue.

 

[RaZ]

Ohhh. I'll have to look into this. I want to start out with only 4 pullets. The idea of getting chicks sounds great. But I've raised chicks when I was growing up. So been there, done that! Unexpected cockerels aren't appealing right now.

Raz, Why orps? They are on my list of potentials. But of course I'll be at the mercy of whatever ends up being available.

Orps are to chickens what golden retrievers are to dogs. Just nice, friendly, laid back creatures.

 

[picklestheduck]

That's great news, Randy. I'm so happy that you are so much more secure now. Now get busy chopping that firewood!

POL birds are a lot more expensive than chicks, but I'm not sure you don't make that money back considering all the time, effort and food that goes into raising chicks to laying age. Not to mention avoiding unwelcome cockerels.

My hens are all still on winter vacation. I don't usually add lights before March, as it gets so cold up here. Any eggs layed during the day while I'm at work tend to freeze. No point in increasing the number of eggs layed if I'm not going to benefit from it.

Where exactly would I find POLs? I’ve never heard of them being sold in family farm and home before and I’m frequent in there. Would they be in the chick bins or?

 

[RaZ]

That's great news, Randy. I'm so happy that you are so much more secure now. Now get busy chopping that firewood!

POL birds are a lot more expensive than chicks, but I'm not sure you don't make that money back considering all the time, effort and food that goes into raising chicks to laying age. Not to mention avoiding unwelcome cockerels.

My hens are all still on winter vacation. I don't usually add lights before March, as it gets so cold up here. Any eggs layed during the day while I'm at work tend to freeze. No point in increasing the number of eggs layed if I'm not going to benefit from it.

I'm also happy (and warm too).
I really need to get busy processing firewood for next year. I'm completely out of year+ seasoned wood. I have a couple cord of wood from this fall. I can burn it now but it is not as dry as I would like.
I have a bunch of fallen oak trees from the wind storms this fall. I just need to drag them out and process them. I'll be good for next year once I get busy. My problem now is logging out of the muddy woods. We haven't had enough cold weather for the ground to become solid/frozen enough for me to get the equipment to the downed trees.

I always let my hens have their winter vacation. And my current flock is getting pretty old. They are past egg production prime. I don't have any young birds to pick up the slack for now. I'm OK with that.

 

[troyer]

I love raising chicks but don’t have a good brooder right now and just want more laying hens ASAP since my hens can’t keep up with my customers. Sooo basically, if y’all wanna rehome some layers…. I’m interested

Something like this? Easter Egger, the mother lays green eggs, but was bred to a creme colored egg rooster. She could lay either green or creamy brown. I have two full sisters, this blue one and a black one plus two black mottled Cubalaya pullets. I have for sure 6 point of lay pullets right now.
They grew up in the pasture with their mothers all summer so they are hawk savvy.

The black mottled ones

and these. .

 

[picklestheduck]

Something like this? Easter Egger, the mother lays green eggs, but was bred to a creme colored egg rooster. She could lay either green or creamy brown. I have two full sisters, this blue one and a black one plus two black mottled Cubalaya pullets. I have for sure 6 point of lay pullets right now.
They grew up in the pasture with their mothers all summer so they are hawk savvy.View attachment 3368894
The black mottled onesView attachment 3368896
and these. . View attachment 3368897

Oh wow they are gorgeous! Where are you located? And are you asking something for them or do they just need rehoming?

 

[chickflick]

How do I know when and where to get them? I’ve never heard of them selling them before!

I get e mail notice. I'm on their mailing list. I believe you have to order the birds. But, if I can get pullets from someone on here. Closer to spring, though. Just because the need to keep them separated for a couple of weeks