Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

Well, I have this hen... single hen with her rooster. They are the only ones I am breeding one on one. She has insisted to lay her eggs outside... no matter what the temperatures are. So far I have been lucky to be around when it was freezing to pick up the egg. Locked them in the coop... she still would just drop the egg in the coop.
Well last week she only gave me 3 eggs... she usually gives me 5. That made me wonder... then I found egg shell.. mostly eaten. I have seen the rooster pick at or around the egg. I took a fake egg today and put it in the run.... they both ran at it and started picking. He announced food to her. Well, I took him out and I'll see if she is still wanting to pick eggs.... if so they will both go. If it is only him calling her, then he will go after breeding season. I moved him into a rooster box on the other side of the run. She can't see him anymore. He gets visitation rights. I have 9 eggs of them in the incubator. I would like to get more but I don't need egg eaters...
There is always something else going on... let me tell you!

 

[BDutch]

Good luck with al you’re breeding lines.

I just want to let my Dutch breed to get a few bantam hens that lay during winter as well. I wrote the Rhode island red club and asked if they know bantam RIR breeders around where I live who might sell fertile eggs. Guess what. There are 2 , just 5 and 8 km from where I live.

I also found some people who might sell fertile eggs of my second choice bantam breed , the Bielefelder.
Looking into the specs of these breeds again made me doubt if RIR are the best choice for me.

Anyway. Its still quit early to let my girls go broody. Next month is probably a better time to start.

 

[abpatchy]

I candled today... day 6.
Fertility is really good... all but my group with the new rooster. only 12 out of 42 were fertilized... one had died. But when I was setting the eggs he was only in the group for 3.5 weeks... so hopefully next time things are better.
All in all I still got 73 eggs in the running.

 

[abpatchy]

Good luck with al you’re breeding lines.

I just want to let my Dutch breed to get a few bantam hens that lay during winter as well. I wrote the Rhode island red club and asked if they know bantam RIR breeders around where I live who might sell fertile eggs. Guess what. There are 2 , just 5 and 8 km from where I live.

I also found some people who might sell fertile eggs of my second choice bantam breed , the Bielefelder.
Looking into the specs of these breeds again made me doubt if RIR are the best choice for me.

Anyway. Its still quit early to let my girls go broody. Next month is probably a better time to start.

You'll never really know which ones will be "your" chickens. You probably have to try them out. Once they are grown you decite which ones are the ones that work best for you. It's not just laying eggs... it's also their personality. My Bielefelder (large) have such a different personality from my Sulmtaler. I like them but they are fresh... not in a mean way though.
I know the bird flu is all over and visiting people is sometimes out of the question. But maybe checking them out, seeing them might be the way to go.

 

[chickengr]

I candled today... day 6.
Fertility is really good... all but my group with the new rooster. only 12 out of 42 were fertilized... one had died. But when I was setting the eggs he was only in the group for 3.5 weeks... so hopefully next time things are better.
All in all I still got 73 eggs in the running.

I should candle eggs too but I just don't know if I'll be able to do it. tried but never did it properly. I will probably leave them to the broody and nature.

 

[BDutch]

My main goal for another breed this year is the lack of eggs in winter from the chickens I have now. There are no tiny and barely any small bantams that lay in winter. The smallest in weight that has good specs for me is the Rhode Island red.
Sure I have to see if I’m going to like them in real. But just seeing them will give no real answers. If I can make an appointment to collect eggs I ask if I can see the RIR. Most breeders I know are proud of their work and might be happy to show them to me from a distance (outside on the property).

Why winter layers?:
I hate buying eggs from the store having chickens in my backyard. I barely had eggs from november until march. The extra light didn’t work as I hoped. The light I added probably was not strong enough. Because if it was stronger it would open the pop door to the run. It was quit some fuss to make it not work in the dark and cold winter days. And I don’t like the orange electric cable in the garden either.

So a few small chickens that fit into my group and lay in winter are very welcome. I’m not a breeder. My goals with chickens is to have fresh organic eggs to eat and lots of fun.

 

[abpatchy]

My main goal for another breed this year is the lack of eggs in winter from the chickens I have now. There are no tiny and barely any small bantams that lay in winter. The smallest in weight that has good specs for me is the Rhode Island red.
Sure I have to see if I’m going to like them in real. But just seeing them will give no real answers. If I can make an appointment to collect eggs I ask if I can see the RIR. Most breeders I know are proud of their work and might be happy to show them to me from a distance (outside on the property).

Why winter layers?:
I hate buying eggs from the store having chickens in my backyard. I barely had eggs from november until march. The extra light didn’t work as I hoped. The light I added probably was not strong enough. Because if it was stronger it would open the pop door to the run. It was quit some fuss to make it not work in the dark and cold winter days. And I don’t like the orange electric cable in the garden either.

So a few small chickens that fit into my group and lay in winter are very welcome. I’m not a breeder. My goals with chickens is to have fresh organic eggs to eat and lots of fun.

Yes, I understand!! I had to buy eggs for a couple of weeks in December. I hate it with a passion!
A breeder in my club has bantam New Hampshires. Cute little things... and they seem to be laying well. At least that's what he tells me.
Hope you'll find what you are looking for!

 

[chickengr]

My main goal for another breed this year is the lack of eggs in winter from the chickens I have now. There are no tiny and barely any small bantams that lay in winter. The smallest in weight that has good specs for me is the Rhode Island red.
Sure I have to see if I’m going to like them in real. But just seeing them will give no real answers. If I can make an appointment to collect eggs I ask if I can see the RIR. Most breeders I know are proud of their work and might be happy to show them to me from a distance (outside on the property).

Why winter layers?:
I hate buying eggs from the store having chickens in my backyard. I barely had eggs from november until march. The extra light didn’t work as I hoped. The light I added probably was not strong enough. Because if it was stronger it would open the pop door to the run. It was quit some fuss to make it not work in the dark and cold winter days. And I don’t like the orange electric cable in the garden either.

So a few small chickens that fit into my group and lay in winter are very welcome. I’m not a breeder. My goals with chickens is to have fresh organic eggs to eat and lots of fun.

I hope that bantam RIR look like LF RIR. they are sooooo beautiful with that rusty shiny colour.

 

[BDutch]

I got a few telephone numbers/ addresses from the RIR club :http://www.rhodeislandredclub.eu/
Just a ride a few km to the other side of the Rhine.

 

[BDutch]

Yes!!! .
The first phone number was a no go. Went to a home gor elderly and stopped breeding (no roosters allowed).
But the second number was great. A breeder ‘around the corner’ with bantam Rhode Island Reds.
Actually at the other side of the river. So close I can collect them on my bike .

He is offering me 10 eggs in april for 50ct each because for him its not about making a profit. Just for fun. He likes to go to shows with his finest bantam RIR. Great guy! He told me a lot about his hobby and his favourite breed (social roosters, curious and tame).