Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Blarneyeggs]

I'm looking for opinions. In my flock, I have a total of 4 roosters / cockerels. I am keeping my Australorp Rooster as he is the king of the hill right now. I also have a 18 week old BCM cockerel that I am thinking I don't like his color. I also have a 16 week old BCM cockerel that I think I like how he is developing. Last, I have a 18 week old Oliver Egger cockerel. I think I will be getting rid of the 18 week old BCM and keep the 16 week old. Can you think of any reason to keep the 18 week old Olive Egger? I have a couple Olive Egger pullets but they may be siblings, I'm not sure though. Thoughts?

If it was me, I'd keep the Marans boy closest to SOP, then you can breed BCMs true, and also breed OEs.

Here is a composting question:

I have begun composting by just putting out food scraps and chicken poo in a pile of composting leaves I have out back.

I am concerned I may be attracting animals that hwant those food scraps................the very animals that could also be predators for my chickens like the skunks and raccoons..........

what do you do to prevent this?

do you all make a compost box...........or not?
thanks in advance!

We keep a composter that is sealed pretty good close to the house for kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy) and a composting pile for chicken manure and spent goat straw out by the garden.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Quote: We just pitch anything edible to our own critters before it actually spoils. Between 200+ birds, 10 cats, 2 goats, 2 bunnies & a turtle we don't have much go to waste & it helps cut the food bill. I clean out the fridge about twice per week to get any leftovers before they actually spoil & are still critter worthy. Veggie scraps go out as they are created as do meat scraps.

 

[kada6305]

Look what I found this morning. I didn't expect Sunny to lay for another week or so, she's 2 weeks younger than the other two leghorns. Foghorn (left) teaching Sunny (right) to lay her egg in the Rabbit hutch... then not in the picture is Omelet singing the egg song waiting her turn. Now mind you the rabbit hutch isn't where I want them laying BUT at least I know where they are laying. Omelet gave up and in the coop laying her egg.

 

[BullChick]

Look what I found this morning. I didn't expect Sunny to lay for another week or so, she's 2 weeks younger than the other two leghorns. Foghorn (left) teaching Sunny (right) to lay her egg in the Rabbit hutch... then not in the picture is Omelet singing the egg song waiting her turn. Now mind you the rabbit hutch isn't where I want them laying BUT at least I know where they are laying. Omelet gave up and in the coop laying her egg.

Very happy for you!

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Look what I found this morning. I didn't expect Sunny to lay for another week or so, she's 2 weeks younger than the other two leghorns. Foghorn (left) teaching Sunny (right) to lay her egg in the Rabbit hutch... then not in the picture is Omelet singing the egg song waiting her turn. Now mind you the rabbit hutch isn't where I want them laying BUT at least I know where they are laying. Omelet gave up and in the coop laying her egg.

Very cute! Like you said at least you know where they're laying. I have feeling more of our girls are laying, they're just doing a great job of hiding the eggs...considering how well some of our boys are doing one of their "jobs" it wouldn't surprise me if we suddenly see a batch of new fluffy butts eventually.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

eggciting! looks great

I just got a laying hen...............so he said..................and she has been in her new home , seemingly happy

when do you think she might start laying again?

She is supposedly going to be one year old in October............

I have provided grower feed because my others are now 7 weeks old, I have put out oyster shell and grit.............they have all eaten watermelon and greens...............

I sense a generally content atmosphere with all the girls..................

 

[chippysmom327]

Picked up a lovely Ameraucana today from wlrabbitry!!! So nice meeting fellow BYCers!

Sorry it's not that great of a picture!

 

[barbiegirl]

Look what I found this morning. I didn't expect Sunny to lay for another week or so, she's 2 weeks younger than the other two leghorns. Foghorn (left) teaching Sunny (right) to lay her egg in the Rabbit hutch... then not in the picture is Omelet singing the egg song waiting her turn. Now mind you the rabbit hutch isn't where I want them laying BUT at least I know where they are laying. Omelet gave up and in the coop laying her egg.

Awesome! At least you know where they are laying. Finally got a raccoon in the haveaheart trap! Does a happy dance. Don't know how many more we have, at least 1 more for sure. Now the rain has stopped, hopefully I can muck out the runs again. So stinky

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I think I heard my first egg song..................it was very loud and distinct...................no egg yet but I think that is because the process was interrupted by the 3 amigas coming to check out all the commotion!

might be today?

plus all the girls got big , I mean BIG earthworms from me..............I found in my leaf pile that I am working on to be a better compost pile

I drilled holes in one of those storage bins with a lid for my contained compost and raked and found HUGE like 4 inch and fat earthworms

was fun as they played keep away!
my first week having chickens has been fun!

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Awesome! At least you know where they are laying.

Finally got a raccoon in the haveaheart trap! Does a happy dance. Don't know how many more we have, at least 1 more for sure.

Now the rain has stopped, hopefully I can muck out the runs again. So stinky

YAY!!! Glad ya got one!

Ugh I know what you mean, the ducks' run reeks, and they're only in there at night. I hope to get stone this coming week to help with drainage.