chickens!

[redhen]

Dear Winged Cowman )

Your hens will begin to lay at about 5 months of age. I'm not sure if the Isabrowns can be mixed with the older birds until they are all about the same size. I'd be afraid the older birds would bully them a bit.

The Cornish Giants will need to be monitored closely so they don't gain weight too quickly. Keep them away from the layers or they'll eat themselves to death.

All birds need access to granite grit, #2 for small chickens and hens, and #3 for larger chickens and turkeys.

Hope this helps.

[jensco]

Having mixed flocks before...make sure they are the same size before they can get at eachother. If you can, try and keep them close together as they are growing up and then they have an easier time.

Your "girls" must love the mixed ration. The breeders will tell you that the ISA's will come into production between 17 and 20 weeks with the majority at around 19 weeks. I try not to introduce 18% laying ration (this is vitamin enhanced) until most of the hens have layed their first pullet eggs (great pickled by the way)or 20 weeks whichever comes first. Again, I mix it with other grains as it keeps them more interested. Unfortunatley, since we don't grow grain, I have to rely on the feeds available locally. Looks like flax meal is only available in the city. Next time I'm there, I want to pick some up.

I take my Cornish off chick starter at 3 weeks or they do that eat themselves into heart attack stuff. I mix grower then with some mixed chicken feed (grains and oyster shell etc.) to slow down their growth. They seem to put on less fat and a firmer meat. One week before butcher I soak whole grain in water over night and give it to them. They love it and it finishes them nicely - an old local farmer gave me this one. Has worked well for the last few years now. Works on turkeys too!

Your Mom will be quite surprised on her return from bonny Scotland. Sounds like a great trip - must do that one day!

Redhen, the last couple days the girls are resorted to ground laying vs their nesting boxes. Any ideas why? I was wondering if it had something to do with wanting their own brood. The roosters sure are hanging around the coop more and more! I was hoping to stretch out letting them have chicks until the end of the month.

[redhen]

Hi Jensco!

When my hens go off laying in their boxes, the first thing I do is clean and re-bed them. (I do this once a month anyway.) I'm not sure if you use shavings, but I have found them easier on my arthritic wrists than straw, LOL. Sometimes the nest boxes get some feather mites, so the hens move on to "clean" sites.

Another factor could be lighting. Are any of the nest boxes in the line of sunlight during the day? Darker is better, apparently.

A third factor might be a rogue hen who is eating eggs or intimidating the other hens in their nest boxes.

Let us know how your brooding hens do. I've never had the experience of hatching out our own babies. It must be delightful to see them reared as nature intended!

hugs, e.

[jensco]

Well, since I just cleaned and rebedded the boxes, it must be one of the two other things you mentioned.

I do know that the change in length of daylight and sun direction may be an issue. It just wasn't last year.

Now the rogue hen...that is interesting. There have been more eggs attacked recently and the cluckers seem to be becoming more aggressive. Two persistent girls have been "released" from the coop with the "boys". We will see if coop life calms down a bit. I'll keep you posted on the brooders in the Pork&Poultry area. I think I may have to help out with providing alternative nesting sites or the predators will move in.

Never a dull moment! Later all!