Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Always nice to get new girls into the action.

 

[Cluckies]

Generally chicks hatched in spring will molt in their second year in the fall to prepare for winter. On average 18 months old. I have one goofball hen that molts the end of June early July. In fact she's already in beautiful shiny flossy feathers ready for winter. She was done quick this year. I compared pictures from last year and I'm sure she finished off a good 3 weeks ahead of last year. Crazy. It's not natural but I know she won't be shivering on the roost in October and November when the rest are. Lol. The rooster looks a little moth eaten but not horribly bald and I've noted an Easter egger with reduced fluff. A good diet of their formulated feed and protein bursts will help. Clean water fortified with electrolytes, probiotics and vitamins. Clean coops since immune systems work harder...etc.

I gave them live meal worms this evening, I'll start with probiotics and electrolytes in the morning. Thanks! I was hoping to worm them before they started Molting, as they have been in earth worm heaven this summer. :/

 

[KlopKlop]

My MIL is caring for the birds while we are away and she says we got 18 eggs today which would be 18/18 of our layers. We have never once had a 100% day as our 5 leghorns were already about 18 months or more and 'slowing down' when my aunt gave them to us. Either the stars aligned or somebody laid late yesterday

 

[Cluckies]

Enjoy goose berry falls klopklop!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I gave them live meal worms this evening, I'll start with probiotics and electrolytes in the morning. Thanks! I was hoping to worm them before they started Molting, as they have been in earth worm heaven this summer. :/

Yeah you might have to wait unless she is outwardly sick and doesn't respond to food & water amendments to tell for sure. Be reassured though that you probably handled a good load this spring and they can probably wait until after the molt. Fingers crossed I'm telling you the right things....

 

[Coffee 1st]

Ohh Man,,OK after they went in their coop I picked them up and put them on their roost.. they are chirping away and don't seem happy.. 4 staid on and 2 jumped off. i did put a small flashlight in the coop figure i will do that for couple days and hope they get use to where they are suppose to sleep... hope they are old enough...I know they are only chickens but they are in my care and its my job to take care of them...I know some of the other forums frown on babying them... Guess i cant help it...And is it normal for chicken to just freeze when it gets dark and why do they do that?seems to me that's why they are easy prey in the dark. Thanks...

 

[Coffee 1st]

Just make sure they never run out of there crumbles or pellets, or if you do cracked grains and you are fine.

I'm sure this might have been a mistake BUT i bought crumbles food,feather fixer food,bag of cracked corn,bag of boss and mixed it all together and i have 2 feeders for them 1 inside the coop and 1 in the run. i also have 1 feeder with oyster shells and 1 feeder with grit those are in their own separate feeders for when they want some. is it OK to mix all the food,corn and boss together??? thanks...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

When they're young it's pretty common for them to lay on the floor even though a roost is provided. I bet mine slept on the floor a couple weeks before they used their big girl and big boy roosts. They'll get there.

One thing I've read is not to leave a light on at night. They are a creature of rhythms of darkness and lightness. If they are past the need of heat lamps then let them be in the dark. From what I read there is some thoughts on developing ovaries and too much light at night and creating issues. I think it's theory and the true reproductive health issues come from hatchery selections for super layers. At any rate they are very susceptible in the dark you are right on that and a solid predator safe coop is their best chance sleeping on the floor or on a roost.

 

[Coffee 1st]

I got a pullet egg yesterday.

I thought it was an Opps. but I broke it today and it had a little yolk in it. It was so cute..

My babies are growing up!

how old do they have to be when you get pullet eggs? they lay before they are full grown?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Boss and corn should make up less than 10% of their diet each day. So not much. It's considered treats. Their formulated food should always be available to them. I give scratch and treats later in the day after they've foraged and ate their feed for a good part of the day.
Grit and oyster shell should always be free choice.