)
I love hearing all of that. If I can move to a rural area and build a larger coop (trying to get in position to do so), the Whiting true Blue is on my short list for additions.My 2 Egger pullets are the most productive layers I have (flock of 8 pullets) except for my Whitings True Blue, who just edges them out of 1st place. They will achieve "full hendom" in April (1 year old).
I usually find both green eggs in the nest boxes daily but some days they alternate: Edna's egg is shiny satin green, Elsie's more olive, matte finish with some speckles. I'd guess we're usually at 5 eggs each/week. We'll see how their production goes as they mature & have their first molt, but winter hasn't slowed them down much so far.
(I don't keep a tally of eggs per girl, either, just notes in my daily chicken journal; I can't always ID which of the brown egg girls laid which eggs, but my Rainbow Girls, it's obvious.
They are also excellent & dedicated foragers, and can fly over a 7-foot fence like it was nothing. (Hawk net needed over the run to keep aerial predators out and these girls and the WTB in the run; the other girls are heavier breeds - RIR, Buff Orp, Delaware, Australorp, Barred Rock.)
Much as I'd love to indulge in chicken math this coming spring, this crew of girls has inundated us with eggs -- supplying 2 households and lots & lots water-glassed & frozen.
Love my Eggers and will definitely want to have some always!
Interesting - I raised my EEs from 2-day-old chicks and they were so cuddly when they were little, climbing all over my lap, demanding my attention and petting, and burrowing into the folds of my sweatshirt to sleep. But as they got older and especially after their first visits outdoors when the weather warmed enough, they became very independent and didn't want to be held or even touched anymore.
The 3 of them are at the bottom of the flock hierarchy, Martha the WTB then (apparently equal basis) Edna and Elsie the EEs. (All the other pullets are ~7-8 weeks older than the EEs.)
Very much worth repeating. Even hens of the same breed can vary a lot by individual but when you have something as diverse as an EE there are no standards. You can get anything.
That is quite a haul on eggs. That is also better longevity than I would have thought.
One of my girls, Violet, was always in my lap when she was little. Wanted to be petted and loved on every time I sat with them. Now that she is older, she is one of the ones that runs away when my hand gets within about an inch of scratching her. But their dispositions are beautiful. Mine love supervising, also.Interesting - I raised my EEs from 2-day-old chicks and they were so cuddly when they were little, climbing all over my lap, demanding my attention and petting, and burrowing into the folds of my sweatshirt to sleep. But as they got older and especially after their first visits outdoors when the weather warmed enough, they became very independent and didn't want to be held or even touched anymore.
They're still curious and friendly, eagerly take treats from my hands and want to get up close to "supervise" my work in the chicken yard & coop, as long as I don't try to touch them. But of course, many other EE owners talk about how much their girls like petting & holding, so it's not all one way or the other.
The other weird thing is, ever since their hormones hit, they didn't squat for me but do squat for the WTB pullet, who mounts them like a rooster (!); and they all sleep together on their favored perch in the coop.
I actually don't remember where I got them. I know we ordered them online, and I have been breeding them for 6 years now
I appreciate this information.
