When will my pullets start laying?

[jwyles]

I actually give my girls a wetted down mini dog pellet food... ok i know it sounds crazy, but they have access tk layer pellets, bowl of grit, bowl of crushed oyster shells and daily free ranging.... but they eat every morsel of tbe dog food and wait in the a.m. to getit rather than eating the layer pellets.
The dog food is a 20% protein mini-chunk called retriever i buy at tractor supply for 14 bucks a bag...
A bag lasts me a couple weeks with 22 chickens. It is an excellent feed for older chickens. That's my rant. Try it. You will be amazed at the production. .... shared by a good mentor. The chicken doctor on G+

I have no doubt whatsoever in this method. I'm all ears so to speak. As far as I'm concerned I want to hear what everyone does and try them all to see what works best for me! Your routine sounds a lot like my own with my little chicks!

 

[Leighe]

I only use pellets. I tried crumbles (cause a friend thought i should switch) but my hens kept scratching it out of the bowls. I also like pellets because in the winter I add warm water or warm milk and make it into warm mash. Easy, peasy. I've never heard of someone keeping their chickens on starter/grower their whole lives. Learn something new everyday on this site....love it!

 

[Suzi18]

Good to know! I've really been wondering about that. My little frizzle Cochin is so tiny I keep wondering if she'll grow but she seems to be at a standstill. She's one of my oldest at 14 weeks and by far the tiniest. Even being way smaller than my smooth bantam Cochin. And did I mention she's absolutely adorable!

I have 3 Cochin bantams. 2 smooth and 1 frizzle. My little frizzle seemed so tiny compared to the other 2 until about 16 weeks. Now she is the biggest of the 3. She is such an adorable sweetheart.

 

[jwyles]

I have 3 Cochin bantams. 2 smooth and 1 frizzle. My little frizzle seemed so tiny compared to the other 2 until about 16 weeks. Now she is the biggest of the 3. She is such an adorable sweetheart.

That would blow my mind [/QUOTE]

 

[Suzi18]

That would blow my mind

[/QUOTE]
Here she is with one of her smooth sisters. This was about 2 weeks ago and she is now noticeably larger than her sisters. Her name is Daisy

 

[jwyles]

Here she is with one of her smooth sisters. This was about 2 weeks ago and she is now noticeably larger than her sisters. Her name is DaisyView attachment 1076786 View attachment 1076786[/QUOTE]

I'm going to have to get a pic of mine tomorrow to post. My smooth looks like your frizzle and my frizzle looks like your smooth!

 

[Suzi18]

Here she is with one of her smooth sisters. This was about 2 weeks ago and she is now noticeably larger than her sisters. Her name is DaisyView attachment 1076786 View attachment 1076786

I'm going to have to get a pic of mine tomorrow to post. My smooth looks like your frizzle and my frizzle looks like your smooth![/QUOTE]
Awww I'd love to see pics of them. The buff colored one is Vera. I also have a calico named Saffron.

 

[jwyles]

I'm going to have to get a pic of mine tomorrow to post. My smooth looks like your frizzle and my frizzle looks like your smooth!

Awww I'd love to see pics of them. The buff colored one is Vera. I also have a calico named Saffron.[/QUOTE]

My smooth started out with the oddest pattern. She was black with yellow wing tips and a white spot on her head like a barred but she had a brown striped face like a gold laced. When her big girl feathers started coming in they were black and white and looked mottled. Now she's mostly gold laced with a few white spots. I am anxious to see what she does after her first molt. Some of her feathers look like what I refer to as reverse Mille fleur (I made this up by the way lol). As in they are black then red then white tips on the end. She looks mostly gold laced now tho unless you look at her up close.

 

[Suzi18]

She sounds pretty. Please post some pics

 

[jwyles]

She sounds pretty. Please post some pics

Will do!