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Barnyard Buddies:  Chicken experiment :)  |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 16 2009 : 8:47:01 PM
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I have 7 hens-none of them have laid an egg in the time I've had them.
I read here on the forum that 14 hrs of light will produce the results-hens laying- that we want!!!
Sooooo-yesterday the lights were wired into the henhouse complete with a timer..... now we shall see if we get an egg!!!!
Stay tuned!!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2009 : 3:52:13 PM
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I also put plastic easter eggs in the nests and that really got them going.
diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2009 : 07:08:28 AM
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Day 3 with 14 hours of light -no eggs yet.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2009 : 07:23:31 AM
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How old are these girls? Are they confined or free range?
Lillian |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2009 : 1:43:39 PM
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The hens are 9 mos old- there are 7 of them in a large open yard-they rarely roam the entire pen so far.I've had them since January 1st.
The temps are around 70degrees right now with lows in the upper 40's at night-sometimes warmer.
This is day 4 since "light therapy"-
No eggs so far!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2009 : 2:51:19 PM
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What are you feeding them? Try a product called extra egg. it really help the chickens produce. It is just a chicken feed that we get at our feed store. not expensive or anything compared to other feeds. about the same..
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2009 : 4:19:38 PM
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Did you get them from a reputable source and are you sure they are 9 months? It makes me wonder when you say they have a large yard and rarly roam the entire thing. My girls are everywhere at all times. I have some that are almost 2 and some that are 7 months and they are active! Also have you checked to see if they might have an infestation of Lice, fleas or other parasites including worms?
Lillian |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 19 2009 : 4:55:34 PM
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The woman I bought them from had very clean orderly pens-however they were all in smaller cages-no real roaming-until I got them.
They tend to huddle a bit-but they roam if I'm out in the yard.
They seem healthy-how would I look for worms? They dont appear to have any type of insects that are visible-I handle them a lot.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2009 : 09:47:09 AM
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worms will be in the poo. Check for parasites by lifting the feathers up off the neck or near the rear. You should see little bugs. How much protein are they getting? They need about 17%. Lay off the treats (cracked corn, fruit) can reduce laying-not always but it can. 14-18 hours of light should help. Also, what kind are they? Some breeds take a long time to lay. Vitamins/electrolytes in water should reduce stress. Food for thought.
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
[h6]
http://harvestthymefarm.etsy.com
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
"In seed time, learn. In harvest, teach, and in winter, enjoy" Wm. Blake |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 22 2009 : 7:54:37 PM
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Still no eggs~
No sign of parasites and the girls have actually been a bit more active since starting our "light therapy"- they roam the entire yard now and are gobbling up their food a bit more hasty~ the only stress these girls have is my husband talking about "fried chicken if he doesnt see eggs pretty soon
Of course he kidding but we are getting a bit impatient.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 1:13:22 PM
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Still no eggs- but no parasites-and no sign of worms in the poo.
The breeds are:
2 Black Orpingtons
3 Brahmas-I read that these take a while to mature-(this is their first spring)
1 Plymoth Rock
1 feather-legged bantam
The white Brahmas have laid a few eggs before I got them-no more than 1-3 each.
Any other ideas???
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 1:40:03 PM
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I am all out of ideas. I have buff orpingtons and they started laying in the middle of a cold winter at 20 weeks old. It is hard to tell from your picture but the multi-color one looks like it has quite a comb on top of it's head. Looks like a rooster to me.
Keep up the light therapy, make sure they aren't getting too many extras (chicken scratch), keep them on a layer feed and keep checking them for parasites. Also how often during the day do you check for eggs- could it be that they are eating them before you get to them?
Please keep posting, I want to know when you get that first egg!
Lillian |
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VickiLynn
Farmgirl at Heart
6 Posts
Vicki
Sanger
Texas
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 2:12:20 PM
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Autumn,
What sort of light do you use? My girls just love their red one and usually begin to lay at about 6 months. Of course we don't use it in the summer due to the heat...and egg production goes down.
Vicki
Farmgirl Sister #479 |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 7:22:22 PM
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Yeah,that's our "toy" rooster-the rest are hens.He's a cutie pie,too!
The light is just a bulb inside the coop, on a timer so that they get the 14 hrs.
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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stacyluu
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
stacy
tuttle
oklahoma
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 10:56:51 PM
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| some of my new ones didn't lay yet due to the cold....i gave them vitamins in their water and plucked some alfalfa and wheat grass in a neighboring field....they started laying!...coincidence?...worth a try! |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2009 : 11:32:51 AM
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WOO!HOO! GOT 1 perfect egg just a bit ago!!!!
Pictures to follow tonight!!!!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2009 : 12:50:36 PM
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Yeah!!!Isn't that great! I am exited for you. Autumn. There will be many more to follow now. Wish you lived closer.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2009 : 8:59:53 PM
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Well here it is-the first little egg from my hens!!!
Who knows if it was the light,time or what????
All I know is I GOT AN EGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I figure this little jewel cost about....oh....$150
And worth every cent!!!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2009 : 03:34:41 AM
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Good for you!
Lets hope a few of the others catch on.
Bantams tend to lay later too.
We should be getting our chick shipment first week in March. I ordered 1 brahma. It's the first time getting one of this breed, so i'm kind of excited.
Never had cochins either. I KNOW they are terrible layers. Just ordered them for the cute and fluffy factor. Standards and 4 bantams |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2009 : 07:35:02 AM
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Congratulations! It's beautiful!
Lillian |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2009 : 11:55:30 AM
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Autumn, Have you had another yet?
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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DeepsouthMamma
True Blue Farmgirl
1454 Posts
Autumn
Southwest Louisiana
USA
1454 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2009 : 1:21:11 PM
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Yes- one yesterday and TWO today!!!! WOO!HOO!
The price of eggs is down to about $50 a piece now!!!
Blessings,
Autumn
Farmgirl #49
http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2009 : 1:36:21 PM
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That is so funny! I just laughed when I saw the price of your eggs! You are probably so right though. They do cost a lot to get them to lay but when they do it's all worth it. That is a pretty picture of the egg in the nest. They need a big ole pat on the back now. Or at least some extra feed. Good job, girls!
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2009 : 3:37:21 PM
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I'm curious to know...
Do you feed pelleted feed or the crumbles.
I have noticed that our gitrls lay way better on the pelleted.
There's no waste either.
What bantams we have are also able to eat the pellet. They get the small stuff, hence really no waste! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chicken experiment :) |
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Chicken experiment :)
