Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

spirit

never_too_old wrote: »

morning all
I know im probably being impatient but my girls are about 20 weeks old.I think one of the white ones might be older as her comb and crop have been fully developed for weeks.
None of them have started laying yet ..a friend got her pullets from the same small holding and they were a bit younger than mine and started laying at about 17 weeks old.Am i doing something wrong?:D

The only thing you are doing wrong is being impatient

Are any of them doing the sumo-stomp yet? that along with the reddening comb is a clue.

are you feeding them good quality layers?

never_too_old

Thanks for replying spirit,im feeding them layers pellets which i purchased from where i got the chickens.No extras until after 3 pm.One of them was crouching when we got her 2 weeks ago and he said her vent was widening.I know im being impatient but i want my eggs lol

ionahenor2

Perhaps they are waiting for better weather!!!!!

They are not laying outside are they?. One of my girls I'm sure used to cross her legs until FR time when she would disappear into a patch of brambles to lay in next doors wood.

nykied

Frugaldom wrote: »

CONGRATULATIONS GIGERVAMP!

(Updated my username, I was NYK)

I'm on page 51 of this thread but I just wanted to say that I still AM Nyk

I don't have chickens yet but I think I will by the time I get to this post...

Gigervamp

Sorry, I've not updated. Been pretty busy with chicks.

It's amazing how much chicks under a broody need to be looked after! The mum, as soon as you put food in the dish, scratches it all out onto the floor, then complains that there's no food in the dish!

The first chicks are nearly 7 weeks old, so will get kicked out by mum in a week or so.
The next pair are not far behind and their mum has gone back to laying.
The chicks in the brooder are flighty b*ggers, as soon as I open the cage up to change their water (which they dirty as soon as I've changed it) they flitter around the room, with the dog and cats not sure how they should react!
The silver sebrights are getting bigger and are going to be mad thanks to their foster mum.
And little ducky seems to grow at least an inch every day.

Here's the link to the youtube channel for the new people who haven't seen the vids yet. And welcome to the new people to this thread!

never_too_old

Brilliant videos
Gigervamp.My Columbian Blacktail "Buggley" has started laying,She laid her 1st egg in the run on Wednesday and yesterday she got it right and laid in the nesting box.Im :j.
PS I think i have contracted Morehens disease ,i want more.:rotfl:

spirit

never_too_old wrote: »

PS I think i have contracted Morehens disease ,i want more.:rotfl:

It is catching isn't it. I've told my naughty car to keep away from the smallholding for at least a year.

hmmn

HeatherintheHills

spirit wrote: »

It is catching isn't it. I've told my naughty car to keep away from the smallholding for at least a year.

hmmn

Please don't let naughty car anywhere near me just now. Someone a short drive away has bantam buff orpingtons for sale :drool::drool:

I'd love some orps but am considering moving the girls soon so this is not the time

Hi Giger, the chicks sound a real handful! My girl is sitting on 4 eggs now, sounds as if I'll be really busy when they hatch :rotfl:

HeatherintheHills

never_too_old wrote: »

Brilliant videos
Gigervamp.My Columbian Blacktail "Buggley" has started laying,She laid her 1st egg in the run on Wednesday and yesterday she got it right and laid in the nesting box.Im :j.
PS I think i have contracted Morehens disease ,i want more.:rotfl:

:j :j :j :beer:

Sadly, Morehens disease is incurable and has the added complications of hammer-ache-arm, straw-in-hair, poo-feet and muddy-hen-cuddle-Tshirt

spirit

HeatherintheHills wrote: »

:j :j :j :beer:

Sadly, Morehens disease is incurable and has the added complications of hammer-ache-arm, straw-in-hair, poo-feet and muddy-hen-cuddle-Tshirt

and in my case muddy foot prints on your newly washed kitchen floor. Now i wonder where i can get hen wellies from..