Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[chickenlindz]

Hello my name is Lindsey and I'm a chicken-a-holic.

I just bought 5 more chickies (silver laced wyandotte)

so I have 5 OE with squirt that are now about 5/6 weeks old, I have 13 eggs in the batot and want at least 5 girls to keep (will sell rest), and now I'll have 5 more girls coming in Nov.

If those 15 start next year I think I'll be good. I have 18 right now of laying age tho I'm not sure the two Ameraucana's are laying yet. I get anywhere from 8-10 eggs a day (4-6 eggs if they decided to start a new nest since it usually takes me a while to find it).

I'm still doing the hatchery birds because it's easy. I have the polish that I'm hatching and will probably spend next year investigating breeders. I just like the biosecurity that comes from the mail-order.

But since you all have said that your girls stop laying so soon I'll keep a good rotation of ages in my flock.

So we had our first fence fail yesterday. My friend brought her mutt (retriever/hound mix) over to play with Rawley yesterday and they had a blast. My friends dog Heidi is sooo quick it was quite hilarious to see Rawley try to keep up. Anyway we left them in the field together to sit inside for a bit once we knew they were getting along and not rough housing too much. Anyway as we're sitting there my husband looks over and says "Erin, Heidi got out of the field and is sitting at the sliding door". Apparently she dug under the fence gate and ran through the yard, came up the steps and sat on the deck looking in at us through the door. So glad she didn't detour to the chickens cause with her breeds I wouldn't trust her not to chase them. Meanwhile, Rawley was just content to lay next to the fence and chill!!! He's such a good boy.

 

[lindz8504]

Hey everyone! I took the day off of internet yesterday. Everyone had a great weekend free ranging. I candled Harriet's eggs last night and got rid of 3 obvious clears. That leaves her with 10 and she looks considerably more comfortable trying to cover those. I sat down and figured out exactly what all I have and who isn't going to make the cut before winter..... I have 38 now, counting the guineas and there are going to be at least 7 culled probably between now and Christmas. That's not counting any chicks Harriet hatches, and also the incubator babies that I am not sure if they are pullets yet. There are 2 definite rooster but the others I'm not sure yet.

 

[Scrambles55]

This thread has been quiet.

So far this morning, my reliable pullet Nugget is still a laying machine. She has not taken a day off since September 1. Today is project day. I have to clean the coop and run. Refresh the waters and feeders. I am considering using sand in the run instead of pine shavings. The pine gets dirty and sticks to the fruit I give to them.

Who wants to eat watermelon with yucky pine shavings coating it?

 

[chickenlindz]

I've been thinking about putting sand in our run once it's built. In my temporary run that they're in now (for about 5 min a day since they all free range) it's just dirt. It doesn't get to poopy or dirty but I think sand will just look nicer.

 

[Scrambles55]

I've read good things about sand. It looks better, its cleaner, easier to clean, keeps the smell down and drains well. I am going to switch to sand in the Spring. There is too much going on right now. Also... I think I will need a lot of sand. The run is 10x20.

 

[Hershy]

I read everyday, but haven't posted in a while. Things are busy with kids in school, and just had new windows and doors installed. Had the two obnoxious Roos sent to freezer camp. They will make yummy dinners down the road. The girls are still producing slowly, out of 8, we have been getting 2-4 a day. The EE are laying machines! I did find a mite the other day and will treat, but it really doesn't appear to be an infestation. We have a forest fire in Estacada OR, which is only about half an hour away and it is horribly smoky today. It's supposed to be hot too, so it'll probably be a while before they are under control
@ W4W, I ordered chicks from Papa Brooder who are now 3 months old, they are HUGE! Unfortunately, out of 13 straight run chicks, I only have 5 hens. I had hoped for better odds :/

 

[Scrambles55]

I gave the girls some kale for the first time today. I think they like it. Yay!! I got my second egg of the day. It was from Smoke. The texture and color of her eggs seems to be changing as she get older. They are not as smooth and have gone from a lovely mauve/brown color to a lighter multi colored egg. The shape is the same.

 

[Scrambles55]

Smokes egg from January is on the far left. Smooth... narrow

 

[Scrambles55]

Current egg. Multi colored and lumpy.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I read everyday, but haven't posted in a while. Things are busy with kids in school, and just had new windows and doors installed. Had the two obnoxious Roos sent to freezer camp. They will make yummy dinners down the road. The girls are still producing slowly, out of 8, we have been getting 2-4 a day. The EE are laying machines! I did find a mite the other day and will treat, but it really doesn't appear to be an infestation. We have a forest fire in Estacada OR, which is only about half an hour away and it is horribly smoky today. It's supposed to be hot too, so it'll probably be a while before they are under control

@ W4W, I ordered chicks from Papa Brooder who are now 3 months old, they are HUGE! Unfortunately, out of 13 straight run chicks, I only have 5 hens. I had hoped for better odds

The poor pullet/cockerel ratio is a huge topic on the California - Northern thread this summer. They are calling it the Year of the Cockerel.

I haven't posted there about my lucky Serama hatch.

Only 3 boys out of 9, so we felt really fortunate given what most everyone else is reporting. Actually, it's like we only got 2½ boys, the half being a little runty guy that is at the absolute bottom of the ladder and barely crows- no lung capacity!


What kind of mites did you find? They have been terrible this year. Good that you are treating before they have a population boom. Good to know about Jeff's Orps being big. I tried 2 Eng Orp chicks from someone else earlier this summer, and both were boys.

Jeff assures me these are 8 wk old pullets, and I think his birds are much nicer than the others, so I am really excited. What breed/colors of chicks did you get? Do you have any pics?

Totally agree about the EEs. That is one hatchery breed I won't hesitate to get!