Sdwd

[joletabey]

Heavens, one must NOT short the Diva on her homage time -

how could you even think of less? LH, they are being picky about peeling paint on columns? Good grief. And I can't wait to see pics of the O chicks - how fun!

Cyn, I am keeping

for Nugget- may it be a perfect chick!

Kathy, do start a Project thread- it is SO interesting to Del people, and no there are F2's on the ground, its even more exciting!

Har, I am anxious to know what the blacks end up being, too. I love black chickens, and would love to be able to keep the blacks and buffs.

 

[crazyhen]

Beth,
humm... Blacks and Buffs humm... could it be because we have this bright red clay here and all others get a dose of it on them?????

I love them too.
Mercy I love them all and if I were able to build and care for them I am sure I would have waaaaaay to many to enjoy.

In the future I want to build a winter coop; but when I do not know with the economy like it is. Gloria jean

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a question I'll ask here since I have my reasons. I won't say what those are.

Anyhow I have 12 new hens. 7 orps from hinkjc in Apr. 2 RIR's, 1 BBS orp from AL hatched by me, before April. Plus 2 Del/EE's The thing is they aren't laying very well. I have seen the BBS orp and one Del/EE and the white orp laying but not the RIR's.

There are 16 birds in that side and I got 3 eggs yesterday. One of which is from an older EE. I did see the BBS orp in the box and so that means only one of the others layed an egg. I've seen the white orp and the BBS in the box but not a single Lavender orp. Nor the Buff. And I have seen a Del/ EE. Plus Buchwheat is trying to brood but I'm fighting her on that front. But of the 12 new I'm not getting enough eggs to suite me.

I'm wondering if it's a light thing. They are in the back part of the coop which is darker. Though I do let them into the run each day. The run is not exactly "light" either, but I do let that particular group into the yard. They appear to be old enough to lay and are on layer feed now.

Any ideas?

I may be to used to my Dels which mature faster.

 

[gjensen]

Quote:
It is my experience when pullets are coming to POL in the fall when the day length is getting shorter and shorter that even good layers will not give me as much. I have known some from later hatches wait until the day length starts to increase in late winter. If the birds are in good health then it is either more light or wait. I am getting ready to paint the inside of my coops a lighter color to brighten them up a bit. I have my house/runs in the shade of some evergreens. Some strains/breeds take a while, and coming into lay in the fall doesn't help. That is just what I have seen. I am also alot farther south where our days are even a little longer than yours. Somebody that has the same birds as you would be more help.

 

[Inkheart]

" am getting ready to paint the inside of my coops a lighter color to brighten them up a bit"

Does this really help thru the winter months? Painting the inside lighter? I guess it would help reflect light - is that the theory here?

 

[gjensen]

Quote:
No, I don't think it would. What I do intend to improve is brightening them up when the sun is lower in the sky. "Capturing" what light is avaliable. Ofcourse it wouldn't lengthen the day. I live in the hot/humid south so I placed my houses in a shaded area. The cost is avaliable natural lighting. For me it is a balance between good air flow in the summer (capturing the west winds), and not drafty in the winter. Shaded to shelter them from the sun's radiant heat in the summer, and capturing natural light in the fall and early spring when the sun is low in the sky. I am merely trying to improve the peculararities of the situation I have them in. I can't let them out this time of year as much as I would like. My boy's play fall sports, and no-one is home in the week. My runs are covered also, because in the summer a run wouldn't do alot of good by 10:00 am if it wasn't. I also like to have the birds on dry ground. I am figuring the paint as an improvement for their well being, but not as much to "maximise" production. I am merely noting the houses and run darker than I would like them to be this time of year. I am hoping that it will help next years pullets that are coming into lay late in the season, because they will not be able to range as much.
I probably think and talk too much.

 

[Inkheart]

I know it is already making me sad that my bantams cant be out as much right now - the light goes so quick these days! and then when we hit the time change here it is that wonderful - grrrr- time of year where i go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.

 

[gjensen]

Same here.

 

[joletabey]

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I love the cooler weather, but I hate losing the light.

I have read that fall POL pullets, or at least those that are POL after the days start getting shorter are slower to lay, and that that is a GOOD thing, as they can mature completely before they start to lay.

 

[Inkheart]

am curious to see how my faverolles do - as every thing you ever read or hear about them states they are good winter layers