Ordered Fall Chicks
My chickens are not laying. I'm not sure why.
Last year we hatched eggs from our own chickens to replace our older girls. They grew up and started laying and now... nothing. Well, we are getting 1-3 eggs per day. That's not up to our usual dozen/day. I know the days are getting colder but we have never had such a drop off even in the dead of winter.
It calls for drastic matters!
New fall chicks are on order.
This time we are going with a heritage breed ~ Dominiques.
I ordered 18 pullet chicks knowing one or two would end up being roosters (at least I hope so).
These aren't my chickens but this is what they will look like.
Dominique Photo Credit |
They will arrive in a few weeks.
In the meantime, mine are going to find new homes,
(the young ones possibly in the fry pan)
except dear Lizzy and she will stay to be momma hen to all the little chicks. She's been spending lots of time in the coop. Maybe she knows she's expecting. ;)
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Psalm 89:2
Those are handsome-looking birds! Hope you enjoy the new flock!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. Our chickens aren't laying either. I'm quite certain that it's not moult; they should've been done with that two months ago. We have three to five year old hens, but we've also got two new flocks, which haven't even started laying yet (they should've been laying since August). We only get a very occasional egg. I've also got two different friends whose chickens aren't laying [well or at all] either: both of them have young flocks, as well. I wonder what it is...
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting! I thought it was just my chickens. Maybe not.
DeleteHowdy from the Ozarks, we also have old and young hens and used to get a dozen eggs a day now about 4. They also had their molts over 2 months ago. They know something we don't?
ReplyDeleteThose are some beautiful chickens. Where did you order them from?
ReplyDeleteI ordered my chicks from Meyer Hatchery. We have had good results with them and right now they are the only ones shipping out many birds.
DeleteThe picture is not mine; it's a stock photo. Hopefully mine will be just as pretty though!
Always loved helping my Grandmother get the new chicks settled
ReplyDeleteOh, good. I will be glad to have a supply of farm fresh eggs again when they lay more than your family can eat. I am glad, too, that Lizzy is still around and will be for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Maybe it is the fall. My April chicks still haven't started to lay. I think we are having a talk on Monday!
ReplyDeleteBummer on the chickens. There is nothing better than farm fresh eggs.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I hope all the chickens in these posts start laying their eggs. I'm worried about them!
ReplyDeleteYour new chicks are pretty good looking. How old are they when they arrive??
I'd always read that chickens slow down because of molting and/or day length, but had never had it happen to my girls until last year. I hardly got any eggs all winter! This year they're back to laying like normal. I have a handful of young layers, but still lots of older girls too. It's the weirdest thing!
ReplyDeleteSo i don't really have a scientific explantion for this, however in times gone by when this happens to mine I give them a big scoop of dog food and in a day or so they start laying. Anyhow its worth a try. Good Luck
ReplyDeleteSeriously? I've never heard of that. Maybe I'll give it a try! Couldn't hurt.
DeleteOurs have really tapered off aside from the the 3 younger girls who just began laying a month or so ago. But it has been normal for us when the days get shorter (this is our 4th year with chickens). And we're just a bit south of you down in Lawton.
ReplyDelete