What to expect next?

[jtn42248]

I decided to go with the continue using Flock Raiser but add free choice oyster shell and started that this a.m. Little Dude, the hen that became a rooster, took a peck and turned up his beak at it. But, all the girls thought I had put our a treat just for them. Everyone took a bit so, assuming their instinct is guiding them, it seems to be the right thing to do. I also started my ducks on the oyster shell and they did pretty much the same thing (they are right at 18 weeks old). This way I don't have to worry about diet for the males and the females will get the calcium they need. Oh, and by the way, I think I heard my first "egg song" this afternoon. It sure sounded like the sound my grandmothers hens made when they laid an egg. No actual egg yet, but they may just be getting some practice in.

They are getting a lot more free range time along with the geese and ducks and venture a little further each day. Today I was standing out in the field being the shepherd that I am and looked up to see a dozen hens flying right at me...sort of kamikaze chickens. Funniest thing I have even seen.

 

[iwiw60]

Quote: You just might have an egg hidden somewhere! Chickens do the darndest things...any chance it might be in the run? Do they free-range? If so, I'd be checking the bushes!!

 

[jtn42248]

No, nothing yet. I checked the coop, run and range and found nothing. However, several of the girls are making "egg song" as I call it and they seem to be getting much larger (plumper) than the others. Don't know if that is a sign or not, but I expect something soon.

 

[jtn42248]

I am trying to jinx you the right way, so hopefully I will be wrong.

But it is really like watching that baby that is almost walking, standing there, not hanging on, hanging on, almost a step, sits down and crawls.... it seems like they are ready long before they do it.

soon you will have eggs, but I am betting you are 2-3 weeks out yet...... so hopefully the jinx will work. As for feed, when I ran out of this bag, I would buy a bag of layer feed, but not before that. Layer feed will be good for hens in the LONG run, in the short term a couple of weeks on chick starter is not going to damage them.... or a couple of weeks on layer before they start won't either.

Mrs K

Not a jinx at all, just bringing me back to reality. Nothing to report since the last posting. No eggs, no problems. I did loose one hen due to severe prolapse vent and that was sad. She starts our little patch of poultry grave yard. They will all be 20 weeks old this Friday and are manifesting all the signs of getting ready to do some serious laying that I have read about here on BYC. All of them reach laying maturity between 20 and 23 weeks so I am learning poultry patience...not fun but real. I am sure that one of these days I will go out in the a.m. to let them out and when I open the coop door eggs will come rolling out at me. HA HA!