Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Wishing4Wings]

Lynda, I can tell you that when the temps are above 20*, I need no coat. just a sweatshirt... from 0-20* I wear a light jacket. below zero and I pull out the heavy duty gear... I can tell the difference between 0* on down to -45* because different parts of me get affected. 0 through -10 and my fingertips burn after a few minutes working without gloves. -10 through -30, my snot freezes, and I can only go without gloves for about 30 seconds before it hurts. once it hits -40* or colder... any exposed skin starts to frostbite after about 30 seconds... if you get exposed to that for more than 2 minutes you can be in big trouble! I have had the moisture in my eyes freeze! I use my old ski goggles when it gets that cold, but it's pretty rare for it to get/stay that cold. in 2004, we endured 42 days in a row with temps at -30 or colder. it never went above -30. I got used to it toward the end, still bundled up of course, but... if it wasn't windy, I didn't think it was that bad... the wind is what makes everything burn so badly! lately, my face freezes every morning (and my boogies too...

)

6 Eggs so far - and 3 are still sitting - BR Betty, Marans Cosette, and EE Topaz... hoping to find all 3 of those and maybe 1 more so I can have 10...

I have a bunch of tiny - really bantam sized - eggs... that I'm starting to believe are bantam Marans Esther's eggs. she's 7 months old... looks ready too

she's so buxom... and adorable... the eggs are not dark brown, but the lady I got her from as a chick said that they may not all lay dark dark eggs...
if those eggs belong to a Cochin, I would think they would be bigger by now...
Guess who braved the cold to demand snacks?

I know it's Wilma... because she's got the white ankle tag... and Betty was in the nest... I had peeked...

Oh! and the boys are getting used to the Bag Balm applications - today went very smoothly, except for the white rooster, he still runs. I will go back out in a few to get the last eggs and see if he's roosting, it's easier to apply when he is...

Frozen snot....

Maybe have to put that on my bucket list. Maybe not. Brrrrrrrrrr

Esther is very cute! From what I've heard, Cochins lay fairly small eggs for their size. Don't know if it holds true for the bantams. Maybe I will get to find out. The big CA poultry show is this weekend in Stockton and I'm going. Yay! A BYCer is selling bantam cochins there, so if a few snuck into the car.... They can live with the Seramas.

 

[cheeka]

one of my Cochins that is definitely laying (a powdery off white) is not that small... def a pullet egg, but these others are really peewee, even Peach lays a decent sized egg for a bantam... I'll have to take some pics. Peach isn't laying at this time, but I have older pics...

 

[Chicken-Man]

sadly you can't force the eggs out (can you?) my comets layed about 5 months old (20weeks). Give them layer food (pellets), egg grit, meal worms and bugs. that may help.

 

[cheeka]

Chicken-Man!

and our little Waiting it Out Group! sometimes I think if I give one a squeeze... she might pop out an egg... we're all now waiting for egg laying to resume for the older girls and a few of us have 8 month old babies who haven't laid yet! soon we'll be waiting it out for some of those eggs to hatch! C'mon Spring! 55 more days!!!!!

 

[BullChick]

I am having a pretty good day! I went to TSC, and they had ONE rubber bowl left. And, it was misplaced in the dog isle (glad I decided to get a bag of dog food!). I found a pair of (Pepto pink!

) John Deere women's work gloves that fit me right. I should be able to get stuff done in the coop now without frost bite! The only pine bedding they had was outside, covered in snow. Good thing I didn't need much. They were almost out! I was lucky to find a few packs that (hopefully) aren't wet. I have not put the bedding out yet. I will.... In a few minutes (boy it has gotten late!!)
So! The rubber bowl (I know you guys all have them. I didn't need one until now!) should be heavy enough to not tip, is bigger, so more chickens can drink, won't break (the other bowl did this morning) and if they do figure out how to tip it, a brick or rock will fit inside!

Problem solving feels great! I worked out some other problems too! As far as the coop is concerned, I only have to add the bedding, put down some more DE, and tomorrow I have to add a lock to the pop door. Their fat butts sitting on the opened pop door has either twisted the wood, or bent a hinge. I just know it hasn't been closing all the way. I finally got it to stay shut with a folded mini-saw horse. Shovels, rakes etc. were not holding it shut. But, I should be able to get the work done wearing my warm(ish) new gloves tomorrow!
No idea on egg count yet. BBL!!

 

[cheeka]

woo hoo MC! you will love the rubber bowl - it's so easy to get frozen water out... and my largest one in the dome never gets tipped over. I'm so glad you are having a successful and good day! sure makes it easier to keep doing it day after day! my hens have kicked so much crud into the human door of the dome that I had to take a crowbar to chisel all the frozen stuff out so the door would close properly. I saw the Pepto Pink stuff at TSC - they have coveralls and jackets to match!

although, I'm sure if that was all I had, I would certainly wear it... glad I don't need it! it's pretty hideous!

 

[chickenlindz]

I love pink!!!
I went to TSC today too! I don't have a problem with them tipping water...but their food....omgoodness. They tip it all the time. I bought a bigger feeder and put it on a cinder block more in the middle of the coop so they can fit on all sides. Fingers crossed they don't spill it.

 

[lindz8504]

Here are some pictures from today!

Hershey and Snickers!


Olive- one of the new girls!

Jezebel

Blueberry..... (really need to figure out a new name for him!)

Eleanor- another of the new girls

Bantam cochin baby.....

One of the comets.... I think Harriet

Two of the new girls

Carmello and one of the marans boys....

Ratchet.... chewing on a stick!


AND I GOT 7 EGGS TODAY!!!!

 

[cheeka]

ooh lindz, the new girls are perty! all of my beardless and muffless EE's lay blue/green - lots of folks say they won't, but they do! Ratchet is growing fast! he's so cute!

 

[lindz8504]

ooh lindz, the new girls are perty! all of my beardless and muffless EE's lay blue/green - lots of folks say they won't, but they do! Ratchet is growing fast! he's so cute!

One of the new girls (Olive) supposedly lays olive colored eggs! My other EE's lay various shades of green, with one laying an almost blue. None of the new girls have laid this week, but I am hoping that they settle in quickly and start laying! I am also waiting on the 2 Marans girls and the 2 bantam cochin girls to start laying.... The cochins are TINY, so it may be awhile for them yet.... or their eggs may just be teeny weeny.
Ratchet is a handful! He is growing really fast... and he is very mischievous! He chews up EVERYTHING! Shew, I will be glad when the puppy stage is over....