Mixed Flock or Not?

[TallChickMagnet]

How are you getting so many eggs??? We have 13 hens & are only getting one or two eggs a day.

It's winter time. Chickens slow down in the winter. I added a light in their coop that comes on at 4:30 am...on a timer. Goes off at 7:30 am... Chickens need about 16 hours of light to lay consistently. If they already slowed down it may take about two weeks to start up again.

 

[NYRIR]

Ugh, I know....I have a LOT of hens and am getting only about half the eggs I was getting. I do have a timed light but I also have some older hens and some young pullets....sighs...can't wait for the days to be longer again! My chooks have been going in by 4 pm!!

 

[Frizzle13]

I would go for a mixed flock and a few different breed Roos and then u breed some pure breeds and some really cute mixes.

 

[Phottoman]

It's winter time. Chickens slow down in the winter. I added a light in their coop that comes on at 4:30 am...on a timer. Goes off at 7:30 am... Chickens need about 16 hours of light to lay consistently. If they already slowed down it may take about two weeks to start up again.

I so totally misread this the first time around. I THOUGHT you said 4:30 PM, then I looked again.

My timers go on in both coops at 5:00 PM and off at 10:00 PM, then back on at 5:00 AM and off at 7:15 AM.

And we have passed the winter solstice, Dec 21, the longest night and shortest day of the year, now in the northern hemisphere our days will be getting a few seconds longer then a few minutes and then hours longer until June 21st.

With eighteen chickens (and a new Rooster) I am still getting better than a dozen eggs a day, and this with four of my birds gone all broody on me.

Skip

 

[ash11]

Ugh, I know....I have a LOT of hens and am getting only about half the eggs I was getting. I do have a timed light but I also have some older hens and some young pullets....sighs...can't wait for the days to be longer again! My chooks have been going in by 4 pm!!

I can't wait for summer hours again. It's terrible when you're ready for bed at 6pm!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

For me it was obvious, a mixed flock. I wanted different colors and sizes. I wanted high producers of eggs and I wanted pets. Having a wide variety gives personality and style to your flock.

 

[bruceha2000]

All of us had near 50% roosters from pullets. We all bought form a local feed store.

I wouldn't even think about getting them at a feed/farm store if you care about gender. I've read WAY too many posts by people who ended up with cockerels from the pullet bin.

I like variety.

Just a few of the breeds I keep

Geez Justine, that rooster is TALL!!!

Do you keep him in a binder?

I have been looking at My Pet Chicken. Is it a good site to order from?
I was thinking two EE's, a golden laced wyandott. Another buff to try, and something else???

Be aware that MPC has a 15 chick minimum for winter hatches. I got mine from Ideal. And I was lucky or they are VERY good as all 12 were girls, they only "promise" 90% and even then if you get excess males, they only refund the difference between a pullet and a cockerel. And where I would get rid of cockerels guaranteed not to be eaten, I have no idea. There was no minimum order nor minimum quantity of a given breed plus their shipping was reasonable. I ordered them to come in June so I wouldn't have to worry about how they decided to fill out the box for warmth. Hatcheries will fill in with "the appropriate number of" free extra chicks, whatever breed they have too much of and almost guaranteed to be boys.

My timers go on in both coops at 5:00 PM and off at 10:00 PM, then back on at 5:00 AM and off at 7:15 AM.

Skip

Too much and too late. I believe the number is 12 -14 hours, not 16. I have a light on from 4:30 AM to 7:30 AM though I can back that off as the sun starts to come up earlier. It goes on again at 3:15 PM and off at 5 PM. If I don't go to put them up, they will go in by 3:45 if it is cloudy, no later than 4:15 otherwise.

Bruce

 

[bruceha2000]

I forgot to post my opinion of mixed or not

I went with mixed because:
- We aren't ever going to eat any of them so I wanted to be able to tell them apart. My daughter named them all.
- I wanted to be able to have SOME idea which girls are laying.
- I wanted lots of egg colors.
- There are WAY too many interesting breeds out there!

If I were raising meat birds, I would get all the same so I couldn't tell them apart. Easier (I think, never done it) to put a generic chicken in the pot, not so easy to put one in that you have a personal relationship with.

If I were breeding, I'd have all one kind unless I had the ability to keep the breeds separated.

Bruce

 

[NYRIR]

Quote: Lol...I know...they go in at four....goats get their grain at 4 pm....... and it's like by 5 30 you feel like you should go to bed too!!

 

[PirateFarmer]

What can be used if you're off-grid, to extend the hours?