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Awesome! You're catching up to me. Todays pick was 93 chicken, 3 duck (Gracie the turkey smashed the 4th and then since it was broke she ate it), 2 goose and 2 turkey. Want to help wash eggs anyone? And I'll tell you what I get just as excited as the rest of you when I get an egg from a newbie or an older girl after her break. I'm always over the moon to see them in the nest box.
That is wonderful!!!! How many layers do you currently have?
But I will never catch you. I don't have 93 chickens, much less 93 eggs. But I'm working my way up to 9 a day. I only have 12 layers total. I will be over the moon if I have a day with 9.
And no, I don't want to wash eggs....I wash them as I use them....but since I only got a total of 2 today, I won't be using them soon, since my favorite reciepe takes 4. LOL
My 8 year old chicken farmer son currently has 146 chickens. 9 are full grown roos, 8 are 9 week old chicks, there are 4 young roos not yet sexually mature between 18 and 22 weeks (our cross breed roos develop very late) and the rest are his girlies. His hens range from around 6 months to 6 plus years with about half of them under 9 months. A lot of his older girls are in various stages of molt and one of his nine months old is broody for her second time. We love broody hens! It's pretty much like getting free chicks! Of course the chicks we get are cross breeds, but we don't have a problem with that. Our first layers were of the heinz catcup variety. I can't even remember how many breeds he has as there are so many. I know it's over 15 though.
I grew up raising chickens and had them most of my 48 years. When I was pregnant with my son I was injured and could no longer care for them, so once I was able too we got some more. My son absolutely loves his girls. Many of them have names and will walk up to his egg customers looking for attention (really just food) and because of that he sells the eggs pretty fast. He tells people all about his birds, how to take care of them, and what fun they are. He has actually lost a couple of customers as he talked them into getting some chickens themselves. He sells the eggs fairly cheap as his goal is to maintain his flock not make a ton of money. He's happy with a few extra bucks and the rest he spends on his girls. He didn't pay for the coops and he doesn't pay for electricity (which we stick dad with) but he pays for everything else. I'm glad I've been able to pass on much of the knowledge that I gew up with. It's been a wonderful way for my son to learn and a great responsibility with even greater rewards. When we were having our home framed out this summer the guys told me about a chicken coop they just built. It cost more than what we were paying for the framing. The people wanted their children to have some responsibilty, so they were getting chickens. Everything in this coop was automatic. Feed, water, lights, temp controlled for heat and cooling, and auto door. I know there would still be some chores, but from the sounds of it the kids wont be doing much. I love being out there helping my son to tend his flocks. Even though those girls are spoilt rotten. I myself just raise the meat birds now and leave the flock management to the little chicken farmer. What he doesn't know he will ask. What I don't remember I will ask my mother or father..........and so the knowledge and joy get passed along.
Here's to hoping your girls lay you many eggs for many years to come.
