Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[okallthis4eggs]

Bah humbug.

I spent the better part of two hours trying to trap one of my fish today and he steadfastly refuses to be trapped.  This is the second time I've tried to trap this little jerk and he is just laughing in my face.

A couple of months ago I had a very deadly parasite go through my aquarium.  It killed almost all of my fish.  The survivors had to be removed to another temporary tank and the main tank had to be free of fish for 8 weeks to be sure it was gone.  This one fish refuses to be caught.  A net won't work.  I even tried draining the whole tank to get him out.  couldn't get him.  This is very frustrating.  I need to get every last fish out of there before the clock can start on the 8 weeks.  I've been neglecting trying to get him out but today I thought I would have another try.  Nope.  ARGH.  Too smart for his own good.

Have you tried Dynamite? ( in a small dose) It makes fish easy to catch.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

No they're completely impossible to catch with a net. They just hide in the rocks and those can't be moved. This is the culprit. You know....now that I think of it he kinda looked barred. And he likes to hang out on rocks.... Maybe he is a distant relative of [COLOR=FF0000]she who must not be named[/COLOR]. That would explain a LOT.

I'm feeling better. Ya'll haven't been talkin bad bout me have you?

 

[mortie]

Have you tried Dynamite? ( in a small dose) It makes fish easy to catch.

This is a GREAT idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I'm sure the aquarium glass would withstand a small amount of dynamite....there's something to consider.

Oh hey Roger! Nice to see you! Whatcha been up to? I don't know why you would think we're talking bad about you. I've heard nothing but good things!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

It appears the Golden Girls...aka Golden Comets may have run their course. One appears to be slipping away. Losing feathers......poopy bottom.......and none of them are laying like they did. They were automatic for eggs in their prime. Four of them were good for at least three eggs a day and most days they were perfect with all four laying. Really expect to lose the sick one soon. Found her on the roost when I got home away from the rest of the flock. Everybody else seems fine. I have heard that hatchery Comets don't have a long life expectancy. Will keep you posted.

 

[mortie]

Awww, OK, sorry to hear some of your girls are declining. How old are they? My original plan was to get some of these. One of the down sides of chickens, or so I read. Short life expectancy.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Awww, OK, sorry to hear some of your girls are declining.  How old are they?  My original plan was to get some of these.  One of the down sides of chickens, or so I read.  Short life expectancy.  

A little over two years old. Now start over reading this thread you missed the very first post....lol I'm just joking. Glad you joined us. My first four birds were the Golden Comets. Then a couple BR's or one. And it all went downhill from there.

 

[mortie]

Oooooh right. I actually did start reading this from the start (I am currently about halfway through 2013. I left off where Roger had a baby...will continue in a little bit. Duh. I totally forgot this all started out with you wondering when your girls would start laying lol. Aww man...only 2 years? Seems like a person like me who can only have 4 better be in a constant state of hatching new chicks. Except that would be illegal. Dangit.

 

[Artful Codger]

As you ask with elation
Status of our situation
Retirement brings a new vocation
Planting, harvest, irrigation

Also house renovation
And tractor restoration
In a new localization
Chickens still a machination

Will be months to realization
Of chicken materialization
With the eggs for consummation
To give us great gratification

All poetic license aside, the chicken house is a pile boards, insulation, siding and tin. Have some poles and wire still in rolls. The chicken house and safe yard area are an old setting for a double wide modular home. Deadmen need to come out and the indentation needs to be filled in. It does have access to water, electricity and even sewer if need be. Think I can train them to go in a toilet and flush?? Chickens will be free range/yard ornaments with a safe yard and house because we have about every predator known to man with the exception of possums.

Chickens will have to wait on the house, tractor, planting this spring.....

Later

Artful Codger

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Oooooh right.  I actually did start reading this from the start (I am currently about halfway through 2013.  I left off where Roger had a baby...will continue in a little bit.  Duh.  I totally forgot this all started out with you wondering when your girls would start laying lol.  Aww man...only 2 years?  Seems like a person like me who can only have 4 better be in a constant state of hatching new chicks.  Except that would be illegal.  Dangit.

I had to go back to find the answer to your question. Thought it was funny that the very first post told me the answer. So knowing your good sense of humor I couldn't resist. My understanding is heritage breed birds lay slower but lay and live longer. That has been what I am working with. The team of brilliant chicken people here on this thread are who I rely on and know this stuff. My understanding is after a couple years hens are past their prime as far as laying goes. I believe I also read that sex link hatchery birds expire at a early age or sooner than the heritage breed birds who lay slower and live longer. I also understand that the only way a BR will die is remove their head or remove their PIE

 

[mortie]

Yeah I can't believe I missed that. Duh, I mean it's the title of the thread!

My chicks are from a breeder, they're a little fancier than the hatchery sex links that I wanted to go with at first. Hopefully they'll last a little longer. This little enterprise starts to lose a lot of its....well at the very least egg value if I am constrained to such small numbers and they don't live long. I will learn as I go I imagine.

Buuuuuuut here I am counting my chickens before they hatch again. So far I have ZERO chickens. All I have are 24 viable eggs. One step at a time.