Straub’s search for colored eggs

[Tstraub]

I hope the surgery goes well and healing is smooth. Good luck!!!

(PS the Bresse are so pretty)

Thank you

 

[Tstraub]

The layers are mostly done with their molt and coming back into lay. I collected 11 eggs today from 22 hens. That’s a lot better than the 3-5 eggs a day I’ve been getting for the past month

I did catch all the Bresse today and get them weighed. Still growing really well they are really feeling meaty.

 

[Tstraub]

I’m one week post knee surgery and I finally made it outside to see the chickens this morning. The surgery went well but the surgeon wasn’t able to make all the repairs he originally wanted to. That means for a quicker recovery but unfortunately I’ll very likely need a total knee replacement sometime in the next 5-15 years.

We had a pullet go lame the day after my surgery. My wife brought her inside and kept her in a dog crate. Honestly I would have probably dispatched her if I was in better shape but my wife wanted to give her a chance. After about 3 days of vitamins and rest the little pullet stood up and started limping around. We moved her out to the grow out pin. I think she’ll be ready to rejoin the flock in another day or two.

The Bresse are 19 weeks old and look like they are ready to lay any day now but still haven’t seen the first egg yet.

 

[Tstraub]

The weather forecast says 0F tomorrow night so I decided to return isolated pullet back into the main flock. So she could cuddle up with some friends for warmth. When I released her several of the hens ran over to her and they chased each other around for a bit. Nothing aggressive no raises heckles just playing.

She had no problem keeping up and climbed the ramp into the coop without any issues. Just a week ago she was at completely lame and I honestly thought it was going to be the end of her.

 

[Tstraub]

The previously lame pullet made it through the night and apparently got down off the high roost without issue. I never bothered to name her mostly because she looks very similar to most of my olive Eggers and she still hasn’t ever laid an egg so I’m not sure what color she lays. I’ve never really made a decision on whether she had anything to offer to the breeding program.

If I’m being honest about her assessment she grew slower than the rest, got sick and has never laid an egg at 7 months old. These are not qualities I’m looking to breed forward. She’s going to have to really impress me with egg color if she wants to stick around next time I run out of space.



In other news my doctor appointment went well yesterday. I am able to walk around the house a bit without crutches. I still need at least one crutch if I’m going to go any further than short walks from one room to another but having my hands available while walking has greatly improved things and I feel like I don’t have to ask for help doing things around the house.

Still off work for at least another 4 weeks. I’ll be starting physical therapy on Tuesday. Next doctor appointment in 4 weeks to evaluate my progress.

 

[Tstraub]

It’s been a cold few temperatures as low as 0F and wind between speeds 20-30 mph. The heated drinkers have been working well. Unfortunately it looks like one of the Bresse cockerels is experiencing some frostbite on his comb. This weather is hard on single comb birds.

 

[Tstraub]

I collected the first egg from the Bresse pin. I do have 3 pullets in the pin from my colored eggs flock but the shell color sure looks like it was one of the Bresse. They are 21 weeks and two days old today.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I collected the first egg from the Bresse pin. I do have 3 pullets in the pin from my colored eggs flock but the shell color sure looks like it was one of the Bresse. They are 21 weeks and two days old today.

View attachment 4272841

Congrats on your new egg and hopefully your on the mend, my friend.

 

[Tstraub]

Congrats on your new egg and hopefully you’re on the mend, my friend.

Thanks, The pain levels are tolerable. The newly injured knee is less painful than the one I wrecked 20 years ago. Just the normal weather related arthritis type aches and pains. What I’m still working on is strength, flexibility, and endurance. It works really well for the first 1/2 of the day but tightens up and gets pretty clumsy by the end of the day

Physical therapy is a double edged sword. I know it’s good for me but dang it’s a lot of work even my good leg is sore from the bike, squats, standing on one leg etc. I have been cleared to drive my car which helps me feel somewhat productive but I don’t think I have the control to jump back in the work truck and operate those air brakes just yet.

 

[Tstraub]

Egg haul for today 7 from the main coop and one from the Bresse pin. The smallest egg in the basket is a fairy egg from the main flock. I believe it is one of the Wyandottes coming back into lay after molt. Or maybe the jersey giant going out of lay to go broody. Her favorite nesting box was lined with feathers and her belly bare the other day. She’s still roosting up on the high roost but I expect she’ll be camping out in a nest box soon.