The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Was planning on going up to the show but hubby smashed his truck and I was going to drive the truck up, but not now. It's possible the insurance company is going to total it as the cost of the repairs might be more than what the truck is worth according to the body shop it's at. We're waiting in the estimate.

 

[cmom]

My 3/26 chicks are now 31.5 weeks old, and still no eggs. Is it just because they are coinciding with the shorter days or is this abnormal?
These are my first true HRIR pullets, so I am not sure what is normal for them.

The normal age for the pullets to start to lay is 8 to 9 months. My RIW's are just starting to lay at around 26 weeks. I have 3 watt night light LED bulbs in all of my coops. I leave them on. It also helps since the birds are used to the lights, they will go into the coop in the evenings and I don't have to put them in. In years past many didn't want to go into their coop at night before I started leaving the lights on. Now I just go out and shut the pop doors. Many of my neighbors and some friends who have chickens have told me their birds have stopped laying during the molt. I'm still getting eggs though not quite as many but still around a dozen and a half a day. My Rhode Island Whites are my best layers.

 

[waddles99]

Guess who's going to the Ohio National next week? Bantam Red male. Hatched April 30.

He's looking good. Have you given any thought to what LF reds you're taking? Or is it still a tough call? I just thoroughly washed all my birds this past weekend and am going to give them a light bath as the show gets closer. Probably on the Tuesday before the show. I have them all in the barn right now in their own cage. I copied your idea of putting boards around the base to keep shavings from going everywhere. I stuck in some poles as roosts and then zip tied some fortiflex feeders to the side. I also zip tied welded wire to the cage to keep mice out.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Have you given any thought to what LF reds you're taking? Or is it still a tough call?

I entered two LF pullets on the registration. But that was mostly done with a "hope and a prayer". LOL

I've got hardly anything ready. We don't hatch these LF with "early" shows like this in mind. We just cannot when you're breeding way Up North. So, I'll coop in something, I suppose, but more as conversation pieces than anything else. I think the male above is very respectable. His full brother was the number one male, against fierce competition, at both Birch Run and Central Indiana. He's going too, I think, but his conditioning is starting wane. Too many shows.

I'll wash 4 or 5 Bantam pullets on Saturday. I still have almost idea which of them will be put into a tote on Thursday.

 

[waddles99]

I entered two LF pullets on the registration. But that was mostly done with a "hope and a prayer". LOL

I've got hardly anything ready. We don't hatch these LF with "early" shows like this in mind. We just cannot when you're breeding way Up North. So, I'll coop in something, I suppose, but more as conversation pieces than anything else. I think the male above is very respectable. His full brother was the number one male, against fierce competition, at both Birch Run and Central Indiana. He's going too, I think, but his conditioning is starting wane. Too many shows.

I'll wash 4 or 5 Bantam pullets on Saturday. I still have almost idea which of them will be put into a tote on Thursday.

I can't wait to see some of the bantam reds. I think I like the bantams more and more with each show I go to. They've definitely grown on me. I am partial to LF though. My single red hen I was telling you about I'm thinking of not taking. She's not looking too nice these days. I think I'm just going to focus on my Ameraucanas for this show. Its a shame, because I really wanted you to take a look at her and tell me what you think. I just dont know if I want to waste precious crate space for an 8 hour drive for something that isn't even in that good feather.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, that's nice of you to say. Others who have seen your hen have only said great things. Feel good about her. But, now it's time to think beyond the show career she's had and it's been stellar. I enjoy showing my work. I enjoy the camaraderie and particularly love seeing the birds and all the chicken talk. Catching up with friends is also important to me. Seeing people face to face is far more important than all the artificial silliness and sadness that invades "social media" these days. Good old fashioned conversation in the aisles and over supper is far, far superior.

 

[waddles99]

Well, that's nice of you to say. Others who have seen your hen have only said great things. Feel good about her. But, now it's time to think beyond the show career she's had and it's been stellar. I enjoy showing my work. I enjoy the camaraderie and particularly love seeing the birds and all the chicken talk. Catching up with friends is also important to me. Seeing people face to face is far more important than all the artificial silliness and sadness that invades "social media" these days. Good old fashioned conversation in the aisles and over supper is far, far superior.

I'm still in the learning phase, so I do far much more listening than talking with people at these shows. I just love the atmosphere of these shows. This is my first time going to Ohio and I have heard pretty good things about it. I can't say the other members of my family share the same excitement over driving 8 hours for a "chicken show" but I can't wait

.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Washed two LF pullets today for the National. I'll wash two more tomorrow.

Washing the large fowl is not a chore for me, but a delight. The birds relax in the warm bath and handling them, making them feel secure while doing it creates a good handling bond with them. They take to it. Today was freakily warm for early November, with the temp hitting 71F under a warm sunny blue sky. The birds dried within a few hours all by themselves. No blow drying needed today.

Tomorrow promises a duplicate day, so maybe I'll remember to shoot a couple of photos.

These were the bantam K's. Unlike the LF, these guys are crazy squirmy and feisty. The bath didn't help calm them much. LOL

 

[cmom]

Washed two LF pullets today for the National. I'll wash two more tomorrow.

Washing the large fowl is not a chore for me, but a delight. The birds relax in the warm bath and handling them, making them feel secure while doing it creates a good handling bond with them. They take to it. Today was freakily warm for early November, with the temp hitting 71F under a warm sunny blue sky. The birds dried within a few hours all by themselves. No blow drying needed today.

Tomorrow promises a duplicate day, so maybe I'll remember to shoot a couple of photos.

These were the bantam K's. Unlike the LF, these guys are crazy squirmy and feisty. The bath didn't help calm them much. LOL

Your birds look content.

My birds are good about getting their show baths too.
After their baths the get wrapped in a towel like a burrito. Then I can check their feet and legs as well as their combs and wattles.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yup. That's how it's done.