Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Chaneys Ranch]

wow Janet, "he" is gorgeous! I'm thinking male as well... I'm surprised you're not getting chicken eggs still - many, if not most, of my girls have resumed even if it is sporadic...

lindz, you know I will be sprouting both of those wonderful seeds! I should have started some over the weekend... but furnace issues and a failing alternator in my truck needed immediate attention... all is fixed and fine, thank goodness! as the frigid weather is back. it's below zero without the wind chill - and the winds are coming today. we'll be experiencing -30 on average for the next several days.

at least it's too cold to snow! my tractor got a flat tire last week, and the new tire came by UPS yesterday - I'm glad it didn't snow more than it did... but at least now I can plow their yard... although no one wants to come out in the frigid temps...

Thanks! he is very shy.. I tried free range with him last week.. its was a nightmare.
Waiting a few more weeks. He went pretty high in our cottonwood, and parked!
Then on the barn, finally lured him in with cracked corn.
The colder temps, He is staying in until I am sure he can handle it. the other 2 are much too small.
I really think its the single digits keeping them all from laying, we had this last year too.
Its ok. Even the pekin stopped so I figure they can rest! Means they will all be here longer

Ugh! I would be dead without my big tractor! I haul hay all over, water buckets.. feed. I use a lawn tractor in summer.
It wont move in the snow! Let alone plowing the driveway, paths to all the coops & livestock..

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

sounds like someone else did complain lindz! I hope those knuckleheads get the message! my 3 adult female cats used to take down rabbits, so many, that the colony moved away. there is a huge warren in my backyard, entrances under various pine trees, the furthest one is about 40 feet away from the next... I saw one distinctly patterned rabbit go in on one side and pop up later under the 40' distant tree... the cottontails had bred with the pet rabbits up the road, and we had some great colors... now that Min Min is the only girl left, the rabbits have come back, actually, 2 days after Pearl passed, I saw 2 rabbits in the yard... I bet you had your hands full getting Ratchet to give it up! my cats would growl so fiercely at me...

I found 1 more egg this afternoon for a total of 9, all from the dome. and they were climbing on the treat bucket! I tried to fill a bowl from the top of Peach's kennel nest and I had birds up there too! 2 of them stayed perched when I moved the bowl back to the ground... guess they called 'dibs'! and I can already feel the difference since I put the feed bags up... good.

I have to share this Epic Fail... but hey... she squatted for him

I take it from her position... that she doesn't know he's not up there anymore....

but then she gave his ego another boost by giving that big fluffy "after" shake...

Yancy's expression makes me laugh...

OMG this is sooo Harry 100%! Thank you, loved this post am still laughing!
He is in love with the BCM girls

They are really "patient"

It is getting colder here too and it is starting to spit snow..... they sent the kids home at 1 and they are driving me crazy. Lol. I have been getting 7-9 eggs a day. 9 so far today. Hoping for another double digits day soon. I have 14 possible layers including the 3 new hens. I guess it will take them a little bit to settle in and resume laying. I fed everyone and threw out some extra scratch. I also put more bedding in the coops. I think we will be fine.

On a gross note..... Ratchet had a dead rabbit this morning. Ugh... I didn't think I was ever going to get it away from him. Yucky!

Ugh, i don't miss those days! Toby, my best ever barn cat would bring them as gifts when he came in.. ALIVE~~!! and running in the house

He felt it was the appropriate gift to mamma! After Toby passed away, I rethinked the cat door

I hope other neighbors are stepping up with the husky situation, sounds as if they are, good luck!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

X2... Rumples laid her first real egg. It is a small pale blue egg. Oh joy!

Omg I got 2 eggs today!!!!!

Congrats guys!!

Quote:

Hope all who are in the cold zone don't have any trouble with the freezing cold temps. We are still waiting on rain. The hills should be green and grass covered this time of year. The dairy farmers and cattlemen are having to buy and truck in hay from out of state. Going to be expensive. On the bright side, it was a beautiful day, 71* , and is expected to be warm for the next 10 days. Maybe we'll have better luck with rain next month.
Hay is cheaper this year. Bales are $3 and the big rolls $35. But that's local!
I feel their pain, thats a huge expense with fuel prices too.
My baby goes thru a bale in a day or 2 and he is just a couple hundred pounds.. (with my 2 doe's help)
ugh I can imagine full grown cow costs.

I really hope you are blessed with rain soon. Spring is coming, maybe that will be some relief!

MC did you ever decide on turkeys? I really love my Bourbon Reds

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

We laid 4 quail eggs today.. -0- in all the coops.
I have 6 quail hens and 3 roos, setting all the eggs for now.
The eggs are really full of flavor, and I really want to try pickling the eggs also.
From what I read, very healthy too. Mom and Dad both like them hardboiled!
We grow out the chicks to 8 weeks and process. 15 went to freezer camp tonight, well in marinade I should say...
My breeders are all very friendly. Jump on your hands and even cluck and chatter to you. Really enjoy them!
Waiting for my geese and turkey to start laying too. Going to be an awesome year for babies!

 

[cheeka]

Janet - quail eggs are a delicacy - so many wonderful uses for those rich creamy eggs! guaranteed that pickling will be a big hit!

what types of marinades do you use? I love all kinds from citrus to balsamic vinegar... actually, the vinegar is my favorite for all kinds of meat...

it is 11 below without the wind chill this morning! almost 30 below with... at least we dodged the huge snow storm that made a mess downstate and to the east in New England. it's too cold for snow here...it's about 20 degrees warmer where it snowed a foot or more... at these temps, even my heated waterer won't function.

 

[Scrambles55]

@Wishing4Wings
I am told that Rumples is from the Ameraucauna(sp?) pen, but does not meet breed standard, therefore is EE. She is my favorite. Don't tell the others. I love that she is rumpless and has now decided to bless us with these beautiful blue eggs. :-D

 

[Scrambles55]

Rumples first real egg.

 

[lindz8504]

Rumples first real egg.

gorgeous color

 

[Whoops]

Rumples first real egg.

beautiful!

 

[chickenlindz]

Rumples first real egg.

So pretty!!!!