Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Sallysec]

Mc, that is crazy....first off I would be ticked at the hens...you may want to start naming them boy names lol. Maybe a change in feed? I just gave my older girls some BOSS in their normal layer because I think someone is molting.

Cheeka this is crazy weather, I love it but its weird. Yesterday it looked like rain wasn't going to end and it was dark....twenty minutes later its sunny. I just let the girls out today (I was planning to keep them in but Jessica saw my husband and he felt guilty because he started calling to her from the deck and she came running to the side of the coop lol. So I went out to get eggs but my Jersey was in the box and so

not sure how many yet. I have been getting around 7-8 a day so I can't complain about my teen girls. There are only eight of them...one day I got nine and was so confused. My big girls though....lol entirely different story. They are complete free loaders. 4 of them and no one is laying and we can't blame the broody because she isn't broody anymore. So now I don't know what to do with them...I actually just gave them eggs today (3 unfertile eggs) to see if I can convince SOMEONE to sit for me. Since they aren't laying I want them to work for their keep lol.

The weather may have triggered two to start molting. I notice a ton of white feathers in that coop and I still need to grab the cross beak EE and trim her beak.

My garden is weird this year...I really didn't do much in it because I am supposed to be renovating (although if these contractors ever show up I might faint). I am getting a ton of peppers which I can't normally grow ...and a ton of cucumbers which I usually don't get too many. Yet my normal squashes and zuchs...barely anything now. I got little beans but I didn't plant too much. I have pumpkin and melons everywhere though. I think everything looks smaller this year though. I blame the weather.

I also am concerned about the chicks this week. Tomorrow it will be 52 at night. Should I bring them in? They seem so happy outside, and stronger etc than the first chicks I kept inside until they wanted to lay eggs lol. I have the brinsea brooder with them outside (even though it isn't supposed to be) and they seem happy. I told my husband we are going to have to keep checking on them to see what the situation is.

 

[cheeka]

Sally, I think they will be able to handle it, they should have lots of little feathers by now... they don't have to be fully feathered if they have decent shelter, which they do. 52's not that bad. we're going down to 40*

so many of my girls are molting... but I'm still getting double digits daily. if they drop below 10, I'll be bumming... Blu seems to be coming out of her molt, she looks hideous, but she is literally covered in pins. Rose only has one small bare spot on her back now, and Betty, while really bare, has grown several new feathers, she seems to be filling in from the outer edges. the younger girls don't look too bad, Blossom is the worst, almost no hackles left. they enjoy the high protein snack that I give them every other day. kitten food, BOSS, layer mash (and a few times mixed in a blob of liver) all mushed up with water and ACV. I don't let it sit long enough to ferment, that's not the point of this treat... I do still ferment most of their feed. the serious boost in protein is making a difference. and who knows... it may be what's making the difference in their laying... they have sufficient protein to continue egg production while their feathers grow...?

Peach ejected one of the eggs - it was way far across her pen, couldn't get more than a few inches further away before hitting the wall. I don't believe any will hatch, so I'm kind of happy that she finally gave up one. it was sloshy, I threw it out, I'm not opening it

on last check, Betty was in the favored corner, and when I reached in, she made a great growl, I felt a few eggs, but didn't take any... I'll go check again later. I haven't let the gang out yet today, we're having weird storms. I can see the next round of black clouds coming from the west... should be here in another 15 minutes or so. even when it's not raining, it's chilly and windy. something doesn't feel right to me, predator weather... they could use the wind to block their scent and sneak closer in. I just have a bad feeling about letting them out.

 

[lindz8504]

My dad got home from the fair today.... I called to see how many chicks were left, and he told me that 4 had died, and he had given the rest as prizes... So none of my 10 brooder babies are coming back.... So, now I no longer have any BR( so no little Roger for me), Light Brahmas, B.Orph. or Ameracauna(?) chicks. He said that he would order us some more chicks, but we shall see. I moved the 3 older babies into the brooder/quarantine coop today and they really seem to like being outside.

My egg count for today was........................ 3 out of 3!!!!

AND...




























They were all in a nesting box!!!

 

[lindz8504]

they enjoy the high protein snack that I give them every other day. kitten food, BOSS, layer mash (and a few times mixed in a blob of liver) all mushed up with water and ACV. I don't let it sit long enough to ferment, that's not the point of this treat... I do still ferment most of their feed. the serious boost in protein is making a difference. and who knows... it may be what's making the difference in their laying... they have sufficient protein to continue egg production while their feathers grow...?

Cheeka,
How do you ferment their food? I have heard that it makes the feed last longer and is healthier for them.... I have wondered how you do this and if I would want to tackle it.... And what is BOSS? I usually try to put ACV in their water at least every other day, but haven't heard about any of the other stuff...

 

[cheeka]

lots of us here use FF (fermented feed) for at least a portion of the flocks diet. there are many different setups that can be used, I use a bucket in bucket system. which I'll get to in a sec... BOSS is black oil sunflower seeds

ACV with Mother can be purchased at lots of stores, even Wal Mart carries it now. for fermentation, it's important to have the Mother culture...

lower bucket contains water with a nice splash of ACVw/M upper bucket has lots and lots of smallish holes drilled in the bottom and the sides, going up fairly high and it contains the feed. lower the upper bucket into the lower, and the liquid seeps up into the feed. stir, cover loosely, and leave it. it takes a few days to ferment, when you see bubbles on the surface, it's begun... as you scoop feed out, add new feed so the cycle continues. add more fluid as necessary... it smells good and it's pretty simple. I'm sure others will add to this for you... I kept my explanation to the very basics

 

[cheeka]

it does help make feed last longer, the flock does eat less overall... and it helps make the yolks darker for folks whose birds don't get as much free range. my gang gets out almost everyday, so the FF goes a long way for the 6 months the grass is green and the bugs are plenty. I can't use FF during the coldest stretch of the winter at this point. I do not have electricity in the dome, and because FF is wet, I have no way to keep it from freezing. I do have a heated waterer that is run by a lead cord going around to the garage. their water is more important, I don't feel it's safe to run more lead cords... so for about 4 months at most, they get regular dry feed with BOSS and lots of other seeds, and PIE of some kind almost everyday because winter is so harsh - they do get some FF... just enough for them to eat completely before the FF cools too much, they also get oatmeal, such a nice treat on a bitter cold day!

so me and my big mouth only got 6 eggs today! SIX! I haven't gotten less than 10 for almost 4 months! peh!

 

[lindz8504]

I haven't been able to find ACV with the mother yet in any stores... I have just been using plain White House ACV, until I can find it or have it ordered I guess. Fermenting sounds like a pretty easy thing to do. My gang free ranges pretty much all day, since I am here all day and can keep an eye on them.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

At 13 weeks this Delaware boy has outgrown everybody I have. Bigger than his momma Big Broody.....taller than her but not yet as wide.

Here he is 13 weeks ago.

 

[cheeka]

Wow, he's quite handsome... and it's crazy how fast they grow! Big Broody... that's the kind of chicken I find so funny when they don't have beards. nice and wide, with a pin head!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I will have to get a picture of the little broody BR. She looks like a "road kill" all spread out in that nest box with her bare back and head. Poor girl really needed a break from it all and she came up with the perfect solution at the right time for both of us