Washingtonians

[Illia]

Quote:
Wait, so you're getting 6 out of 8? Because that is just perfectly fine - I get 12 out of 20 right now, and am not complaining. . . Except for the fact that I KNOW I get this few because the girls are laying in the burn piles out in the clearcut.

Otherwise, if they actually do have a laying problem, it could be a number of things. How much scratch do you give them? Because remember, it has practically no nutritional value and is very addicting to them.

Also, the small coop thing may be stressing them. . . There could be some other factors though. But it seems you have a decent laying number.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

ReiMiraa, another thought, perhaps the new ones are laying, just not where you want them to? Could they have a hidden nest somewhere? You say you let them free range, and being that they are new, maybe they found a safe spot and are laying there. I've had young hens declare where their own nest should be, once under the front porch, once in my heliboris garden bed, another time on the seat of my husband's lawn mower. Have a good look around or watch and see if any of the hen's are hiding anywhere. You may just find a big pile of eggs somewhere!

Tamara

 

[Sparkelrose]

Quote:

someone else in my area! I to am between everett and snohomish. I got 11 bantys the end of January and held them all the time. Now that they are bigger and in their own coop out side, they will follow me all over the place and come running when I say "wheres my babies".

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Anneschicks Haven't been to SL since last summer but Some friends took us to Winchester last weekend. WOW that place is awesome. Would have been better if I hadn't had a little mishap with the BAJA that bent the front axle and broke the back suspension out of it, and of course it was on the first day.

That was a week ago and I am still sore. I am just glad that Diane and Quincy decided not to go with me that time. BTW SL camp will be closed this summer.

ReiMiraa I wouldn't get too eggscited about yer girlz not laying. I have 2 banties that were with the large birds. I made a special coop/run for them and when I moved em it took about 1 1/2 months for them to start laying again.

 

[ReiMiraa]

i did a test to see if they are laying, kept them inside a few days after letting them free range. and still 5 eggs. ( cos i had to train them to return at night and for that week no eggs from the new guys.) i walked around the orchard following and watching where they go, but none have a secret nest or have gone broody. has had chickens a year and none are broody. not even the silky that i got for free as a cheap incubator because i heard how broody they are.

the 5 bantm hens i got a month ago and the 9 new hens i got 2 weeks ago.
i throw scratch where i want them to dig at the ground for me. like in the dead garden or on the lawn or under the pine trees to mix the pine needles.
one of my original flock hasnt laid since october it is an ameriracuna(over a year old) and it looks like it is still moulting cos it no longer looks like "it was dragged under the car" look.
i have noticed that the other americauna lays a green egg every other day or more. it is almost a year old.
i think they are almost done fighting, just a few squables here and there.

their nest is a doghouse iglu in the coop, they head into the coop to lay then go back out to ranging. (there are other choices but this one it 'prime')

 

[ReiMiraa]

anything i can to to get them unstressed and back into production faster?

any feed?

because the little extra cash i make by selling eggs helps me out alot.
they go through feed fast almost less than 3 weeks for them to go through 50 pounds and its $14 a bag....


~~~~sidenote~~~~~

-sigh- once i am out of college in a few years(3) i plan to greatly expand the chicken business because a local resort chef would love to use my eggs but he needs about 60 dozen a week.... would i need 150 hens then for that much production?

there is a healthy bakery here that would like my eggs but they would only pay $1.97 per dozen. I charge $4 a dozen to cover costs. and have some money to spend for gas.

 

[spectrejazz]

Hello Waonians, and more specifically Seattlites. We are in the Wallingford neighborhood and looking for a few good hens. We are currently hoping to recruit a broody hen for our flock to hatch some eggs this spring. We have already collected 20 fertile eggs, but none of our ladies is showing signs of sitting. If you have a broody hen or two that you wouldn't mind lending us or just passing along we would sure appreciate the gesture. We can pay for some if they are still young and egg producers. Let me know if you are willing or know someone.

<----Also, we have a Barnevelder rooster who loves quiet mornings and we would be willing to rent him out/trade him out to anyone interested.

Thanks for any help! Aaron

 

[Illia]

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They're Andalusian based, yes? Because if so, I can tell a plenty hoot about the whole BBS thing.

I have BBS Ameraucanas, and soon will have BBS Jersey Giants. Fun genetics learning when you have and breed them.

 

[Worn]

Quote:
They're Andalusian based, yes? Because if so, I can tell a plenty hoot about the whole BBS thing.

I have BBS Ameraucanas, and soon will have BBS Jersey Giants. Fun genetics learning when you have and breed them.

They are mostly from McMurray... That is funny the lady I got them from just changed her preference to the BBS Jersey Giants. She payed like $28/chick for her new birds. They are very nice looking birds though. Do you know a website where it explains the BBS thing?

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Worn,

I have this site bookmarked as I have BBS bantam cochins in the bator as we speak.

http://www.bluepoultry.com/Breeding_Chart.html

Illia, can you confirm that this page covers the basics?

Tamara