Katkumo
Chirping
I wanted to share something I've done lately, and what I have noticed.
A few weeks ago, I set out to get reacquainted with my chickens, and learn just which egg each hen is laying. I did the 4H chick chain with my daughter a few times, and we had some older hens already, and I had noticed that I no longer could tell who laid what egg. My hens range from 1 year old to 4 years old, different breeds.
It's funny to hang out in the coop while they're laying. Some come in, sit for 45 min, lay NO egg, and leave. Some take half an hour just to choose a nesting box, then choose one that another hen is already in. It took, me about a week of trying to catch each of them laying.
So what I noticed, which was cool: The "egg song" does not mean they laid an egg, it is more about calling the rooster to come over. A hen might lay eggs slightly different colors from day to day, but they will be a very similar shape and size. When older hens steel chick starter feed from the baby chicks, their eggs start to look better. All the eggs went to pale with hardly any sheen on them, to rich colors again, smooth, and a beautiful sheen. I noticed a few other keepers of older hens give the starter feed every now and then just for this purpose.
I also learned that a few of my hens are not well at all. When they lay an egg (about once a week), the egg looks good, but they appear to have internal laying. These are Rhode Island Red hens from one of the online hatcheries, and they are about 3 years old.
So for what that's worth, I'd say it's good sometimes to watch your chickens, see which egg is theirs, and see what you can learn. I've had chickens for several years, not as long as some of you, and I still find it all fascinating.
A few weeks ago, I set out to get reacquainted with my chickens, and learn just which egg each hen is laying. I did the 4H chick chain with my daughter a few times, and we had some older hens already, and I had noticed that I no longer could tell who laid what egg. My hens range from 1 year old to 4 years old, different breeds.
It's funny to hang out in the coop while they're laying. Some come in, sit for 45 min, lay NO egg, and leave. Some take half an hour just to choose a nesting box, then choose one that another hen is already in. It took, me about a week of trying to catch each of them laying.
So what I noticed, which was cool: The "egg song" does not mean they laid an egg, it is more about calling the rooster to come over. A hen might lay eggs slightly different colors from day to day, but they will be a very similar shape and size. When older hens steel chick starter feed from the baby chicks, their eggs start to look better. All the eggs went to pale with hardly any sheen on them, to rich colors again, smooth, and a beautiful sheen. I noticed a few other keepers of older hens give the starter feed every now and then just for this purpose.
I also learned that a few of my hens are not well at all. When they lay an egg (about once a week), the egg looks good, but they appear to have internal laying. These are Rhode Island Red hens from one of the online hatcheries, and they are about 3 years old.
So for what that's worth, I'd say it's good sometimes to watch your chickens, see which egg is theirs, and see what you can learn. I've had chickens for several years, not as long as some of you, and I still find it all fascinating.
