NY chicken lover!!!!

[featherz]

If you end up deciding to sell some naked necks, I wouldn't mind taking one or two off your hands. Just saying

Those are the only ones I am sure I am keeping! LOL =) If you are in the neighborhood after the snow melts and the birds are out in their netted area you'll have to come by and see if there's any of the others you like.

I got 30 (!) eggs today. That's one heck of a lot of pound cake.

 

[vmdanielsen]

I made lemon chia seed pound cake using the 10 egg pound cake recipe......made a lemon syrup and saturated it, wrapped it in plastic wrap.....it'll be delicious tomorrow!!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

How is everyone's chickens laying for them these days?

I ask because my chickens were ramping up (9-12 eggs a day from 17 birds) and have laid off significantly. 3-5 a day now.

Nothing has changed in the coop. I am feeding the same feed, same schedule, same water, etc.

Here is the only difference, I was away for a week and someone was looking after the birds for me.

I was thinking of doing a second hatch of giants/amers, but when I am only getting 3 eggs a week from the giants, and no blue eggs, setting the bator seems like a bad idea.

Framac

I had commented earlier on how I think chickens miss their regular caregiver when they are away. Any kind of change seem to upset them.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm watching bid on some Blue Wyandotte eggs. Total around $35.

This hawk attack has got me down. I've no run for the newbies and BM's so how can I keep them inside during the day? I did let them out for an hour this evening but they can't stay inside forever.

I moved the Lav roo and blue EE hen into the coop with the newbie hens. My EE eggs are not fertile and I think it has to do with the CR roo taking the top spot in the coop. I have two good laying EE hens but they roost up high so I can't get them down to move them into the coop with the new EE's yet.

Well take care,

Rancher

 

[ChickPrincess]

When they start & quit ...dont you help them ? I think if the shell isnt opened they must run out of air ..it seems I saw someone that did help by putting a little hole in the end ( like with a pin .
Ive never hatched so it is just a guess .

I know when I bred gecko eggs, people say not to help them. There is a reason they don't make it. I didn't have to make that decision, but I probably would've helped them.
I'll be looking into electric fence shortly, I think. On the way home from school today we saw a fox pouncing on something. About a quarter mile down the road, midafternoon.

My egg production is still high (knocking on wood). Had a record 31 eggs the other day from 35 hens.

 

[Cass]

I went down to close up the coops tonight and one of the doors was already closed. The only chicken out of place was the large Ameruacana roo. I think the Sumantra roo shut the door on him, so he could have all the ladies to himself for the entire day tomorrow. I foiled his plan by picking up the misplaced roo and putting him back in the correct side of the coop.

I let all my birds out to free range at the same time. Only rarely do they get mixed up and go to roost in the wrong side of the coop. Today, when I opened the door to the large side, a Lav hen can flying out and ran for the other door. Apparently she didn't enjoy her visit on the larger side with a larger number of birds vying for food. And water.

Has anyone had birds disappear and other birds show up in their place? Seems I lost 2 of my black Sumantra hens and now have OTHER black hens that I don't recognize. AND when I count them all up I have one extra chicken. Hmmm....it gets curiouser and curiouser.

 

[stonykill]

I went down to close up the coops tonight and one of the doors was already closed. The only chicken out of place was the large Ameruacana roo. I think the Sumantra roo shut the door on him, so he could have all the ladies to himself for the entire day tomorrow. I foiled his plan by picking up the misplaced roo and putting him back in the correct side of the coop.

I let all my birds out to free range at the same time. Only rarely do they get mixed up and go to roost in the wrong side of the coop. Today, when I opened the door to the large side, a Lav hen can flying out and ran for the other door. Apparently she didn't enjoy her visit on the larger side with a larger number of birds vying for food. And water.

Has anyone had birds disappear and other birds show up in their place? Seems I lost 2 of my black Sumantra hens and now have OTHER black hens that I don't recognize. AND when I count them all up I have one extra chicken. Hmmm....it gets curiouser and curiouser.

if your Sumatra hens are free ranging all day they may just be broody somewhere. If they are still alive.


I have never had strange birds just appear in my coop but I did have a friend FB message me and ask if I was missing a roo a month ago. I wasn't. BUT 1/2 mile from my house was a full grown Sumatra roo that got hit by a car. I'm guessing he moved away some time ago. Makes me wonder if a few of the hens that went missing last summer moved away with him. And if there is a wild flock somewhere nearby now?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Ginny--what time are you serving the pound cake? I have to make travel plans!

Good luck on the bidding Rancher, I understand about the whole run thing for the newbies. I feel bad when I can only get mine out for an hour or so. I dont have any right now but I expect to in april.

Nice evening this evening. I hope its warm tomorrow. Night all.

 

[Cass]

if your Sumatra hens are free ranging all day they may just be broody somewhere. If they are still alive.


I have never had strange birds just appear in my coop but I did have a friend FB message me and ask if I was missing a roo a month ago. I wasn't. BUT 1/2 mile from my house was a full grown Sumatra roo that got hit by a car. I'm guessing he moved away some time ago. Makes me wonder if a few of the hens that went missing last summer moved away with him. And if there is a wild flock somewhere nearby now?

I don't know when they dissappeared....I don't count my flock daily. I probably should, but I don't. It's not like I can go find them after dark, so I sleep better not knowing if one is missing or not.

They free range each afternoon and are the first to return to the coop each evening. They are also the two that will go off by themselves, crossing the lawn in full view of all local hawks, so maybe a hawk got them....but I don't remember any unusually loud protesting in the recent past. Very possibly they are off having a good time....but the better question is where did the extra hen come from? Did someone swap me 3 hens for my 2 Sumantra hens? I mean, I am not here all day and I don't lock the coop...I probably should, but I don't own bolt cutters and I am known for losing keys, so I don't lock the padlocks.

I bet there is a wild flock of chickens in your area, Stony. Won't the locals love the free eggs? Of course they won't realize that they are chicken eggs, because they are smaller than what people think of when they think "egg". But hey, a wild flock is a wonderful thing. That was what I was hoping would happen at my house, but no go...they like the coop too much.

I have egg yolk dripping down out of my under eves ventalation strip. It looks gross hanging in yellow icicles. I put something in the way so they can't get in there and lay/eat eggs anymore...I thought my egg counts would go up, but they haven't. Must be all the scratch grains I have been feeding them.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
I understand it must be heart breaking . I am sorry some didnt make it for you . If you do give away or sell chicks when would it be ? & how old would the chicks be ?
I am sorry you lost your pullet ...is she the only Maran you had ?