Utah!

[La Casa de Pollo]

Sphinx, no I won't keep this Polish Boy, I really love him though Just not ready to keep a rooster yet.

Cynthia, Yes my last one to lay in a month is the sister (same hatch) to yours. The two Wheatens that started laying just lately were born exactly one month before those last ones, so it should be a month ish. I tell you what...so far on ALL the Wheatens/Blue Wheatens---they get blood-red right around the mouth and eyes all of a sudden, then start laying right after that. My NN still has a boyish look...stocky legs, not much tail, big wattles and comb, but the good thing is no red to them at all yet. Still crossing fingers! I have an EE pullet that sure looked like a boy for a long time. I love this little NN, it is the sweetest, friendliest little baby. I open the coop door and it just comes running and it is really easy to pet and hang out with. My son calls it Larry lol--
I really hope that is not jinxing it, I keep telling him it will be his fault if it turns out to be a boy.

Speaking of EE leghorn mixes, Daloorashens is letting me buy one of hers Smiley cartwheels I just have to get to Idaho Falls to pick it up. For sure going at Thanksgiving, but maybe sooner. If anybody goes to Idaho Falls---haha---holler You GOTTA meet Mesha. Total chicken addict like myself! Woot!

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Daloorashens, just saw you posted. You look young too haha you guys are just little young-uns!

I do run lights, I have mine on a timer, they come on at 6 am to 9 am, then again from 5 pm to 8 pm. I adjust it with the sun changing....but basically they get the dark from 8 pm to 6 am....seems to work, mine all laid through the winter last year.

I also have rope lights around the outside on a timer to come on at dark to keep little sneaky predators at bay...plus it looks cute from my kitchen window. The girls don't get much light from that though, other than a little glow through their window. I kind of feel bad if the inside lights just go out on the timer quick, and they are not ready...so the glow from the outside gives them just enough to see to get to their roost...or at least help them find a comfy spot to sleep. I have a night light in there on a sensor, that I used for the same purpose, but now the rope lights glow enough that I turned the night light bulb off.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Oh I was going to add....I cleaned out the coop today and changed over to the heated waterer....the forecast is looking pretty chilly! Yuk! Here we go..... (countdown to warm spring days begins.....)

 

[Daloorashens]

LOL, thanks Lisa, you're awesome=) Your pullet is welcome here as long as she needs to stay=) She is quite pretty, actually, I was looking at her again today, hope she lays lovely eggs for you!

Yes, let the countdown begin... at least we have all the holidays to look forward to, I love playing Christmas music in the house while I'm doing my spring cleaning and stuff, not I'll be hunting for an incubator by Christmas at the LATEST... SOO excited... been watching ebay for one of those Genesis 1588's, hopefully I get lucky=)

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I can't wait to get her I have been wanting one of those, when they hatched I did not think I would have room....but after the boys are cleared out it worked out great! I have already picked out my keepers and who I will trade for a few Spring chicks Some of my older girls are really slowing down.

I cannot wait to start hatching either I love the babies so so so much. I am thinking I will set eggs in January, to hatch in early Feb....and a few through end of March. I am hoping I will have what I want and be done this year a little earlier than 4th of July lol! This Spring lasted forever at my house.

 

[RedIII]

Cynthia, yes, I've got one of the leghorn mixes. She's staying about the same size as my Exchequer leghorn, but she has the features of an EE. Almost like a semi-mini EE. Her face has gotten some gradual pink to it over the last little while, but she isn't going red yet. Personally, I think they're all holding out on me. I've got a half dozen girls out there that are pink in the face and old enough to lay, but none of them are red

Wow, that turned into a grumpfest fast. Sorry.

Lisa, lucky. I still have doubts about my black Am girl being a girl. Urg. She's got spur nubs starting on her legs and spiky feathers around the neck, but her tail and build is different from the cockerel I've got. I won't know for sure on that one until she crows or lays. And the blue Am is still a mild pink in the face. I think it's going to be a while before I see anything from her. She's so small. She has gotten friendlier of late, same with the black Am "girl". I hope it isn't too long before they lay. I really would love someone that lays one of those minty green eggs.

Well, based on the eggs I've been finding over the last couple of weeks, I do believe that my girls have slowed down for the season. My BSL is now the most faithful layer, with my BO being almost as reliable. My RIR has gotten stingy. And, I have absolutely no idea what's going on with new layer status. I found an egg the other day that I was dead certain was a Wyandotte egg, and the next day I found one that looked similar to the BSL's eggs - except she had already laid her egg in a different spot, and at about the same time. For all I know, I could have one, two, or even three new layers out there. With the decreasing sunlight, it's hard to get a peg on who's doing what, since they lay so sporadically.

 

[themadchicken]

I installed my new thermal cube today. I have two water's plugged into the cube. Also got my lights set up in the coop on a timer. Still toying with the idea of some type of heater in the coop. Still trying to figure out how the hang it from the roof studs but make it 100 per cent fire proof. I ran a light all night long last winter, but i really don't want to do that again this year. I seen the heater setup in a breaders coop but then his chickens never left the building. It was a constant temputer all year long. Has anyone else used a heater in their coops?

 

[Cynthia12]

Sasha..have you got that bator yet? If so, any eggs in there yet? lol...

 

[aravis227]

I have a question about nipple waterers. I'd like to go that route, for those who have them, do you have a system in the coop and one in the run?

 

[Cynthia12]

Hi aravis!

Can't help you with your question, but hope all is well. Those babies grow fast don't they? I bet Brad..birdman..can help you..I think he is one with it? There are a couple on here that will know.

I have 5 babies out, and one working on it. I have a feeling that's what I will end up with. No more pips.