So, I have one white chicken left from the "old" flock... the first chicks I got back in the spring of 2010. As she is nearly 3 years old, she is nearly to the end of her laying career. When my hens slow down in laying, I often give them away. The dual purpose breeds can make a good stew chicken, but we've just found they are too tough to eat. These white leghorns are not dual purpose at all, there isn't an ounce of meat on this bird, but she lays HUGE eggs!
Lately she hasn't laid a single egg. At first we thought it was a molt, but long past her feathers regrowing, not a one. We began discussing her retirement. The other morning at breakfast we were talking about how about two weeks ago I had mentioned it was "time" and that same day we found a white egg, but no more for two weeks.
I asked Tyler, "You suppose if we tell her she's about to retire she would lay another one?"
He laughed and headed out for his chores.
Soon he was back in the house yelling for my attention... Guess what!?!?
In related news, we've been adding a game bird feed (30% protein) with a calcium supplement, to our regular layer pellets (16% protein). It's helped the last of the girls feather out of our longest molt yet, and green eggers are laying yet again. I'd about given up! After 3 months of no eggs, I'd actually tried selling my green egg hens, but the lady never showed up. They were going pretty cheap since I doubted they would lay much more... but that's her loss now. I knew they'd come out of it eventually. I had just gotten tired of waiting!
Also, the chicken who was caught in the fence roll has made a complete recovery, and is one of my best brown egg layers. I can tell which one is hers as she always has a small blood spot on her egg, outside of the shell. Probably from the trauma her poor back end had endured!The farm is a forever place of learning patience and faith!
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Wow! There is so much to chicken farming that I don't know about. We've talked about raising some, but my am I nervous!
ReplyDeletelol, really, it's not so bad!
DeleteI'm so glad the fenceroll chicken recovered! That was such an odd story.
ReplyDeleteI have a California White who isn't laying either. I think she's too stressed because she just joined our flock. I'll keep her, whether she lays or not since she's become my pet, but maybe there is something about leghorns & related breeds not laying in winter.
Bonnie
www.HungryChickenHomestead.com
We had a round of California Whites once. I had ordered them with the 2011 flock because I'd heard they were as good production wise as Leghorns, but hardier. Sadly they were a lot less productive, and were horrid egg eaters. I ended up selling off that whole flock to start fresh (other than this one leghorn and a few others who weren't eating eggs).
DeleteChicken drama- it never ends! Thanks for sharing yours with The Clever Chicks and I hope you'll join us again!
ReplyDeleteKathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
Thanks for hosting!
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