Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote: No, you're right. Brahmas aren't very wattle-y, but in the few hens I've seen, the small wattles join with their red face and earlobes to make nice big rosy "cheeks".

Here's a Dark Brahma I saw at a show. Doesn't he look bored? I don't remember their faces being this fuzzy.

Not surprising with my fuzzy memory. My hubs wants big massive SQ Light Brahmas. Maybe some day, but we'd have to make larger openings for the coop!

Pretty small wattles for such a manly guy!

 

[mortie]

Clindz- you're better off. The whole feeling up the chicken butt doesn't tell you much except the chicken has or has not laid and egg lately. Penny had the most narrow bones the once or twice I checked a couple of them...so that didn't work lol

 

[Scrambles55]

Ohhhh my Ameracauna are 18 weeks tomorrow! It's always a milestone for me now to reach 18 weeks. But they are very pale still so I think I have at least 6 wks. Unlike the rest of you I don't fondle my chickens privates for bone separation. Would really have no clue what to do

! My blue Ameracauna is such a bully tho to the baby polish!! I have such nice chickens except for her.

 

[Scrambles55]

I am a non-butt feeling kinda chicken lady. Right now, Smoke is the only squatter in the flock. When I had Lucy and Scrambles, they squatted for me also. If I rubbed their tail feathers, they would give me a feather shake.
It was 90+ today and tomorrow is supposed to be 100.

Lord have Mercy on my wicked soul......

Little Bit keeps jumping the gate to sleep with Rumples, but now she has figured out how to get back out, so.... she can keep sleeping with her mom. Rumples will not be alone at night. The other 3 pullets are sleeping in the coop under the watchful eye of Smoke. When Smoke wants to settle down and sleep.... she makes Penny take over. The pullets are suffering the pecking from the Big Girls if they get on the roost.

eta: I need a bigger coop.....................

 

[mortie]

Yeah when mine squat I give them a good back rub and they ruffle their feathers too. It's pretty funny. Poor penny squats if anyone even looks at her sideways. She is so sweet

 

[subhanalah]

Yeah...speaking of the hawk.  I was out lounging in my chair while the girls had some supervised range time and the darn thing swooped right through my yard not 15 ft off the ground.  The girls didn't even see it.  This might be the end of free range time until I stop seeing itt hanging around.

That's not fair to them. IMHO.
The Hawks won't leave.
If you want to be extra certain your chickens are safe, build them a covered run, otherwise youll be taking the chance.

Some people hang reflective tape and CDs to cause flashes of light as a deterrent. I guess that's another option.

 

[Judy]

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1. Quote:

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I'm seriously kidding myself if I think I will get eggs before the fall. It's too hot here, even though we are having a "cooler" spell of high 80's (but killer humidity). My cuckoo marans hopped on my shoulder yesterday and her feet were so hot, and she was panting away right in my ear. Oh well, I will keep hoping.

Anybody out there whose chickens first started laying during the hot part of summer??

I go off the 26 week point for most breeds. Some girls do go earlier. my leghorns started 18 weeks on the date. There are so many here of different ages I just collect now a few times a day. I get a lot of hens and roos here due to the stupid rezoning indiana is doing right now!

Indianapolis is changing a lot. been involved in this fight, its not looking good at all. We have a very active thread of people trying to fight this mess.Really hate that they cant see how this benefits our kids.

 

[TNchickmom]

Good morning from Tennessee!

 

[TNchickmom]

So I finally have my first egg! But I don't think it's from my cream legbars :-(. I believe it's the new Americana.
[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/

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400[/IMG]
Here are the bad girls lol. Does anyone see anything that might suggest molting or a reason for not laying since we brought them home 6 weeks ago?