This is what happens... We have peepers!

[FluffTheDuck]

Best layers, sure, for the first year of their life. I want my birds to last longer than that. Their personalities are "intense". That's a good word for it. If they're friendly, they're then intensely friendly, but if they're average or mean then they beat up the others or bite you. Ask me how I know.

Oh, how do you know?

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh, how do you know?

Ten birds and a lot of scars later, I just know.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Lol.

 

[Molpet]

the ISA Browns were supposed to be the best layers and biggest eggs

I have 2, they will be 3 end of April
great layers the first 18 months, then the eggs are too big to get in a carton and thin shelled. One has quit laying and the other occasionally lays... unassembled eggs

 

[ShrekDawg]

Best layers, sure, for the first year of their life. I want my birds to last longer than that. Their personalities are "intense". That's a good word for it. If they're friendly, they're then intensely friendly, but if they're average or mean then they beat up the others or bite you. Ask me how I know.

Leghorns are really nice. They lay incredibly well and live longer (on average) than sexlinks. They aren't in-your-face or pecky, but they aren't lethargic either. They can take care of themselves. I actually got 11 a few weeks ago. Was going to get 25 but this is all they had.

Oh, how do you know?

Ten birds and a lot of scars later, I just know.

Lol.

I have 2, they will be 3 end of April
great layers the first 18 months, then the eggs are too big to get in a carton and thin shelled. One has quit laying and the other occasionally lays... unassembled eggs

Oh wow! They sound terrible!! Thanks for the warning, guys. The leghorns sound cool though!! I am getting a white Leghorn with my April chick order!

 

[Conan]

I have 2, they will be 3 end of April
great layers the first 18 months, then the eggs are too big to get in a carton and thin shelled. One has quit laying and the other occasionally lays... unassembled eggs

Unassembled! Great term for it! This is my experience as well. Wrinkled eggs, eggbound, reproductive cancers, etc.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Unassembled! Great term for it! This is my experience as well. Wrinkled eggs, eggbound, reproductive cancers, etc.

That sounds awful. I love my girls so I think I would hate that.

 

[BantyChooks]

That sounds awful. I love my girls so I think I would hate that.

And then you get dead hens with this in them. It was one of the worst things I've smelled in my life. Like eggs and raw milk left to sour and then half-warmed in a microwave.

 

[ShrekDawg]

And then you get dead hens with this in them. It was one of the worst things I've smelled in my life. Like eggs and raw milk left to sour and then half-warmed in a microwave.
View attachment 1721963

Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!! What is that!?

 

[BantyChooks]

Eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!! What is that!?

Internal laying. The yolks go into the body cavity and it gets really infected.