Miscellaneous Meeps - Hatching my Dreams

[wrathsfarm]

Here's our oldest EE, she will be 4 this coming spring. She's just coming through a molt, I'm hoping to set a few of her eggs in 2025

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She's pretty, who are thinking about mating her with?

And Chonkers ready for bed way too early in the day
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Hopefully he's not feeling under the weather... I've got a BR that's been molting pretty bad and she's been hanging in the coop and yesterday she stayed on the roost most of the day even letting me clean poop boards without moving. Feel bad for her....

 

[2ndTink]

She's pretty, who are thinking about mating her with?

Probably not the best color to cross her with, but I have my Ermine cockerel in there. You can just see his tail in there. I'm assuming they'd produce some blues, blacks, and paint and blue paint and I'm not sure about leakage and stuff or what her rusty colors will do to the mix. They will be cute little fully muffed EE's and as far as that goes, I'll be happy to have them in the layer flock for fun!

Hopefully he's not feeling under the weather... I've got a BR that's been molting pretty bad and she's been hanging in the coop and yesterday she stayed on the roost most of the day even letting me clean poop boards without moving. Feel bad for her....

He seems to be good, it gets dark so early and even though I have a little light in the coop, he just decides it's bedtime. When I'm in there doing chores he'll hop back down and start eating and chatter and follow me around. He's such a cutie

 

[2ndTink]

Just a post mostly for my own future reference.

I have minimal light added to the three standalone coops. The light is mostly to help them get into the coop in the evening and give me light for chores. It is one single really dim bulb, I'm not sure if it is enough to count as "added light to help with laying" but it has helped get the chickens in at night and I can see to check feed and waterers.
The oldest layers stopped laying at least a month ago, I might get an egg every two weeks from the 10 chickens. I wasn't sure how many eggs those old girls have left and I'd like to hatch a few from them this spring so not really adding light is a little egg conservation effort to hopefully ensure that they can give me a couple viable eggies each to hatch.

I have the same for my pullet coop, I'm getting 3 or 4 eggs a day from about a dozen girls, but many of these I have breeding plans for, so I was thinking not adding a longer length of light will give them a natural break through this winter to allow their bodies to continue developing and hopefully lead to longer and better productive lives. I have the nagging "Mareks weakens their immune systems" thought and allowing them this winter to continue growing without the added stress of pushed egg production might really benefit me in the long run.

The silkie's coop has the same length of light as the standalone coops. Somehow I'm getting the most eggs from them and it's a mix of pullets and hens. I still have 6 or 7 broody silkies, 2 are in breaker cages, the rest will cycle through as the first 2 break.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Just a post mostly for my own future reference.

I have minimal light added to the three standalone coops. The light is mostly to help them get into the coop in the evening and give me light for chores. It is one single really dim bulb, I'm not sure if it is enough to count as "added light to help with laying" but it has helped get the chickens in at night and I can see to check feed and waterers.
The oldest layers stopped laying at least a month ago, I might get an egg every two weeks from the 10 chickens. I wasn't sure how many eggs those old girls have left and I'd like to hatch a few from them this spring so not really adding light is a little egg conservation effort to hopefully ensure that they can give me a couple viable eggies each to hatch.

I have the same for my pullet coop, I'm getting 3 or 4 eggs a day from about a dozen girls, but many of these I have breeding plans for, so I was thinking not adding a longer length of light will give them a natural break through this winter to allow their bodies to continue developing and hopefully lead to longer and better productive lives. I have the nagging "Mareks weakens their immune systems" thought and allowing them this winter to continue growing without the added stress of pushed egg production might really benefit me in the long run.

The silkie's coop has the same length of light as the standalone coops. Somehow I'm getting the most eggs from them and it's a mix of pullets and hens. I still have 6 or 7 broody silkies, 2 are in breaker cages, the rest will cycle through as the first 2 break.

Completely understand your thought process and it's great you do what's best for your flock.
I seem to think that little added light to get them into the coops and chore light doesn't bother them much for as much daylight as we've lost.

 

[2ndTink]

Completely understand your thought process and it's great you do what's best for your flock.
I seem to think that little added light to get them into the coops and chore light doesn't bother them much for as much daylight as we've lost.

The days sure are short, especially if we have cloud cover, goodness it's just so dark if it's raining!

 

[wrathsfarm]

The days sure are short, especially if we have cloud cover, goodness it's just so dark if it's raining!

3 more days to go, technically.

 

[2ndTink]

I have 4 broodies I'm trying to break, I haven't taken this girl out of her pen yet, she's a very dedicated broody as you can see... I think she missed a few important days of broody school. These two photos are from last night and this morning.

 

[2ndTink]

Happy New Years Eve!

This year wasn't always easy, but I think I'm in a decent position with my flock heading into the new year. I've learned a lot about Mareks, vaccinating, plans - good, bad, and failed.

2024 recap:
This year (July) I lost my longest running favorite hen, she was 4 1/2 years old, I don't know what happened but her comb had gotten just a little floppy the last few weeks before she passed. I've also hatched some wonderful pullets this year that are friendly, talkative, and like to interact with us. They won't replace her, but they definitely help fill the void.

I hatched a lot of chicks, we processed a lot of chickens (that was a whole learning and dealing experience there!)

I started the year with about 30 chickens and I'm ending it with 58. Going into 2025 I have several breeding pens that are purposefully put together, coming into 2024 I bred what I had, so this is a big improvement step for me on my way to my goal of SOP birds!

Thank you to all who have meandered through or chatted along on my thread this year and for all the advice, encouragement, and laughs.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Happy New Years Eve!

This year wasn't always easy, but I think I'm in a decent position with my flock heading into the new year. I've learned a lot about Mareks, vaccinating, plans - good, bad, and failed.

2024 recap:
This year (July) I lost my longest running favorite hen, she was 4 1/2 years old, I don't know what happened but her comb had gotten just a little floppy the last few weeks before she passed. I've also hatched some wonderful pullets this year that are friendly, talkative, and like to interact with us. They won't replace her, but they definitely help fill the void.

I hatched a lot of chicks, we processed a lot of chickens (that was a whole learning and dealing experience there!)

I started the year with about 30 chickens and I'm ending it with 58. Going into 2025 I have several breeding pens that are purposefully put together, coming into 2024 I bred what I had, so this is a big improvement step for me on my way to my goal of SOP birds!

Thank you to all who have meandered through or chatted along on my thread this year and for all the advice, encouragement, and laughs.

Happy New Years eve to you. I hope it's fun filled and more importantly safe.

It's been extremely good year for myself except for that one fiasco. But it's been a joy having you and all my new and old friends along for the ride sharing all my stupidity and pics with.
May 2025 bring your egg basket filled with lovely colors and all your boys be non-biters.....

 

[2ndTink]

I hope it's fun filled and more importantly safe.

As long as I don't fall asleep and fall off the couch while waiting on the new year...

t's been extremely good year for myself except for that one fiasco. But it's been a joy having you and all my new and old friends along for the ride sharing all my stupidity and pics with.
May 2025 bring your egg basket filled with lovely colors and all your boys be non-biters.....

Thank you!