Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[TNchickmom]

Ok first, I would have no idea what kind of chicken that is based on that picture. Can you get one from the side that shows everything including the legs? I'm not a chicken breed expert but there are folks on here who might know. If they don't, try the "what breed/gender is this" forum. Your bird's colors are very pretty, I would love one like that. Makes me want to get a salmon favrelles (I know I spelled that wrong and spellcheck doesn't know what to do with it lol) but someone on here has had a very rough time with them and I have read elsewhere they aren't super hardy so in my climate I probably better not.

I have heard some reports on here that people's chickens are starting to molt as the days are getting a little shorter. Are you seeing a lot of feathers around? What are you feeding them? Do you free range (how much, how often?) Is it possible they aren't as old as you were told they are? Where did you get them?

Ok that's what I thought about my pics. I tried to upload more than one of her at same time but I will try again. She has green legs. Yes the favrolles(?) are pretty. I am seeing feathers around the coop. They were free ranging in afternoons for couple of hours but I haven't in a few days just to see if they were laying but maybe doing it under my barn. I feed them layer crumbles or pellets and treats like bananas, grapes, bread, watermelon etc. I even crush egg shells and add to their food. I bought them from a local lady that was selling most of her flock and is known by people around here. Could be possible about their age, I guess I just wanted to believe the nice old lady we got them from lol.

 

[TNchickmom]

 

[mortie]

jchny2000 - at 21 weeks old my New Hampshire laid her first egg, and has done so for 3 days in a row now.

My other three are the same age and nothing yet. I think a couple of them will probably be closer to the 25-26 week age as they aren't maturing as fast. The heat hasn't been too horrible and I'm doing everything I can to help them stay cool.

TNchickmom - that is one beautiful egg! I have one EE and can't wait for a pretty egg from her.

Mortie - congrats on the "good" 2 egg day! It's funny how I've gotten used to getting the one, now I want 2, dang it! We have a hawk here which my girls don't seem to notice. Their run has bird netting over it, and when I let them out I have to stay right with them now. Because not only is there a hawk, but they took off into the woods the other day and didn't come back for almost two hours, as you know.

This is me lecturing them when they came back. My bad, though, I shouldn't have gone in the house for 2 minutes. Bad chicken mom.

I know, now I want a 3 egg day lol. The girls usually spot the hawk and hide and then chatter at it. The time yesterday when it swooped over their heads they didn't see it. I was less concerned when it seemed like they were pretty observant but when they completely missed it coming withing 15 feet of them, that did kinda make me pause. They have a roomy run that is fully covered and secure so that's alright but we did enjoy letting them run around and eat bugs and grass and things. For now they will just have to stay in the run for safety. Even supervised free range was a no go.

jcnny! Howya been?!

 

[TNchickmom]

Here she is posing

 

[TNchickmom]

 

[TNchickmom]

And lastly

 

[TNchickmom]

TN on my phone it's super easy, I just click the picture icon and the "upload from device" option and BOOM. It's actually easier than doing it on my computer. Is that what you're doing?

Yes but when I do more then one picture it seems like it only shows the last pic I picked. Any how here are some more of her. I am a new chicken mom too! When I started I bought 3 what I thought was BA's and in a matter of a month I bought 5 more! I want all colors of eggs. My husband thinks I have issues

 

[mortie]

Ok that's what I thought about my pics. I tried to upload more than one of her at same time but I will try again. She has green legs. Yes the favrolles(?) are pretty. I am seeing feathers around the coop. They were free ranging in afternoons for couple of hours but I haven't in a few days just to see if they were laying but maybe doing it under my barn. I feed them layer crumbles or pellets and treats like bananas, grapes, bread, watermelon etc. I even crush egg shells and add to their food. I bought them from a local lady that was selling most of her flock and is known by people around here. Could be possible about their age, I guess I just wanted to believe the nice old lady we got them from lol.

Ah ok. Looks like maybe an easter egger? That's my EXTREMELY uneducated guess lol.

Sounds like you have the food part well in hand. Their diet sounds good. It also sounds like you've considered the possibility that they might be laying while ranging and hiding their eggs and you've tried confining them to make sure that's not it.

I have heard so many stories on BYC about people who were lied to about the age of their chickens, that's why I had to ask. It's really sad how many people don't have a problem with making their problem someone else's. "My chicken isn't laying as much as I would like so I don't want to keep it but I don't have the heart to cull it so I'll just pass it off to someone else and lie about its age." Not saying that's what happened to you just saying I've seen it happen to others. I think even if your lady was just inadvertently incorrect about their age, they would still probably lay here and there for you and a month is probably long enough for them to get over the stress of moving provided things have gone smoothly since then. Have they? Is it really hot there?

 

[mortie]

Oh I definitely have issues, too. I want all colors of eggs, I just am not allowed to have that many chickens where I live lol. When I post pictures from my phone, I go through the whole upload from device, submit process for each one.

 

[TNchickmom]

Ah ok. Looks like maybe an easter egger? That's my EXTREMELY uneducated guess lol.

Sounds like you have the food part well in hand. Their diet sounds good. It also sounds like you've considered the possibility that they might be laying while ranging and hiding their eggs and you've tried confining them to make sure that's not it.

I have heard so many stories on BYC about people who were lied to about the age of their chickens, that's why I had to ask. It's really sad how many people don't have a problem with making their problem someone else's. "My chicken isn't laying as much as I would like so I don't want to keep it but I don't have the heart to cull it so I'll just pass it off to someone else and lie about its age." Not saying that's what happened to you just saying I've seen it happen to others. I think even if your lady was just inadvertently incorrect about their age, they would still probably lay here and there for you and a month is probably long enough for them to get over the stress of moving provided things have gone smoothly since then. Have they? Is it really hot there?

That's what I was hoping for, an EE. I wouldn't doubt that about the age thing. I will just have to keep waiting I guess. At least I have the one new one laying for me. It has been in the 90's the past few days.