Utah!

[eggsbert]

One of our Ameraucanas laid her first egg today! It's not quite as blue as I hoped (it's more a pale seafoam), but I am pleased she's laid at last!
In the picture above is a large store bought brown (bottom), the Ameraucana's FIRST egg, and three eggs laid by our Australorps. Very disappointed with our Australorps, not laying. Those lazy birds.

Not sure, but when I was looking at our fresh eggs the difference in color and shape kind of made me think it was more than one girl laying, but I only ever caught Jessie in the nest box. Some of the eggs were a more golden brown and the others a reddish brown (see the egg on the left? it's much rounder and has a golden hue compared to the two on the right)

How much color variation do you guys get in your colored egg layers or do they generally stay the same tone but just lighter/darker?

 

[acemario]

One of our Ameraucanas laid her first egg today! It's not quite as blue as I hoped (it's more a pale seafoam), but I am pleased she's laid at last! In the picture above is a large store bought brown (bottom), the Ameraucana's FIRST egg, and three eggs laid by our Australorps. Very disappointed with our Australorps, not laying. Those lazy birds. Not sure, but when I was looking at our fresh eggs the difference in color and shape kind of made me think it was more than one girl laying, but I only ever caught Jessie in the nest box. Some of the eggs were a more golden brown and the others a reddish brown (see the egg on the right? it's much rounder and has a golden hue compared to the two on the right) How much color variation do you guys get in your colored egg layers or do they generally stay the same tone but just lighter/darker?

Congrats on the eggs! The green one looks great! It's always fun to get those colored eggs. If you are looking for a light blue color, I would recommend a Wheaten Ameracauna. My hens always lay the same color and shape of eggs. The torpedo is my SLW. The speckled a are my crosses, the more glossy is my cuckoo marans. Etc...

 

[eggsbert]

Congrats on the eggs! The green one looks great! It's always fun to get those colored eggs. If you are looking for a light blue color, I would recommend a Wheaten Ameracauna.

My hens always lay the same color and shape of eggs. The torpedo is my SLW. The speckled a are my crosses, the more glossy is my cuckoo marans. Etc...

My girl is supposed to be a purebred Wheaten Ameraucana (and she looks the part, but the egg doesn't). I got her from Desert Springs locally. Maybe her sister will lay bluer eggs.

Maybe two of the Australorps were laying at one point then, but neither are doing anything now (bad birds).


EDIT: Reposting a pic from earlier. The front two on the right are the Ameraucanas. Jessie is the GOOD Australorp in the center, Jamie is to her right (maybe she was laying? I don't know). Then the Fav and the cochin... I know, I really ought to name everyone but I figure I'll just name them as they start laying.



I really can't complain too much. Considering the egg strike, it's a Christmas miracle anyone's laying at all!

 

[Spinning Carrie]

Does anyone else on the board live in Kaysville? I've looked at my city ordinances and it looks like I will be allowed to have 7.35 chickens (I think I'll forgo the .35), and I've emailed just to make sure I don't need a permit. I'm going through coop designs to narrow down what I want, and my daughter and I have spent a lot of time looking at chicken breeds. Does anyone have suggestions as to where to get chicks? I know IFA and Cal-Ranch carry them, but does anyone else sell them on a smaller scale?


Thanks!
Carrie

 

[teria]

Does anyone else on the board live in Kaysville? I've looked at my city ordinances and it looks like I will be allowed to have 7.35 chickens (I think I'll forgo the .35), and I've emailed just to make sure I don't need a permit. I'm going through coop designs to narrow down what I want, and my daughter and I have spent a lot of time looking at chicken breeds. Does anyone have suggestions as to where to get chicks? I know IFA and Cal-Ranch carry them, but does anyone else sell them on a smaller scale?


Thanks!
Carrie

I can't answer the Kaysville questions, but, as far as chicks, a lot of the feed stores carry them in February and March. If you are looking for specific breeds, you may want to either check with your local feed store and ask if they can order some in for you to choose from (sometimes they will do this without requiring you to buy a minimum number because they can sell the ones you don't choose, but, they may limit your choices to breeds they can expect a large turnover on), You can order from a hatchery, but, then you may end up with many more chicks than you are allowed. I ordered 8 chicks and ended up with 15 because they included "packing peanuts" (extra chicks) to keep the 8 warm during transport. I found someone to take the packing peanuts off my hands, and good thing because they were all roosters. Local farmers won't typically have chicks til early Spring but a hatchery has them pretty much all year long, moreso in Spring and Summer, and with it being Winter they will either require a large purchase or include many extras for warmth.

I know there are several on this board that may have chicks soon. Are you planning to start your flock now or in the Spring? That will change your options quite a bit.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

Does anyone else on the board live in Kaysville?  I've looked at my city ordinances and it looks like I will be allowed to have 7.35 chickens (I think I'll forgo the .35), and I've emailed just to make sure I don't need a permit.  I'm going through coop designs to narrow down what I want, and my daughter and I have spent a lot of time looking at chicken breeds.  Does anyone have suggestions as to where to get chicks?  I know IFA and Cal-Ranch carry them, but does anyone else sell them on a smaller scale?  


Thanks!
Carrie

Good luck on figuring out the ordinances! Glad to hear you're doing it in advance!

For chicks, IFA and CAL Ranch will have them. In addition, quite a few people on this board hatch out and sell chicks, and you'll also see chicks for sale on ksl fairly regularly.

 

[bitsyhorse]

Does anyone else on the board live in Kaysville? I've looked at my city ordinances and it looks like I will be allowed to have 7.35 chickens (I think I'll forgo the .35), and I've emailed just to make sure I don't need a permit. I'm going through coop designs to narrow down what I want, and my daughter and I have spent a lot of time looking at chicken breeds. Does anyone have suggestions as to where to get chicks? I know IFA and Cal-Ranch carry them, but does anyone else sell them on a smaller scale?


Thanks!
Carrie

so... what they're saying is... you can have 7 full size chickens... and a Serama... anyone else read it that way? lol!!!!

 

[Kristenaty]

If anyone wants a RIR rooster, I've got one here in Salt Lake. I may have a SLW rooster too. Not sure on it\him\her?

Kristen

 

[crazy Sandy]

I have about 20, 8 to 10 week old chicks for sale all girls they will start laying feb,march. speckled Sussex and austrlorpes, rode reds, buff orpingtons $12 each very friendly and you wont have to wait 5 months to get eggs

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

so... what they're saying is... you can have 7 full size chickens... and a Serama... anyone else read it that way? lol!!!!

I was thinking 7 females over 1 year old,several just about to turn 1 with undocumented birthdates, and unlimited chicks....