Good thing that I did downsize from our high total of 55. Used to go through two 50# bags every week and now, it's one 50# bag every week and a half with only 31 adults. The chicks are another matter and the feed bill will be higher for awhile as we grow out some chicks, but I will only be keeping a handful of standard breeds from the current and future hatches this year, just to replace my oldest girls as they pass on. Tasha, Ike and Ellie's daughter, will stay because she has Tom snookered already.
Keep forgetting to tell you guys that my oldest Buff Orp, Sunny, who is now over five years old, has started laying again after a long hiatus! Reba has been laying again for awhile now (also an original). Lexie, however, hasn't laid an egg in almost a year, if I recall. I hope she's okay, but I have my doubts. Other than the arthritis in her feet, she seems quite healthy and her abdomen doesn't feel odd, so who knows what's going on in there. My four year old hens lay quite well, but the only ones who are hatchery stock that age are my Brahmas--the ones four years old and down are almost all breeder stock except the bantams.
Keep forgetting to tell you guys that my oldest Buff Orp, Sunny, who is now over five years old, has started laying again after a long hiatus! Reba has been laying again for awhile now (also an original). Lexie, however, hasn't laid an egg in almost a year, if I recall. I hope she's okay, but I have my doubts. Other than the arthritis in her feet, she seems quite healthy and her abdomen doesn't feel odd, so who knows what's going on in there. My four year old hens lay quite well, but the only ones who are hatchery stock that age are my Brahmas--the ones four years old and down are almost all breeder stock except the bantams.
