never buying ready to lay again!

[BeccaOH]

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Ditto what she said.

I bought 6 point of lay red hens from Meyers my first spring with chickens. They came with clipped beaks, which I was not happy with. They did integrate pretty well and eventually laid decently well, but they were not hardy. Half died in the first winter. I sold off the rest in favor of heritage breeds.

 

[pattgal]

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I have no idea how old they are but it's been two weeks and still no eggs. although I thought they were small when I picked them up, now that I have them with the others they seem about the same size
one thing I like about them is they are quite docile though. they don't mind being handled.

 

[Dray67]

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Why not start with day old chicks? They grow up knowing your yard and your voice and your touch and know your feed and schedule, all promote a healthyer bird and a better layer.

 

[Sphinx]

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That requires patience. What about instant gratification? ha ha ha!


All but one of my chickens were purchased when they were small (1-4 days old), so I know that it does take a lot of patience, nailbiting, and stress to get them raised up. It can be really intimidating to someone just starting out. I can understand the appeal of getting a chicken that's a bit older, sturdier, and ready to lay.

 

[pattgal]

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That requires patience. What about instant gratification? ha ha ha!


All but one of my chickens were purchased when they were small (1-4 days old), so I know that it does take a lot of patience, nailbiting, and stress to get them raised up. It can be really intimidating to someone just starting out. I can understand the appeal of getting a chicken that's a bit older, sturdier, and ready to lay.

I like them better day old, I can train them to eat table scraps from the start. it comes in handy when I need to round them up in a hurry.
I needed ready to lay this time because my egg production just dropped to 2 eggs a day from 8 a day, we culled a few and lost a few. i'm seriously growing impatient though. I'm scrapping by supplying my only customer who pays in advance for his eggs, had to put 2 other customers on hold. God bless them for having patience with me.
meanwhile I'm buying eggs from the store. I didn't realize how much we eat. I went through a dozen in 3 days. between me and the kids I use 3-4 eggs a day and DH wants to quit toast in the morning and boil eggs for breakfast.
CMON HENS PRODUCE, HAHA

 

[pattgal]

PS, I still have no intention of getting them from these guys again. they look miserable no matter how they were brought into the world

 

[pattgal]

So here is the update on my socially crippled hens. they have finnally integrated but still refuse to roost with the others. I even got an egg on wednesday yeaa

 

[JulieNKC]

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My newer hens still don't roost with the other girls, but they all hang out together during the day.

 

[gryeyes]

Any time you upset chickens - and being moved from one coop to another is enough, much less being SHIPPED - it will put them off laying.

Since you got an egg, it sounds like they are pulling out of it and will start laying for you now.

 

[pattgal]

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they were quite young, but I see the rooster service one every now and then. so they are maturing one at a time