Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

Yep that was here.

(I measured at the 1st knuckle) I had learned that;

One fingers width was 4+ weeks,
1.5 fingers width was 2 - 4 weeks,
2 fingers (funnily enough about as wide as a small egg!) was 'get the nest boxes ready' - 1 week.

Some of our birds this was pretty accurate, time frame was not the best, but they certainly did not pass any eggs when their pelvis's were close together. Our two wynadottes are 25 weeks old and even though their combs are getting red and wattles are growing we are not expecting delivery of their first egg just yet. Easy to pick where they sleep as their droppings are very small. The layers are easy to pick. No nice way of saying it, but after passing a few eggs, their poop shape changes from little worm shapes to big ploppers hahahaha

Can you post a couple of photo's of who you think is getting close?

Are they doing all the other signs too like squatting, visiting the nest boxes as well as development of the 'red zones'? Have you got anything in your nest boxes to encourage laying in there?

 

[lindz8504]

Here are some pictures from my phone. All the Golden comets are 18 weeks old. The other 2 smaller chicks are 12 weeks old, and the wyandottes are 3 years old. NO ONE is laying at the moment!

I am also going to upload a video, but I have to put it on Youtube first.... I can't just add it from my dropbox...

This darker one ^ is the thinnest of all the GC's... she is also the "bossiest" and has some roo-ish tendencies like raising hackles and making herself taller.... she is the only one who won't back down from the teenage rooster monster.. LOL






Still a little pale but starting to get darker in the face.....

 

[lindz8504]

And here is the video....

Plus another one of my daughter playing with one of the GC girls!

 

[NovaAman]

Your GC aren't close enough yet. Getting there, but I am betting in the next month you should have some eggs. Their combs and wattles are going to get alot bigger first. Still too small.

 

[lindz8504]

Your GC aren't close enough yet. Getting there, but I am betting in the next month you should have some eggs. Their combs and wattles are going to get alot bigger first. Still too small.

I was guessing about another month! As long as I start getting eggs by Thanksgiving I guess I won't complain too much. It doesn't make waiting any easier though. Lol... I was trying to compare their combs to my cochins and they are not much smaller... guess I need to find some pictures of adult comets to compare.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Here's mine! She was almost 7 months old here.

 

[lindz8504]

Here's mine! She was almost 7 months old here.

Thanks! Yea, mine have a ways to go.... Hopefully by Thanksgiving!

 

[Bens-Hens]

I don't know with the GC's. All of ours but Rosie had bigger combs than your GC's when they started to lay. Rosie's was pretty small and not as red as the other girls, but she still laid last. 25 weeks for her I think.

I loved the video's, thanks for sharing. I think they are more tame than squatting. I will go visit our girls and see if some of them will squat. Some of them simply don't to it, and are too flighty even though they are laying and accepting Smudge.

Yesterday I moved the shed I spoke of earlier and put a temporary bird net up, they love the space, but I hate being left with a weird shape to try enclose and make look presentable. At least match the other side.

Our backyard mix for hatching tray is looking good too!

Pics and video later today

 

[lindz8504]

I don't know with the GC's. All of ours but Rosie had bigger combs than your GC's when they started to lay. Rosie's was pretty small and not as red as the other girls, but she still laid last. 25 weeks for her I think.

I loved the video's, thanks for sharing. I think they are more tame than squatting. I will go visit our girls and see if some of them will squat. Some of them simply don't to it, and are too flighty even though they are laying and accepting Smudge.

I was kinda thinking the same thing.... They are SPOILED!

I enjoy sharing videos of my chickens and kids, so you are welcome! Thanks for letting me!

Good luck with the enclosure, and the pending incubating!

 

[Bens-Hens]

I tried to get some video of our girls squatting, just could not get the right shot filming and patting lol. Will try get a video when I have Alicia here to film. I did however continue the run expansion project.

Also, sold some old floor tiles that were in the corner of the garden shed I just moved.

Looks like Smudge is moving to a dreamy 9 acres just north of Perth tomorrow. He is also taking Jewel (yes Alicia cried and he has not even left yet!) to make a pair and free's up one more place in our layer line up. While on the subject of layer's, Lavern has thrown 3 double yolkers 3 days in a row! I could not sell her, and definitely not Baby so Jewel it was.

On with the pics!

Our collection so far of home brewed eggs to choose from, one more days collecting to go. Tomorrow we pick up the other two dozen, set on Sunday hehehehehehehe!



We were tempted to set one of the double yolkers, but have since decided against it, only setting ourselves up for disappointment I think, would be cool to hatch twins though.
So we have Smudge Lavender Ara over; RIR, LS, BA, BV and more Lav's.

Not sure if the old tin shed popped up in any earlier pictures, but I moved it for now and will replace it with a new one down the track, but this freed up just over 10m2 of run space. Moved it yesterday and just threw up a bird net for the night.



Had a play with the new panoramic camera function after the iPhone system update.



Even working in the coop..don't mind Sunny's big fluffy butt hanging out of the smallest nest box!



The new sandlot. I have some more fridge panel about, so going to put some solid shelter up, and also move the shade sail to that side for when it gets hot.





Now has a temporary bird net top, weld mesh front. The other side has two different types of passion fruit, so this side we are going to have a go at green grapes. It is the season now for them to spring to life so we might be in with a chance to get established this spring.

The gap between teh gate and the mesh post was not intentional, the panels only come in certain sizes, and my yard is a freak show of heights, levels and angles. We decided to put the gap there, then later I can add a small pop gate for the chickens and save the bigger gate blowing in the wind when they are out ranging.



Few little jobs still to do won there, but it's secure enough for the next few days so we can get the incubator singing.