Peeps in Europe!

[Papa John59]

Hello everyone! I know, I know......some how, I just lost contact with this thread! So sorry!

First of all, I want to wish each of you a Happy New Year! May 2020 be full of good health, love, happiness and of course, chickens!

To the new members to this thread.....Welcome to the madness of chickens and this thread!

 

[Papa John59]

So how is everyone's hens doing now that we are in the new year? In my part of Germany, with temps hovering around 0°C during the day, my girls are still laying and with no extra lighting in the coop!

 

[Erba]

Well a funny thing happened on the way to the hen house....
They have now decided to swop places in the no egg laying game. So now the big Sussex is laying and the smaller one is not. Why? Only a chicken knows, but probably they like playing games with me. So I am now getting a big Sussex egg and a little brown one from the Pullet born in Autumn, until Madam decides she wants to lay again. But hey, two out of three ain't bad!

 

[AnnaWolf]

I have 2 pullets here in the Netherlands, it's here also round the 0*c. 1 pullet is laying 1 pullet started to molt a bit

 

[abpatchy]

I might have mentioned before that my hens were not laying. I even took them to a vet that knows poultry. Nothing...no worms or other pests. All was well...
Before Christmas I changed feed to a breeding feed... and after Christmas we added lighting. On 30th of December I got the first egg from a young pullet. The others followed...I have gotten 9 eggs since then from 4 girls. The other breeding group is not laying yet. Don't know what the issue is here... but I'm certain they will be laying too soon.

 

[Erba]

I finally found a Light Sussex breeder who lives just an hour away from me and he is selling hatching eggs!

I was so afraid of having eggs sent by post, because it is always a bit of a gamble with incubating shipped eggs. So he's got fresh hatching eggs waiting for me to pick up today.
I wasn't planing to incubate this early in the year, but I couldn't say no to his offer...

 

[abpatchy]

ohhh... I am sooooo happy for you!!!! YAY!!! When are you going to put them in the incubator? I am popping some in on the 26th late or 27th early...don't know yet.

 

[Erba]

Well he said, they were all laid within the last three days when I picked them up, so I will let them settle a day or two now I have them here. I saw the flock and they are authentic Light Sussex, so the eggs should be too, as he only has Light Sussex there. I got 20 eggs in total but one is XXL and I'm not sure if it is a twin. Probably won't put that one in the incubator. Candled them all when I got home and they all look very fresh. So here's to another of my cliff hanging episodes of hatching eggs.

Btw, I did get 3 cockerels and two pullets last time, so i was right. The cockerels will be going to freezer camp in about a month though. Nom, nom

 

[abpatchy]

I would put the large egg in as well... you paid for it... it would be a shame if it was a single yolk... if a broody hen would have laid this egg she would sit on it as well. You could try and candle it... you might be able to tell if it is a double yolker or not.
But I am sooo excited for you! You really got to keep us posted this time!!!
Do you butcher yourself? Or are you having it done?

 

[Erba]

I was thinking I should give that egg a chance as well. See what happens. Yes I will butcher the birds myself. Watched and helped family and friends do it, chopping block style. It will be the first time with my own birds though. Pampered beasties...lol.
Three young cockerels is really not enough to take to the butcher and they are not worth the money in meat, you'd pay to have it done. Don't recommend it, if you don't live on the land though. Nosey neighbours might get PETA onto you. I kill humanely though, knock it out first and then chop the head off.