Rookie backyard chicken keeper...with Marek's

[Slothinc]

That is exciting about your CCL laying again. Was she taking a break from laying because of molt? And good job finding the coon before it took any of your birds! I hope the trap works!!

 

[Airyaman]

That is exciting about your CCL laying again. Was she taking a break from laying because of molt? And good job finding the coon before it took any of your birds! I hope the trap works!!

None of them are old enough for their first true full molt. She was sick and I feared she was going to be another Marek's victim but she recovered. She laid another egg today. I know it was her because I found her burrowing in the coop of another flock (I leave my coops open during the day and all of the flocks free range together). I came back shortly after and found another blue egg.

No coon yet. But I also think he hasn't come back. I have refreshed the bait each night and no activity.

 

[Airyaman]

Knock on the old proverbial wood, I have not lost any more to Marek's since my last cockerel.

I did lose two chickens to predators though. A hen that went broody and was in a nesting box low to the ground was attacked and eaten by coons.

Then the night after I lost one of my JG roosters to coons.

I changed up sleeping arrangements and set up traps after that.

Caught two coons the first night, they are toast.

Have caught two more since then. I am a gentle soul and would let such creatures go in my pre-chicken keeper days but they are a danger to my family now.

 

[Airyaman]

Just checking in.

Marek's seems to have run it's course (knocking on wood). All of my hens are laying again. I have too many eggs and now I'm on the verge of 9 hens approaching laying age.

I have one hen who keeps pecking her own eggs. Not sure what I can do about that or if I even care. Like I said, I have too many eggs...

Been giving away my eggs. I can only eat so many by myself.

Darn chicken math.

 

[Slothinc]

Just checking in.

Marek's seems to have run it's course (knocking on wood). All of my hens are laying again. I have too many eggs and now I'm on the verge of 9 hens approaching laying age.

I have one hen who keeps pecking her own eggs. Not sure what I can do about that or if I even care. Like I said, I have too many eggs...

Been giving away my eggs. I can only eat so many by myself.

Darn chicken math.

Oh that would be amazing if the rest of your flock has an immunity built up and will be able to live out the rest of their lives! I have the same problem of too many eggs. I often give them to friends and family. Right now I probably have over 100 eggs on the counter