I still remember walking down to my chickens’ nesting boxes for the first time and picking up those warm fresh eggs!
Knowing the chicken breeds that lay lots of eggs is important.
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Three out of my five Daisys have finally decided to start laying. Two of them are a couple weeks younger than the others, so they should start laying pretty shortly two.
I'm glad, it flat pisses me off to pay the outrageous price of eggs when I've got 7 alleged egg makers out there.
What's weird is up until now is that Two Point Five, my monster rooster, has paid those pullets no mind whatsoever, but now that they're beginning to lay, he can't stay away from their coop. All he does is patrol back and forth in front of it waiting for his chance. There's been a couple of times they've escaped with him right there, and he nails them on the spot. I mean, I'm watching free poultry porn right there at my feet.
The first time it happened I went in and told Lisa about it, laughing my ass off at how that chicken got up looking all violated and shit, and Lisa shook her head and told me that the proper expression would be that 2.5 mated with the chicken, not that he was 'getting himself some pullet pussy'.
My Dad always said "One egg ain't much but it's a day's work for a hen".
ReplyDeleteWe've been getting 11-14 a day from our flock. The ladies do keep the two roosters busy.
ReplyDeleteSome here know who I am and where I live. We sell them for $3/dozen. Pretty much break even on feed cost, but it works for us. Plus we don't spend money on eggs. Get in touch if you have an interest and are in my area.
I have Bielefelders, not the most prolific layers but still 200-250 eggs a year and good foragers. I've seen them catch mice and frogs. They love Japanese Beetles. I'm supplementing this time of year with laying feed and only averaging 2 eggs per day with 7 hens. I'll add more to my flock in the spring. They'll start laying more soon. I've talked with people who add lights to get their chickens to lay more in the winter but I'm just letting them do what they do. They've been good birds.
ReplyDeleteWe purchased 4 Golden Comets last March. I suspect they were a week old.
ReplyDeleteThey began laying this last Sept. and haven't missed a day yet
We have 15 mature hens: 11 reds and 4 of something that looks like an Auracauna (?). The odd balls have fluffy heads and feet and lay a variety of colors. We started with 20 chicks; lost three to being crushed as new chicks or "just drop dead' disease, one rooster I shot because he was a total asshole to some of the hens, and one to predation (dead predator now). We get a good mix of 10 eggs or so, which is not bad for winter. In the summer it is more like 12 or 13 consistently. Ongoing costs are 1.25 to 2.15 a day average over each bag of food, and we sell dozens at $5 a crack. So, our eggs are free and have been for quite some time. They are free range and their feed costs are lower when it is warm and there are bugs out and about.
ReplyDeleteI use to have pigeons whence I was a lad. Those cocks at least do a dance to woo the hens before busting a nut.
ReplyDeleteChickens, no foreplay, just straight assault. Though the roosters will always call the hens when they find a food source, and have chased off a few Ravens. So in the end I guess they have their good points. . .
"I'm watching free poultry porn right there at my feet." what more can a man ask for LOLOL!
ReplyDeletethe old time thing to do is sprinkle cyanne [red, i cant spell anymore] pepper on top of the hens food. not much, about 1/2 or less teaspoon per gallon of high protein layer feed, every day. that gets them laying, and make sure they always have fresh water. too much pepper will ''burn them out'. when they get to laying, can stop or cut back amount of pepper
ReplyDeletei learned that as a kid 60+ yrs ago from the old people on my 'holler' here in wv
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Wirecutter, I think it's something to do with the word "Pussy" and wimmen. My hunch is they know that's their secret weapon over us, but we're not allowed to talk about it.
ReplyDeleteLast spring I started off with some buff Orpington chicks. Lost half of them the first month. About mud June I added a half dozen "Jersey Giants" to the mix. Tractor Supply called them Jerseys, but they have feathered feet. Then in August I added a dozen ISA browns.
ReplyDeleteMy varsity team is getting old, I'm down to fourteen girls, getting three to five eggs a day. My leghorns have pretty much quit laying. Might be time for soup.