Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[gilcamp4]

ok today we got small egg again, I am not sure who is laying them but they are small

 

[cheeka]

LOL gilcamp! you aren't kidding! that is tiny! you've got new babies, any close to POL age? maybe you have a new layer...which would account for it's wonkiness...

went out for the last egg check, and Gossamer had created a very deep nest in the apple coop... and she pitched quite a fit when I tried to take the one egg she had. (she latched onto the bit of flesh between thumb and forefinger, twisted, shook, flapped and kicked) so... I gave her 2 of her own eggs, plus 2 large fowl eggs, set up the small kennel next to her Mama Peach in the Broody Pen and stuck her inside. she flapped and squawked some... investigated, found the feed and water... when she started to settle in on her eggs and I went to take this photo, she gave a mighty rapid stamping of her feet and squawked once more before tucking those eggs under! guess She Told Me!

so... I shared my banana.

and Dutch shared some back... wiping his beak on my jeans.


Peach loved the banana, and practically dove into the little cap of applesauce


17 Eggs in the basket

 

[lindz8504]

No carcasses...... I have set the live traps and they were closed and moved this morning. .. any ideas?

We tried baiting this evening with a live rooster in a cage but I put him up when it got too dark to shoot safely. I know it was probably too early but I didn't want to sacrifice him.... and not get what ever is taking my chickens. My mom's boyfriend came and picked up his .22 so I am going to have to buy one I think..... hubby has the 12 gauge but I am afraid to shoot it. It kicks AWFUL and leaves a mark on his shoulder.... I can imagine what it would put on mine.
We are almost at the 2 week mark for the broody Golden comet! I will probably have chicks next weekend if all goes well. I'm debating on setting another batch in the incubator..... and I may go get a few pullets this weekend.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

gilcamp, those cute little eggs look like bullets. Do they have yolks in them?

Cheeka, more great pics. Difficult to reconcile Sillie's Gossamer's looks with her ferocious behavior! You have another good mama in the making.

Lindz, you need a game cam to see what you're up against.



Hope everybody has a great weekend!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

No carcasses...... I have set the live traps and they were closed and moved this morning. .. any ideas?

We tried baiting this evening with a live rooster in a cage but I put him up when it got too dark to shoot safely. I know it was probably too early but I didn't want to sacrifice him.... and not get what ever is taking my chickens. My mom's boyfriend came and picked up his .22 so I am going to have to buy one I think..... hubby has the 12 gauge but I am afraid to shoot it. It kicks AWFUL and leaves a mark on his shoulder.... I can imagine what it would put on mine.
We are almost at the 2 week mark for the broody Golden comet! I will probably have chicks next weekend if all goes well. I'm debating on setting another batch in the incubator..... and I may go get a few pullets this weekend.

Could be a predator too large to fit into the trap. Possibly a dog. A coon will reach thru the side of the trap if he can reach the bait and snap the trap in the process. Traps are sized to catch certain size animals. Really need to know what you are dealing with before trying to trap it. Your yard comes alive with wildlife at night and who knows what might smell the bait and wander in and get caught. Odds are you won't catch the problem predator, instead just someone innocent looking for a meal.
My theory on predators is this. If they can't get to my chickens they can't kill my chickens. My chickens live at the edge of the woods infested with predators. I have never lost a chicken to a predator. Predators reproduce. Take one out and another is born. It is a never ending cycle. I focus my efforts on a strong safe chicken habitat instead of trying to rid the world of a never ending supply of predators. The coyotes wake me up at night with their howling. When that happens I think "Roger messin with them again and got them stirred up" .....and roll over and go back to sleep. That is a great feeling.

 

[gilcamp4]

LOL gilcamp! you aren't kidding! that is tiny! you've got new babies, any close to POL age? maybe you have a new layer...which would account for it's wonkiness...

went out for the last egg check, and Gossamer had created a very deep nest in the apple coop... and she pitched quite a fit when I tried to take the one egg she had. (she latched onto the bit of flesh between thumb and forefinger, twisted, shook, flapped and kicked) so... I gave her 2 of her own eggs, plus 2 large fowl eggs, set up the small kennel next to her Mama Peach in the Broody Pen and stuck her inside. she flapped and squawked some... investigated, found the feed and water... when she started to settle in on her eggs and I went to take this photo, she gave a mighty rapid stamping of her feet and squawked once more before tucking those eggs under! guess She Told Me!

so... I shared my banana.

and Dutch shared some back... wiping his beak on my jeans.


Peach loved the banana, and practically dove into the little cap of applesauce


17 Eggs in the basket

no I do not have any due till aug, I have been getting 16 eggs a day out of 21 chickens so it most have come from a chick who had not laid in awhile.

 

[chickenlindz]

Sold two of my girls to a friend who wanted a laying hen. Was sad to see them go but the little coop was too crowded so this frees up some room in there. As a bonus she took two babies!!!!!!!
So I'd say I'd made $60 but with the math of what I sold them for I probably only netted $1.50. but I get the fun of it all and to me that is priceless (prob not so much for DH). Lol

 

[cheeka]

when I got up this morning, Sillie was up and about, eating... she made a big poop, nothing compared to how they will get as time goes by... but then she went into Peach's kennel, where there was an indentation in the back, warm... so I checked her eggs. cold. little knucklehead slept with her Mama., so I moved her eggs. Peach doesn't seem to mind at all, at least for now, and Sillie Gossamer Soo is happy. done deal, communal nesting in the broody pen, just like their everyday life in the Dome. this is how I found them when I got home from work.

I offered escargot. not a hit, I was really surprised. apple bits, peanuts hearts and romaine lettuce went down well with both of them.

Wilma is so grossed out. I don't get it. they eat grubs, why not snails?


and 21 Eggs today! Happy First Day of Summer Everyone!

 

[subhanalah]

when I got up this morning, Sillie was up and about, eating... she made a big poop, nothing compared to how they will get as time goes by... but then she went into Peach's kennel, where there was an indentation in the back, warm... so I checked her eggs. cold. little knucklehead slept with her Mama., so I moved her eggs. Peach doesn't seem to mind at all, at least for now, and Sillie Gossamer Soo is happy. done deal, communal nesting in the broody pen, just like their everyday life in the Dome. this is how I found them when I got home from work. [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] I offered escargot. not a hit, I was really surprised. apple bits, peanuts hearts and romaine lettuce went down well with both of them. [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] Wilma is so grossed out. I don't get it. they eat grubs, why not snails? [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] and 21 Eggs today! Happy First Day of Summer Everyone!

does your Peach have white/pink earlobes? She looks so much like my Limin!

 

[cheeka]

yes she does have pink/white ear lobes. can't wait for her beard to come back in, she has nubbles showing finally... she's too cute with a chick snuggled up to her beard...