North Carolina

[KristanB]

Beth - I am so sorry for your losses!! I do hope you figure out what it is that is attacking your flock!! I am offering mine and DH's services if you need help doing any kind of predator control (he'd kill for an excuse to have target practice)!! Also, he's good with mechanical things being an engineer, so if you need anything, even if it's just a lox for lugging things around, you let us know!! I'm sure your girls would love to have some "babysitting" while we work!!

Again, I am sorry for your loss!!

Chicken Question: I have 9 hens (3 that have been broody and hatched chicks) so out of the 6 that SHOULD be laying eggs...I am getting on average 2-3 eggs a day. Is there any reason why they might slow down their laying? I do not believe they are "old" as they are barely a year old. I did notice a few were burying their eggs in the boxes but even digging through the boxes, I only found 2 eggs tonight.

Just curious...didn't know if all the mamas were throwing the laying off or what was up.

On a side note, we ran around town today and I am SUPER excited to say that DD1 did NOT have an accident at all!!

I am really hoping she keeps up the good work (we even stopped putting diapers on for nap/bedtime - even if it means more laundry) especially since we have church tomorrow!! I suspect it was because she wanted to impress her daddy, but I'll take whatever I can get!! Have a great evening everyone...I'm off to enjoy some Root Beer floats and some Super Mario Brother's Wii time with the DH...lol

Goin thru the same here....I have just figured cause my broodies are so mean and hateful right now... the other layers dont even wanna get close to the nesting boxes where they have set up camp...

 

[BHep]

Here is what goes on here. 1 Broody hen. She hatches, lets say 2 chicks. That equals 4 other hens trying to mother 2 chicks and not a darn egg gets laid !!
That is why broody mama's need to be moved out into broody apartments.... aka dog kennels.

 

[Matt A NC]

You also have to realize that alot of birds are NOT going to lay in the heat and humidity. I have some that will shut off completely till after their fall molt and temps cool off. I usually help several people find new homes for their flocks each year when they find out birds don't lay constantly all year long. I normally start getting calls towards the end of June and into July.

Matt

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Here is what goes on here. 1 Broody hen. She hatches, lets say 2 chicks. That equals 4 other hens trying to mother 2 chicks and not a darn egg gets laid !!
That is why broody mama's need to be moved out into broody apartments.... aka dog kennels.

I wish I had known about these evil hens before I had put them back in with the rest of the flock!! That means you have to help catch all 11 chicks and the 2 mommas when you visit...

JK.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Well, I figured I'd get a better idea of who was laying once I split the birds up. And my suspicions were correct. The older birds...the buffs...are not producing. The blues/blacks/splashes are. So I may be turning those buff girls into soup soon. They'll have a couple days to show me they can lay, but if they aren't laying by the time I get back, they're soup. And Sasquatch may join them, just because.

I seem to have done a poor job of clipping wings, as one black Orp and Speckles have both moved back to their original home. I'll move them back this evening, and do a better clip job. Ah well...could be worse!

I did sell three pullets and a cockerel yesterday, all Lavender Orpingtons. Those four will not be soup or hawk bait. Yay! And hubby's friend who said they wanted chickens some time back and then didn't follow through are wanting them again. They can take the lavenders or the mixed-up Orp pullets, but not my new EEs or Olive eggers. Those are mine. No BCMs either, unless they want a spare rooster! Since I have a very, very hard time saying "no", I've started saying what I will and won't sell up front, before they ask for such-and-such a bird. "These are for sale. Those aren't" It's working!

Hubby, DS and GF of DS have all gone out to a movie, and I am left with all the doggies; mine and Joe's. Reilly is nervous of strange doggies, so asked to go outside and be away from Small Scary Puppy. Dusty (DS's pup) is worried about being here with DS gone, but finally settled. I had to tell him no three times, when he kept ringing the bell to go out. He couldn't quite believe I was refusing. But he chases chickens, and I don't think he'd answer to me the way he does Joe. In fact, I'm quite sure of it. And the poults are in the velociraptor stage and all over the place, plus I have one hen out; old Speckles. So Dusty stays in.

Lockdown today for Wednesday. Hatching will happen with me gone. Hope Hubby is up to it!

Oh...I have two turkey poults who seem somewhat spraddle-legged and weak-legged. These are several weeks old, and this is now appearing. I think their knees are bigger than what they should be too, but I have no point of comparison as they are the only ones of that age. They are in a hanging cage, but I keep hay over the wire for footing. The cage is stable and does not swing. They also have a bunch of chicks for company, and the chicks are all fine. Any ideas on what it could be?

 

[wildriverswolf90]

You also have to realize that alot of birds are NOT going to lay in the heat and humidity. I have some that will shut off completely till after their fall molt and temps cool off. I usually help several people find new homes for their flocks each year when they find out birds don't lay constantly all year long. I normally start getting calls towards the end of June and into July.

Matt

Let me know if those families need a place for their birds to go my coop is always open

 

[doubleatraining]

I wish I had known about these evil hens before I had put them back in with the rest of the flock!! That means you have to help catch all 11 chicks and the 2 mommas when you visit...

JK.

Not a problem....she is bringing the kids and they are REALLY good at catching birds!!

 

[scottcaddy]

To Whom May be Concerend

Little 'E' WON a Race!!

 

[jdeoliveira74]

beth
sorry for your loss

 

[wildriverswolf90]

To Whom May be Concerend

Little 'E' WON a Race!!

CONGRATS