Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

Quote: Thanks!

 

[Barrettsmimi]

Thanks!

Your welcome! I'm curious, do they look bigger than they should be?

 

[gladahmae]

Kinda new to this hobby, I have 6 four month old orphingtons. they have free access to plenty of northern Michigan sand, I'm feeding them Purina crumble layers blend. Do they need grit? I have some, but something tells me to hold off for a while.
Also, does layers blend contain hormones? Trying to stay a little more organic.

rick
Frankfort, Mi

I'm just a bit east of you (other side of the county) and I don't give grit as long as they are outside foraging. Might be worth considering in the winter if you feed food scraps.

Feed shouldn't contain hormones as far as I know. You can get non-gmo feed from hall's by moomers too.

 

[aart]

Quote: No, I have a friend who got some chicks from Townline the week following yours...lots of the meaties(and they might not be meaties) died and the layers are very small.

 

[Opa]

Just about every day 3 or 4 of the girls outdo themselves and lay a really big egg. The eggs are so large they won't fit in a jumbo egg carton. Today I decided to weigh a dozen and they weigh 1020 grams. That averages 85 grams each. When you consider that a jumbo weighs 68 grams these hens are definitely bringing up their end of the deal.

 

[1muttsfan]

Kinda new to this hobby, I have 6 four mo nth old orphingtons.

* Welcome to BYC *

they have free access to plenty of northern Michigan sand, I'm feeding them Purina crumble layers blend. Do they need grit?

* There are two kinds of grit -
Granite - an aid to digestion, used to grind food in the gizzard. Offer to birds fed
anything in addition to processed feed.
Calcium (such as Oyster shell) - Offer to all laying hens free choice to ensure
they get enough calcium.


Trying to stay a little more organic.

*Only food labeled Organic is likely to be organic in any way. None of the feeds I have seen in feed stores has hormones added.

Just about every day 3 or 4 of the girls outdo themselves and lay a really big egg.   The eggs are so large they won't fit in a jumbo egg carton.  Today I decided to weigh a dozen and they weigh 1020 grams.   

ow!

 

[wannahomestead]

I was watching my ladies/gents for a little bit today and caught one of the roosters grabbing one of the hens by the back of the neck/head. She of course made a huge ruckus about it and he ended up pulling a few feathers. What is this behavior indicative of? they're 15 weeks as of monday and I wonder if he's reaching a certain level of maturity. Maybe he's just an *******, who knows...

 

[Opa]

I was watching my ladies/gents for a little bit today and caught one of the roosters grabbing one of the hens by the back of the neck/head. She of course made a huge ruckus about it and he ended up pulling a few feathers. What is this behavior indicative of? they're 15 weeks as of monday and I wonder if he's reaching a certain level of maturity. Maybe he's just an *******, who knows...

Typically cockerels will start attempting to dominate the pullets several weeks before the pullets become receptive to breeding. During breeding it is normal for the rooster to hold the hen by the back of the head. Hens, when dominated, will squat. They lower their bodies and their wings splay down and out. Then, while holding the hen by the back of the neck the rooster will mount.by standing on the hen. Breeding is rather quick with it taking longer to type this than the act.

Once hens start being breed on a regular basis they will react as soon as the rooster approaches. It's not unusual for hens to squat when we approach them.

 

[preciouskitty]

Ditto what Opa said on the breeding. I can always tell when pullets are getting close to laying based on the rooster & their behavior (along with the reddening of combs).
And, several of my hens DO squat when I go to pet therm...

 

[aart]

Quote: Yeppers!!....Noticed yesterday that my older pullets(18wks) are just starting to get the business from the rooster in the main flock, might get some Olives from those girls.

...and the younger bunch(10wks), in split coop and separate run, 1 cockerel has been crowing for a couple weeks (2nd just started) and they are starting to think about chasing the girls, few more weeks and those little cluckers are going to meet Mr. Grill.

wannahomestead, the cockerel is both reaching that certain level and is an *****....as most young cockerels are without older hens to take them to school.