The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Show off!

 

[delisha]

Egg laying and discovery is always so much fun. I also found a different egg this morning. I was not really sure when I picked it up, it seemed somehow different than any other egg I have had, so I brought it in and did a comparison to all my eggs for the last three days, yup, a new pullet is laying.
.
I have two pullets so for me it is not that hard to tell who is laying. The cockerel only is romancing one of them. She still runs from him and i find that quite odd. Usually the cockerel is breeding before the egg. Hence my supprise on the different egg.


We each have different experiences. I have always said you should be able to tell who layed what egg and it is important to know. As I have been experience new things through others eyes, I can say i am probably wrong in that statement for everyone. It works for me. It does not mean it should be important to you. It works for others quite successfully not to know who layed what egg.

 

[aoxa]

Egg laying and discovery is always so much fun. I also found a different egg this morning. I was not really sure when I picked it up, it seemed somehow different than any other egg I have had, so I brought it in and did a comparison to all my eggs for the last three days, yup, a new pullet is laying.
.
I have two pullets so for me it is not that hard to tell who is laying. The cockerel only is romancing one of them. She still runs from him and i find that quite odd. Usually the cockerel is breeding before the egg. Hence my supprise on the different egg.


We each have different experiences. I have always said you should be able to tell who layed what egg and it is important to know. As I have been experience new things through others eyes, I can say i am probably wrong in that statement for everyone. It works for me. It does not mean it should be important to you. It works for others quite successfully not to know who layed what egg.

I'd love to know who is laying what. I do know a few of the layers and who laid them, but definitely not all. I can't even tell any of the Pennies apart except one we call Penny Blue Foot, as she has Blue Kote on one of her legs. That's about it.

Though some are laying and some clearly aren't (their wattles and combs are still small and pink).

I think every hen should leave a signature on her egg. Make it easier for us and no guessing.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

I think every hen should leave a signature on her egg. Make it easier for us and no guessing.

Just had that same conversation last week with DH. Monagramed eggs would be nice!

 

[Leahs Mom]

When my first girls were about 16 weeks old I got 6 ceramic eggs (from a hardware store in an Amish area!) I put 2 eggs in each of the 3 nest boxes. Before 16 weeks, we had a board screwed over the box entrance so no one even knew they were there at that point. So we removed the board and I placed 2 eggs in each and left them there until they started to lay.

After I started getting an egg or 2 (real) I removed 1 egg from each next box and only left 1. Then when it appeared that they were all laying, I completely removed all the fakes.

I think having the fakes in there may have given them a clue to where I wanted them to lay since there were no older ladies to teach them. Not sure, but it seems to have worked and the only time I got an egg anywhere else was the one that was under the roost very early in the morning before dawn.

 

[delisha]

I have never had 100's of egg layers at one time. I have not had 10 different breeds at one time either. I have my special colllection of cross bred mutts that lay a different colored brown egg. Last year was my first year with English, and this the first time I have a pure Heritage breed. They are all brown.I have only had brown eggs.

 

[Melabella]

I hear you all there. Usually I am out in that barn from when the kids go off to school, unitl they get back off the bus. It's been so cold though, I haven't even ridden in two weeks.

The forecast here is actually supposed to get into the 40's by weeks end... That will be super! I have a hay loft to clean out and dust cob webs.

I am dying to put a hencam in my coop and watch and see.. not sure if those work in a small space like that. aoxa, that is what you need in that barn of yours,, a close circuit barn cam.. Imagine the fun we would all have like that? I have been to another website a woman has where she has that set up. While I was waiting for my chicks to arrive, I would watch that for hours! Informative too, she had some great info. That is where I learned to put the big clod of grass in the brooder pen from outside with a big clump of dirt on it... boy did those chickies have fun with that. It was like their little fantasy island when I put that in there!

Ah baby pictures.. makes me miss the good ol days of no roosters trying to damage my face, or big poops everywhere!

 

[aoxa]

When my first girls were about 16 weeks old I got 6 ceramic eggs (from a hardware store in an Amish area!) I put 2 eggs in each of the 3 nest boxes. Before 16 weeks, we had a board screwed over the box entrance so no one even knew they were there at that point. So we removed the board and I placed 2 eggs in each and left them there until they started to lay.

After I started getting an egg or 2 (real) I removed 1 egg from each next box and only left 1. Then when it appeared that they were all laying, I completely removed all the fakes.

I think having the fakes in there may have given them a clue to where I wanted them to lay since there were no older ladies to teach them. Not sure, but it seems to have worked and the only time I got an egg anywhere else was the one that was under the roost very early in the morning before dawn.

I never remove my fake eggs. I use golf balls. They always go to the nests where the golf ball is. If there is no golf ball, they will still lay in the nest, but then there is a cue for that nest

 

[aoxa]

I hear you all there. Usually I am out in that barn from when the kids go off to school, unitl they get back off the bus. It's been so cold though, I haven't even ridden in two weeks.

The forecast here is actually supposed to get into the 40's by weeks end... That will be super! I have a hay loft to clean out and dust cob webs.

I am dying to put a hencam in my coop and watch and see.. not sure if those work in a small space like that. aoxa, that is what you need in that barn of yours,, a close circuit barn cam.. Imagine the fun we would all have like that? I have been to another website a woman has where she has that set up. While I was waiting for my chicks to arrive, I would watch that for hours! Informative too, she had some great info. That is where I learned to put the big clod of grass in the brooder pen from outside with a big clump of dirt on it... boy did those chickies have fun with that. It was like their little fantasy island when I put that in there!

Ah baby pictures.. makes me miss the good ol days of no roosters trying to damage my face, or big poops everywhere!

I did the same! They do love that clod of grass!

 

[Sally8]

Yay!!!  On the egg under the roost...I had ONE of those when mine first started laying...but only one.  At first I was thinking that was going to continue but it didn't. 

I have a theory but not sure it's true.  I'm thinking that since egg laying is so new to them they sometimes don't realize it's imminent and then, plop!  Then with a little experience, they know to get to the box before it's too late! 

Anyone else have an idea/experience on this?

Twice I had this happen with 2 different pullets newly laying. My DL was so deep they never cracked! Another reason to use DL.

TURKEYS. Well I love mine too. Rosie did stop a hawk attack in progress with a hen. But she won't stay home and the neighbors openly admit to shooting her with air guns "because it doesn't hurt" they said. It is their property, not mine, so what can i do? We also had a dog and 2 cats killed in the road this past year. Both turkeys pace back and forth all day when confined. I just can't justify it. I work long hours. I found a home for both of them where they won't be eaten. My heart breaks.