I just read.more of the thread, and realized that my Question may seem insensitive based on all you are going through right now. I am so sorry to hear about the potential eviction, loss of your birds, the cold winter, etc. my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Original Question about using a...
I will be getting my first marans in three weeks, so I cannot speak from experience yet. But I was told that their eggs would get darker after their first adult molt. I am not sure if this helps your question, just sharing some information that was told to me.
Hello All,
Asking for some opinions and recommendations here.....which I know means I will probably get more than I asked for! Thank you BYC for being such a wonderful resource!
Background Info:
I live inside city limits in the Colorado Front Range. We get hot dry summers, and cold winters...
I have a Blue Andalusian that didn't lay her first egg until 53 weeks old. All her flock mates (same age, same breed) were laying at 6 months. She just took her sweet time. But now she is a consistent producer, and I am glad I did not relegate her to the soup pot too early.
As many have already said, sufficient calcium from food, oyster shell supplements, or dried eggshell; soft bedding for the next box. I was unable to alter my nest boxes into roll-away and the attempt at curtains scared my birds away from box. When my newest hens started pecking at and eating...
I can't speak for Speckled Sussex, but I had a blue Andalusian that didn't lay her first egg until 51 weeks! Everyone else was laying, so same nutrition and activity and light and exercise as all the rest. She was just a late bloomer. She lays regularly now and seems a happy girl. As others...
thanks. Mine actually rarely peck at the flock block, I have had it 10 months and it is almost still full size. But the 20% protein feed is good advice. They do also sometimes get scraps of the raw meat we feed dogs/cats which is 80% muscle, 10% bone meal, and 10% organ meat, but that is...
thank you, It is probably time to deworm again. Also, I thought with the grasshoppers and black sunflowers maybe they were getting enough protien, but I will look for a higher level protien food and maybe cut back on the scratch and other treats as @rosemarythyme mentioned.
Hello Again BYC Friends,
I posted a while ago and need to add an update on Gemma, my Sapphire Gem, because I am still baffled.
I got Gemma and four other chickens last August. I was told they were all pullets born in March. To the best of my beginner knowledge I believe this to be accurate...
I also use sand in my chicken run. My run is shaded with a tin roof, but open on all four sides, and there is a hedge of lilacs growing behind that are taller than the roof and shade the whole area. But it can still get hot. The chickens have a dirt (not sand) and fireplace ash dust bathing...
I use a lid (on the pot) when water bath canning, but you do not have to. It just helps keep the water splatters from boiling water more contained. I live at about 5000 feet above sea level elevation so I add 10 minutes to the suggested time for when I am processesing.
One of my favorite...
Well to be honest I don't can much this time of year because of the heat (it is 92 degrees F here today). But I love to small batch can either by water bath or pressure canning whatever I can grow or scrounge once the cooler fall weather comes around. Tomatoes, salsa, pickles, applesauce, and...
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
New to urban backyard chickens. Grew up on a dairy farm and had broilers we butchered every year and a few random bantams. This is my first time having my own egg layers and in a city setting. I got five pullets in August 2023...
I also have a 14 month old hen (Sapphire Gem) who consistently laid all winter long. She was the only chicken that laid all winter with not additional lighting provided. Now she has not laid an egg for 5-6 weeks. It is summer here, her comb is big and red as usual. She did not molt when the...