Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 We have taken to keeping the older birds as there are so many it is impossible for me to determine who is laying more and bigger eggs. Our system has been to add lights, as you have but for even longer. I put a timer on a floodlight. It goes on from 4pm-10pm and again from 3am to 8am, helps on those cloudy mornings. We also make sure the girls have enough protein. The winter months leave them with a lack of meaty bugs so we provide them with some meat from our butchering and as always the " chicken bucket " from the kitchen. When we do chores in the morning we take scalding hot water out, it cools fast enough just walking out to the hen yard so they don't burn themselves. They enjoy a hot cup of tea in the morning. I've done the change from the starter to layer without any trouble. The smaller birds will take the smaller grains from the mix. Actually we've never fed just layer, ours is mixed in with scratch when we get home as I'm to cheap to feed straight layer. Hope that helps, Belinda > > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? > We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours before sunrise to > see if that will help. From what I have read it seems giving 17 hours > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the color change in the > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying strong again in the > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older hens, or will they > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read that layer pellet's > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > Albert > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Albert in our experience here is what we have found: * the older the hen the bigger the size (in most cases) sometimes the eggs are so big they do not fit in a jumbo egg carton. * The older the hen the softer the egg shells can get. * we keep ours for approximately a year and a half and then they are history. refer to the above answers for the reasons. The pullets we got last Feb we will cull next fall. *Extra light in the morning is beneficial to the hens for laying. * You can feel the hen's bones to see if they are laying. we have done this but eventually just cull the whole group anyway. *Jeff Mattocks from the APPPA (American Pastured Poultry Producers Assn) is a great source of info and is also associated with the Fertrell Feed Company. You can google for the APPPA web site and you may be able to find his email there. As with ANY subject there are many schools of thought. This is what WE do,. Ro Off topic "Chickens" Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours before sunrise to see if that will help. From what I have read it seems giving 17 hours of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that poultry farms only keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you know when to cull the older hens. I know about the color change in the beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying strong again in the spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older hens, or will they slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read that layer pellet's are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep them in the brooder for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this hurt them? Thank you for the help.Albert No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 12/14/2007 11:29 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 You don't actually catch each and every chicken and pour on wormer? Belinda > We do lights as well, that will make them lay. > > One thing about layer pellets or even crumbles. There is not enough protein > in that mix for laying and good feathers. It was designed for commercial > applications. We have a mix here called Allway and it is about 18 percent > protein. Well it got so expensive(almost $10.00/50#) I started asking around > what others fed. Well some feed strictly hog feed (non medicated) pellets. > Same thing, lays a lot with lack of feathers but cheap. > > We now mix our allway- which really is a layer/grower feed- with a sow mix > from our local mill. > Sow mix is corn fines with added soy and minerals. We mix this 50-50 with > the Allway . Man they love it and they are laying great and feathering out. > > When they slow down in the fall laying we also worm our chickens with > Ivermectin pour on. 1/4th cc per chicken. > > Joanne > MercyFarms > Lamancha dairy goats & Herbal nutrition > Callitea.com > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Everything everyone has said is great. You do need extended light and more protein and it would also do good to add greens in the form of hay of some kind or we have even done sprouts. You can tell if a chicken is laying by turning the chicken over and placing your fingers between the pelvis bones. If you have room for 3 or more fingers the hen is laying. Two fingers or less and she won't be laying. When we do chickens and if you want to keep your eggs flowing do new chicks every other year. I start chicks in the fall so they come 6 mos and laying in the spring. Keep both groups for a year get rid of old in fall and start new for next year. We have an auction here and two year old birds will bring 10 to 15 dollars so that is where the old birds go. Chris How do you know when to cull the older hens. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Joanne - Sounds like a lot of trouble with the wormer. Why not just put out a pan of Diatomaceous Earth for them? It'll worm them and they'll dust in it, killing mites. Very Best Wishes, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Off topic " Chickens " > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? we keep our chicken house warm enough the water doesn't freeze and keep their lights on, make sure they are bright enough lights, for about 17 hours. > Also I noticed that poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. We buy cable ties and loosely put them on the birds we add to the henhouse. I keep track of the color we used and cull out chickens after they are about 2. I have to make more than the feed costs me and the two year olds just don't lay more than 60% and after feeding them through a molt it isn't enough. Our problem is we keep them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this > hurt them? I am not sure about this. I buy ready to lay hens. Not worth the feed for me to raise them. It is also a light thing with the young birds. YOu are not supposed to have them on the same light as the layers because you have to bring them up to the 17 hours to help to trigger the hormones etc for laying. I think Rochester Hatchery or McMurray has lots of info on this on their website as well as a homemade layer ration you might want to try. > > Debbie Chikousky Manitoba, Canada gdchik@... " The person who wants something will find a way. The person who doesn't will find an excuse. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 I want to cull some of the chickens but can't find a procesor to do it. What is required to home butcher and sell them to our cow share group? Thank you. Albert --- Tramar Farms wrote: > Albert > in our experience here is what we have found: > * the older the hen the bigger the size (in most > cases) sometimes the eggs are so big they do not fit > in a jumbo egg carton. > * The older the hen the softer the egg shells can > get. > * we keep ours for approximately a year and a half > and then they are history. refer to the above > answers for the reasons. The pullets we got last Feb > we will cull next fall. > *Extra light in the morning is beneficial to the > hens for laying. > * You can feel the hen's bones to see if they are > laying. we have done this but eventually just cull > the whole group anyway. > *Jeff Mattocks from the APPPA (American Pastured > Poultry Producers Assn) is a great source of info > and is also associated with the Fertrell Feed > Company. You can google for the APPPA web site and > you may be able to find his email there. > > As with ANY subject there are many schools of > thought. This is what WE do,. > Ro > > Off topic " Chickens " > > > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens > to lay in the winter? > We are going to add lighting to come on a few > hours before sunrise to > see if that will help. From what I have read it > seems giving 17 hours > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed > that poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them > out. Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every > few months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the > color change in the > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying > strong again in the > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older > hens, or will they > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read > that layer pellet's > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we > keep them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock > where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only > difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase > in calcium will this > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > Albert > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - > Release Date: 12/14/2007 11:29 AM > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2007 Report Share Posted December 18, 2007 Thank you everyone for all the great info. I think selling the culls rather then trying to find someone to butcher them is going to be the way to go. Again thank you everyone for your input. --- a_milkman72 wrote: > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to > lay in the winter? > We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours > before sunrise to > see if that will help. From what I have read it > seems giving 17 hours > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that > poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. > Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every few > months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the > color change in the > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying > strong again in the > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older > hens, or will they > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read > that layer pellet's > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep > them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock > where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only > difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in > calcium will this > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > Albert > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 One more thing. My chickens lay best when I put milk in their water or milk products or soak their feed in some milk. I give them the old stuff or the whey from cheesemaking etc. Helps a lot with shells too. Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadagdchik@..."The person who wants something will find a way. The person who doesn’t will find an excuse." Off topic "Chickens" Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours before sunrise to see if that will help. From what I have read it seems giving 17 hours of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that poultry farms only keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you know when to cull the older hens. I know about the color change in the beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying strong again in the spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older hens, or will they slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read that layer pellet's are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep them in the brooder for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this hurt them? Thank you for the help.Albert No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 12/14/2007 11:29 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 When there are no hogs to feed we soak the chickens grain in milk for about 24 hours, they love it! Belinda > > One more thing. My chickens lay best when I put milk in their water or milk products or soak their feed in some milk. I give them the old stuff or the whey from cheesemaking etc. Helps a lot with shells too. > Debbie Chikousky > Manitoba, Canada > gdchik@... > " The person who wants something will find a way. > The person who doesn't will find an excuse. " > > > Off topic " Chickens " > > > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? > We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours before sunrise to > see if that will help. From what I have read it seems giving 17 hours > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the color change in the > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying strong again in the > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older hens, or will they > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read that layer pellet's > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > Albert > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 12/14/2007 11:29 AM > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 What breed of chickens are you talking about?? Some are just better egg layers than others. Where do you live? The farther north you live, the shorter the days and the colder the winters. That's a factor that influences egg laying. You have to let them have some 'down' time or they'll lay themselves to death. Most will drop off in egg production during molt, then pick back up later. Nutrition is very important with many feeding too low a protien feed. For example scratch is pretty much empty calories and will grow you out a bird that has small bone structure and too much interior body fat. Each year I do a lot of pullorum testing for the 4-H Chick Chain shows here in east Tennessee. Each child gets 25 chicks in the spring, then have to pick six best in fall to show/sell to cover costs. They get to keep the other 19 as their own. Anyway, I can pretty much place each pen of six simply by how they feel as I pick them up to do the pullorum test. Many, sad to say, fail to listen to the good educational advice given throughout the project and try to raise the birds on cheap, low protien feeds like scratch. Something I have learned about chickens is that the darker the egg color the longer it stays in the bird's reproductive tract. This can make the more at risk of having an egg 'hang.' It can also make it harder for a chick to pip, too. I learned this from a friend who raises Wellsummers which lay a REALLY dark chocolate egg. These birds look like a Rhode Island Red, sort of. Donna Safehaven Nubians Dandridge, TN > > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens to lay in the winter? > We are going to add lighting to come on a few hours before sunrise to > see if that will help. From what I have read it seems giving 17 hours > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed that poultry farms only > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them out. Our flock is going > on two years with young birds being added every few months. How do you > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the color change in the > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying strong again in the > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older hens, or will they > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read that layer pellet's > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we keep them in the brooder > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock where they go from a > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only difference from the > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase in calcium will this > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > Albert > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Has anyone had a hen lay a triple-yolk egg? One of our older americauna's did last year. Huge egg that I assumed was a double; it was elongated and had a perfectly etched line in the shell about a third-way from one end. We weighed it and it was a little over 4 ounces. When I broke it into the frying pan, two yolks came out, but the shell still seemed a little heavy. I looked into one of the ends and there was another membrane with a third yolk and a little white behind it. That hen laid lots of big doubles until the 'coon got her this spring....sigh. Once we slew the 'coons and fenced so the dogs could get to the chicken house, no more chicken murders. Attachment: vcard [not shown] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2007 Report Share Posted December 20, 2007 Do you have the kind that look like Rod ? I don't know what they're called. They really can't crow very well and they are hysterical to look at. My former next-door neighbor had a couple of hundred chickens, but just one like this. They named it, trained it to come when called, and it liked to be held--what a trip! Tammy > > > > > > Does anyone have any idea on how to get chickens > > to lay in the > > winter? > > > We are going to add lighting to come on a few > > hours before sunrise > > to > > > see if that will help. From what I have read it > > seems giving 17 > > hours > > > of light will keep them laying. Also I noticed > > that poultry farms > > only > > > keep there chickens for 70 weeks and cull them > > out. Our flock is > > going > > > on two years with young birds being added every > > few months. How do > > you > > > know when to cull the older hens. I know about the > > color change in > > the > > > beak and legs, but will an older hen start laying > > strong again in > > the > > > spring. Seem I get better egg size from the older > > hens, or will > > they > > > slow down and not lay as often? Also I have read > > that layer > > pellet's > > > are bad for younger pullets, Our problem is we > > keep them in the > > brooder > > > for about 8 weeks then introduce them to the flock > > where they go > > from a > > > chick starter to a laying pellet. Seem the only > > difference from the > > > grower feed and the laying pellet is the increase > > in calcium will > > this > > > hurt them? Thank you for the help. > > > > > > Albert > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ _______________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php? category=shopping > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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