Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[lularat]

Same here, I couldn't process my girls. They have become my pets. I would have to start with new chickens and have very little to do with them, except feed and do the bare essentials. And whatever I do, not name them and still don't know if I could.

Ronott.... Those are beautiful chickens.
I am not sure that I could process one of my girls. Luckily, I have not been in the position to make that decision.

It is raining like heck here. The girls are huddled in the area of the pen that is covered. I am going to try and talk DH into extending the roof a bit. At least 3 more feet. That will give them another 30sq feet of dry pen area. We are also going to winterize the pen a bit. Since Rumples has to sleep in her own area, we are going to hang a heat lamp for her. It will be in a spot that can be shared by the others outside. The temps here are dropping down to around 14F at night.

So glad it doesn't get that cold here. We are supposed to get to around 30F here toward the end of the week at night and 50's in the daytime. And that's cold for this time of year. I don't mind the cold weather, but I can't stand the cold wind.

 

[lindz8504]

Well I got 3 of them done. I was running out of daylight and my back is killing me! I did the two younger roosters and one of the hens. She was the first hen I have done. She still had eggs on her ovary but they weren't developing and there was lots of fat on her organs. I'm satisfied with this decision. It was hard but she had a great life and a quick death. My big black copper marans and the other hen will get a little more time.

 

[ronott1]

Well I got 3 of them done. I was running out of daylight and my back is killing me! I did the two younger roosters and one of the hens. She was the first hen I have done. She still had eggs on her ovary but they weren't developing and there was lots of fat on her organs. I'm satisfied with this decision. It was hard but she had a great life and a quick death. My big black copper marans and the other hen will get a little more time.

Good Job!

 

[lindz8504]

Well I got 3 of them done. I was running out of daylight and my back is killing me! I did the two younger roosters and one of the hens. She was the first hen I have done. She still had eggs on her ovary but they weren't developing and there was lots of fat on her organs. I'm satisfied with this decision. It was hard but she had a great life and a quick death. My big black copper marans and the other hen will get a little more time.

Good Job!

Thanks!

 

[lynnc1120]

Well I am pretty happy, This week my RIR red started laying, so now I have three out of three laying hens. Most days I get three, some days 2. My black austrolorp is SO loud when she lays, and Rosie makes a racket before... poor neighbors. Then Pip, my Barred rock doesn't make any noise, goes into the nest box, does her Thang and comes out pleased with herself and pops her head into the feed box. So quiet and so sweet.

 

[chickenlindz]

I think I got 5 today.

Hubby is working on the permanent run. I'm in love!!!

Also trying to teach Rawley that chickens are our friends!

 

[Scrambles55]

Well I am pretty happy, This week my RIR red started laying, so now I have three out of three laying hens. Most days I get three, some days 2. My black austrolorp is SO loud when she lays, and Rosie makes a racket before... poor neighbors. Then Pip, my Barred rock doesn't make any noise, goes into the nest box, does her Thang and comes out pleased with herself and pops her head into the feed box. So quiet and so sweet.

Congrats on the new layer.

 

[Scrambles55]

I think I got 5 today.

Hubby is working on the permanent run. I'm in love!!!


Also trying to teach Rawley that chickens are our friends!

You are a lucky woman and WoW!!... Rawley is huge!!! I remember when he was a little fuzzball.

 

[Scrambles55]

The chicken pen is ready for the cold (I hope). We put an infrared lamp out for Rumples and a heated waterer. I hate that I have to flip the darn thing upside down to fill it. It is a pain when it is freezing cold out, but Rumples and Little Bit do not use much. It should be ok for a once a week refill. The other girls have their waterer on the heated base of the old heated waterer. I hope it will be okay. If not... I will have to get a different base.

TWO!!! Nothing from the slacker Ameraucanas yet. Grrrr................

 

[lynnc1120]

[COLOR=800080]Congrats on the new layer.[/COLOR]

Thank you scrambles55. Actually they are all three new layers within the last three weeks and I am still so excited to go out there and get my nice warm eggs. I am new to backyard chickens. Seemed like such a long wait but SO worth it!!