The inevitable humidity question, day before lockdown, help please!

[oregonkat]

The older pullet BCMxCCL lays damn near every day 6-7 per week,

Yup, mine too. Gotta love it!! Maybe it's the mutt factor. Don't tell them I said that

 

[aart]

Yup, mine too. Gotta love it!! Maybe it's the mutt factor. Don't tell them I said that

I dunno...hybrid vigor? I was worried that my OE would be lousy layers cause both CCL and Marans are not stellar ones.

 

[WVduckchick]

I find, at the moment, that my BCM hens are laying pretty much daily. I get maybe 4 eggs a week from my CCL right now but she just had a mini molt so I'm sure that put the brakes on somewhat.

Other question about the boxes, are they secured to anything or just free standing?

I ran just a couple screws into the rail behind the boxes. Doesn’t take much to make them pretty solid. They could free-stand, but my ground is a bit unlevel and they could be a little top heavy, since i used heavy plywood and it overhangs on top. I was just lazy and didn’t cut it to fit exact.

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, and I sure hope the BCMs pick up a bit. Going to be highly disappointed if they are poor layers.

To be honest, I really love the CLs, but not overly keen on the BCMs in general.

 

[oregonkat]

To be honest, I really love the CLs, but not overly keen on the BCMs in general.

Personality, looks, or ..... ?

 

[WVduckchick]

Personality, looks, or ..... ?

Hard to say really.... They are pretty and all, I guess I wish I had gotten blues, for one thing. Blacks are just... eh? Boring? The girls aren't super friendly, but they aren't too skittish either, which is perfect for me. I don't coddle my chickens, but I don't want ones that flee from me either.

The cockerel was very friendly growing up. Once I got rid of the other cockerels, he took his dominant spot. He came at me once, but after I backed his ass up with my booted leg, he hasn't done it again. He went running toward my husband one evening, but we aren't sure whether it was "threatening" or looking for treats lol! But I still keep one eye on him.
He did try to flog my dog the other day. Dudley (the pug) has always mingled with whatever breed happens to be in the yard on any given day. He basically doesn't pay any attention to them. (maybe sometimes too little attention) He ran across the yard, chasing a squirrel, and the cockerel followed and tried to jump him. Luckily I was right there, and yelled right as it happened, but I won't have him attacking my dog. I guess he's doing what comes naturally, so I don't really fault him. But I won't let him out anymore if he tries it again. Hopefully Dudley got the message to avoid that big one with the tall red comb! lol

This was 3 months ago, the chickens are much bigger now.

This was last Saturday:

 

[oregonkat]

He's a beauty for sure!! That is so interesting about his behavior. I have had 3 BCM roosters now and all have been absolute gentlemen in the true sense of the word. Never, ever had any incidents involving violence or the threat of it towards me or anyone else. My last one I got rid of thinking that he was being too hard on my hens but now I regret it. My current CCL roo is a moron and destined for his next rung on the ladder of reincarnation. Actually I might try and sell him because he is quite the specimen! Your hens are lovely too, not too much coppering in the necks which I like a lot.

I am going to start collecting materials for nesting boxes. My hens currently are occupying 7 nest boxes and battling constantly about whose turn it is and then sitting on each other, one wonders what really goes on between those ears!

 

[aart]

Hey, that one has 4 legs!!

I only have one Marans hen, she's a bit of a mess, bare assed/no tail and lays light and speckled torpedoes that don't hatch well. Had a Marans mix from that hatch, gorgeous dark eggs but serial broody, now gone. Yeah, sloppy local 'breeder'. There were a few others that I gave away as I only wanted a cock out of that hatch, will have to ask how they are laying but their cockerel rules the roost. Am pretty happy with the cockerel I kept, we had a couple go rounds but are now 'friends'.

The CCL's are neat birds, tiny little things, rather skittish...they really remind me of roadrunners at about 3 months....so they are all named MeepBeep.

The male BCMxCCL (they looked like CCL cockerels) were rather precocious, crowing early and 'mating' more aggressively that the other cockerels.

So one of my backcross (BCMxOE) pullets is getting ready to lay this morning!
While I was cleaning she was clucking and squawking and pacing, messing with nest bedding. Really excited to see what color she lays...and just to have more eggs, pickings are slim these days.

 

[WVduckchick]

There are so many things to make nest boxes from, I just had a vision one evening, and decided with the room in their pens, that vertical would work better. I still don't really like the placement, I need to move around some branch/roosts and probably move where I hang the feeder.

I always heard that BCM roos are normally laid back, and the breeder these eggs came from says his are sweet as pie. I think my fella was just trying to "court" me, and looking for a handout from hubby, but he definitely wanted a piece of the dog.

3 of my 8 girls are pretty much solid black, which is why I chose to keep a little heavier marked cockerel. I'd love you see your groups now!

I think I got 20 or so eggs yesterday (including identifying one frizzle bantam cochin egg, as she left the nest, Yeah!) But the BCMs skipped another day.

Hey aart, but sure and let us know what color you find in the box today! How much do yours crow throughout the day?

 

[oregonkat]

So one of my backcross (BCMxOE) pullets is getting ready to lay this morning!
While I was cleaning she was clucking and squawking and pacing, messing with nest bedding. Really excited to see what color she lays...and just to have more eggs, pickings are slim these days.

Yes, yes I want to see what color the egg is. This is another reason I'm kicking myself for getting rid of my BCM roo, I should have mated him back to his daughters for an even greener egg, ...... supposedly!! I guess if I mate my CCL roo with my BCMxCCL hens I stand a chance for a greener egg too???? Or not??