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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all) jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Laying hens       08/30/06 04:08 PM Edit   Reply   I bought some chicks before Easter and I have three that have been laying eggs and two that don't . Is this normal or is there something I need to do to make them start laying. Jerry Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       08/30/06 04:38 PM Edit   Reply   Are the two roosters? Egon Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       08/30/06 06:35 PM Edit   Reply   No they are all hens. Post Extras:       JoeR Silver Member Reged: 09/11/02 Posts: 207 Loc: St.Cloud, FL Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/01/06 08:50 PM Edit   Reply   It can take some hens 26-28 weeks before they start laying. Joe Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: JoeR]       09/02/06 09:17 AM Edit   Reply   If they aren't laying by 8 months, replace them and have them for Sunday dinner. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/06/06 09:26 PM Edit   Reply   Thanks JoeR and Pat. Ok I have another question, I don't have a rooster would that help out the ones that aren't laying or does it make no difference. Jerry Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/07/06 04:25 PM Edit   Reply   Depends on if you are selling the eggs to health food types or not. The hens lay just fine without roosters. Egg ranches usually have no roosters. Some Health Food adherents claim that fertilized eggs are more natural and more healthy. I prefer eggs NOT from caged hens in laying factories. I prefer eggs from chickens that get to eat bugs and grass. The yolks are so pretty golden and rich looking. You can always try soaking their feet in warm epson salts solution and massaging their feet and letting them watch reruns of "All in the Family" as that will have the same effect as having roosters in with them. They will lay or not. If not, chicken on the menu the first Sunday after the previously posted "deadline." Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       JoeR Silver Member Reged: 09/11/02 Posts: 207 Loc: St.Cloud, FL Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/07/06 06:22 PM Edit   Reply   Sorry Pat, but Archie Bunker doesn't do anything for my hens. My hens prefer to watch the Barnyard movie. It keeps them cackling when they see a bull with utters. Joe Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: JoeR]       09/08/06 06:18 AM Edit   Reply   Joe, You're telling me they put a bull with udders in a kiddie cartoon/movie. I haven't been pleased with the entertainment industry over values they instill in children and how they prortray/promote certain lifestyles B U T...... Now we have the equivalent of an, at best, CROSS DRESSING bovine. Oh well, maybe it won't have a negative impact on your egg production (any worse than you have already.) Hang in their buddy, one day well look baqck and THESE will be the good ole days! Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/08/06 09:38 AM Edit   Reply   Thanks again, I better find someone who would take them and clean and eat them. My wife and kids would never let that happen here. Jerry Maybe I should have a talk with the hens and explain the situation if they don't start laying.... Post Extras:       JazzDad Veteran Member Reged: 10/29/02 Posts: 551 Loc: South Central Texas Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/08/06 12:01 PM Edit   Reply   I have a sign up in my coop. It reads: lay lots of eggs or (and here is a picture of a roasted chicken laying in a bed of lettuce). There are those who say chickens can't read, but ours seemed to have taken the admonition to heart. All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.-Michael Carr Post Extras:       lovethesticks Member Reged: 03/24/06 Posts: 52 Loc: Southwest Michigan Re: Laying hens [re: JazzDad]       09/08/06 04:04 PM Edit   Reply   JazzDad - Thanks for freshening up a memory of my dad! Many, may years ago, my dad and uncle had a contest as to whose peas would be ready to eat first. My dad was losing so he went out and spoke to the peas..."If you dadburn, blankey-blank peas aren't blooming tomorrow, I'm plowing you all under!" He won. Chris Post Extras:       Adron Silver Member Reged: 07/02/05 Posts: 100 Loc: S.W. Missouri Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/08/06 09:12 PM Edit   Reply   Pat: I know that roosters are not necessary for egg production. However our free range production reds are much calmer and less fractious with a rooster or 2 around. We have a small silky rooster that literally rules the roost. When he uses that "Big black bird in the sky" cry, you should see the old gals run for cover. Of course this would never happen in an egg factory. Adron You can have it good, quick or cheap. Pick 2. Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/09/06 11:07 AM Edit   Reply   Jerry, Folks say that if you name an animal you probably won't eat it. One of my neighbors replied on hearing that... I got one named hamburger, one is potroast, one is ribeye... When I was a preschooler we raised rabbits BUT ATE FRIED CHICKEN. My favorite piece of chicken as a youngster was a drumstick. I didn't care for wings. NO PROBLEM with these fried chickens as there were plenty of drumsticks and no wings! I don't think it is brutal or wrong for children to KNOW where their animal protein comes from. I think it is more wrong to pretend meat grows on trees and looks like watermelon when cut into, a layer of rind (fat) like the white outer melon layer, altogether melon-like except for the bones. Life is not a Disney visit. I have always felt that to buy meat the customer (except for rare exceptions) should be required to have a meat consumers lisc. To qualify for the lisc you would have been required to have toured a few slaughter houses/packing plants and participated and pass both a written test as well as a practical demonstration. I think it would be appropriate to include this in the grade school curriculum. This might or might not increase the percentage of vegetarians but would demistify the animal as food. There just has to be something wrong when people eat all sorts of animals but have to at least pretend to not know where the meat comes from to be comfortable. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       Bird Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 1694 Loc: Corinth, TX, USA Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/09/06 11:42 AM Edit   Reply   Pat, we never raised any rabbits when I was a kid. My younger brothers raised them, after I left home, and they were living in town, but we sure ate lots of cottontails, jack rabbits, and an occasional swamp rabbit. But we did raise hogs, calves, and chickens to slaughter for our meat. I can understand what you're talking about. I guess it's a bit peculiar, funny, or whatever, but I never minded shooting squirrels, rabbits, and birds to eat. However, I really hated killing the domestic animals; even hated killing the occasional cottontail that I trapped live. But I did understand why it was necessary and did it. Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: Adron]       09/09/06 11:44 AM Edit   Reply   Adron, I'd bet that somewhere some pencil pusher looked at the potential costs and benefits of playing ROOSTER CROWING over speakers at the egg factory. I can see it now. A stuffed rooster on a continuous loop track circling around and passing up and down the isles to be seen and heard by the layers to exact a 2.017% increase in average lifetime laying production with only a 1.32% increase in feed consumption. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       Adron Silver Member Reged: 07/02/05 Posts: 100 Loc: S.W. Missouri Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/09/06 12:39 PM Edit   Reply   RITFL..........Not hard to visualize at all. The only thing questionable is the percentages might be off just a little. Adron You can have it good, quick or cheap. Pick 2. Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: Bird]       09/09/06 09:35 PM Edit   Reply   Bird, That reluctance to kill but the ability to do what is needed is exemplified by some of the members of THAT side of my ancestry where the spirit of the animal was asked for forgiveness. I was never a trophy hunter. I spread skins to dry and took squirrels tais and rabbits tails and such but the only thing edible that I killed and didn't eat was poisonous snakes. I have eaten some but if I need something that "Tastes Like Chicken", I'll eat a chicken. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/09/06 10:55 PM Edit   Reply   Pat, I agree and I bought the laying hens for my kids so they could experience a little bit of farm life. Jerry Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/10/06 05:03 AM Edit   Reply   Do they also get to clean the hen house? Egon Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/10/06 08:24 AM Edit   Reply   jdc, I think you are providing your children a wonderful opportunity to learn about the natural world. Lots of kids have watched chicks hatch or kittens be born and such and grow up with a deepening understanding of the natural world comensurate with their level of maturation. They learn that things have a begining and end and purpose. Not every lesson can be taught by watching reruns of "Ole Yeller" and "The Waltons." Too many kids these days think puppies and kittens are bought at the store and are made by Mattel or whoever along with the toys. You play with them like a doll or toy robot when it is fun and ignore them and leave their needs to others when not the focus of the moment. Even feeding chicks is a responsibility and teaches kids that others are dependent on them and they need to discharge their duties for the well being of others. Gee, this makes me want to incubate some eggs... Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/10/06 11:05 AM Edit   Reply   And clean the hen house Pat?? Egon Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/10/06 05:15 PM Edit   Reply   Egon, I thought you had made that point just fine earlier but if you desire some support... Kids frequently only deal with animals as pets (sort of surogate siblings) and then only the part you feed and pet not the final result of the feeding. Hence the importance of the character building and reality reinforcing chores of cleaning up after the animals. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Edited by Pat (09/10/06 05:18 PM) Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/11/06 06:25 AM Edit   Reply   For quite a few years Saturday morning was my time to clean the henhouse, barn and bring back clean straw bedding. I also got to turn the handle on a grinder for the oats we fed the chickens. Oh, I also got to feed them. Nothing more pleasant than a henhouse on a brisk -20 F morning. Don't know about character building but do know about cleaning henhouses! Egon Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/11/06 06:30 AM Edit   Reply   That would be nice but it's hard enough to get them to feed and water. Although they enjoy gathering the eggs, and I think the hens enjoy scaring the kids. Jerry Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/11/06 12:28 PM Edit   Reply   Egon, You said. "Don't know about character building but do know about cleaning henhouses! " Trust me, the character buillding worked fine, you are quite a character! I can also recall being in a dairy barn and the PIERCING quality of ammonia in the air so thick as to almost take your breath away . It would certainly clean out your sinus cavities and try to make some new ones. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       CharlieTR New Member Reged: 06/16/06 Posts: 10 Loc: Northeast Texas Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       09/26/06 04:29 PM Edit   Reply   I thought that the hens must hear the rooster before they will lay eggs. If they think there is no rooster, no need to lay eggs. You don't actually need a rooster, but at least a recording of a rooster crowing. Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: CharlieTR]       09/27/06 05:08 AM Edit   Reply   Nope, they lay eggs, but the eggs are infertile. Egon Post Extras:       jdc40 Member Reged: 10/25/05 Posts: 58 Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/27/06 08:50 AM Edit   Reply   Well about 5 days ago I told the hens that who ever isn't laying eggs is going to become Sunday dinner, and I know that it had nothing to do with it but the two that weren't laying must have taken it to heart cause we get 5 eggs a day know . Jerry Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/27/06 10:44 PM Edit   Reply   Egon, Didn't you notice that Charlie was in Texas??? Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       09/28/06 05:04 AM Edit   Reply   Isn't Texas right below Oklahoma Pat? Egon Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       09/28/06 10:33 AM Edit   Reply   Egon, Right you are, eh. Many of those in the know refer to it as Baja Oklahoma. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       JazzDad Veteran Member Reged: 10/29/02 Posts: 551 Loc: South Central Texas Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       10/04/06 08:18 AM Edit   Reply   "Baja Oklahoma"? We normally just say, 'Bah, Oklahoma'. (Yes, it took me that long to come up with a snappy comeback!) All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.-Michael Carr Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: JazzDad]       10/05/06 08:01 AM Edit   Reply   JazzDad, You have a snappy comeback? OK what is it? (I assume the anemic way below your intellectual standards "Bah" certainly isn't it!) I can hear someone (in my mind's ear) with a Texas accent saying Bah Oklahoma and everyone still hearing Baja Oklahoma. I take no personal credit for Baja Oklahoma as it was the title of a movie with lots of actors in it from Lesley Ann Warren to Willie Nelson (playing himself.) Movie info ===> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094704/ Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       Michael Silver Member Reged: 05/26/05 Posts: 118 Loc: Collins MS Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       10/07/06 06:11 PM Attachment Edit   Reply   Just got through cleaning the henhouses and brought in new hens (15,000 give or take). You ARE a redneck if... you knew someone whose last words were "Hey y'all, watch this!" Edited by Michael (10/07/06 06:13 PM) Post Extras:       Michael Silver Member Reged: 05/26/05 Posts: 118 Loc: Collins MS Re: Laying hens [re: Michael]       10/07/06 06:17 PM Attachment Edit   Reply   Trying attachment again You ARE a redneck if... you knew someone whose last words were "Hey y'all, watch this!" Post Extras:       wulfman New Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 7 Loc: Northern CA Re: Laying hens [re: Michael]       10/11/06 08:37 PM Edit   Reply   You know, I really enjoy these kind of sites. Grandpa (85 years young) is going to fund a chicken ranch for our 10 year old. I mean, lumber to build a 6x6 or 6x8 henhouse and then about 6 or so layers. We've never done this, having been raised in the burb's of Silicon Valley but 6 years ago we wanted our kid's to grow up in a more wholesome community, cashed out and bought 12 acres up in the Sierra Nevada foothills. I think not only will this help our kid's (the chicken ranch thing - The move has already paid off in the community alone!) but us as well. Our kid's do understand where meat comes from because we don't tell faiy tales and expect them to have some responsiblity as well. Don't know what this country is coming to, but our kid's will be realists and somewhat prepared beyond book schooling. Post Extras:       JazzDad Veteran Member Reged: 10/29/02 Posts: 551 Loc: South Central Texas Re: Laying hens [re: wulfman]       10/12/06 08:17 AM Edit   Reply   Just wait until the first time your hens molt. You will be SURE that they are dying, or worse! All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.-Michael Carr Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: wulfman]       10/12/06 02:26 PM Edit   Reply   Wulfman, AHWOOOOOOOOW!!! When you notice that the rats are begining to win too many of the heats it is time to get out of the rat race. Cool move, hope you adapt well to the slower pace. It will undoubtedly be a wonderful thing for the kids. My mom wasn't quite so straight forward with my sis and me. She raised rabbits but we ate chicken, albeit without wings and plenty of drumsticks. I took early retirement and have been working harder since than I did before. Different responsibilities, I get to spend less of other peoples money but would not go back to the "HIVE" for double or tripple my parting salary (vanishingly remote posibility.) Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       kip New Member Reged: 01/06/04 Posts: 12 Re: Laying hens [re: jdc40]       10/26/06 10:29 AM Edit   Reply   what is the best way to transport (and catch) a roodter - need to take to someone who wants him - too agressive for my 4 year old. Post Extras:       egon Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 3031 Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada Re: Laying hens [re: kip]       10/26/06 02:09 PM Edit   Reply   Check with Bird. He has a Rooster Tamming program in hand. Post Extras:       kip New Member Reged: 01/06/04 Posts: 12 Re: Laying hens [re: egon]       10/26/06 03:44 PM Edit   Reply   I meant roosters...my roodster isn't a problem! Post Extras:       Michael Silver Member Reged: 05/26/05 Posts: 118 Loc: Collins MS Re: Laying hens [re: kip]       10/26/06 05:32 PM Edit   Reply   Catch him at night. not nearly as aggressive when sleepy. You ARE a redneck if... you knew someone whose last words were "Hey y'all, watch this!" Post Extras:       Adron Silver Member Reged: 07/02/05 Posts: 100 Loc: S.W. Missouri Re: Laying hens [re: Michael]       10/26/06 06:33 PM Edit   Reply   Actually, chickens have no night vision at all. After completely dark, just move slow, reach under him and grab both legs. If you only get 1 leg, he still has 1 active spur. Adron You can have it good, quick or cheap. Pick 2. Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: Adron]       10/29/06 07:11 PM Edit   Reply   Adron, The chickens with night blindness is very interesting. Is it all chickens or some genetically shortchanged commercial varities? Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras:       Bird Veteran Member Reged: 09/12/02 Posts: 1694 Loc: Corinth, TX, USA Re: Laying hens [re: Pat]       10/29/06 07:30 PM Edit   Reply   Pat, aren't the chickens much the same an other night roosting birds? If you move slowly and quiet after dark, or if you shine a light in their face, it's easy to catch chickens on the roost. Isn't that what makes them such easy prey for some predators? Post Extras:       Pat Veteran Member Reged: 09/15/02 Posts: 4904 Loc: SouthCentral Oklahoma Re: Laying hens [re: Bird]       10/29/06 07:41 PM Edit   Reply   Bird, I really don't know but suspect at least many night roosting birds could be taken that way, pigeons can. I was talking to a friend at noon today and mentioned the night blindness thing and he sad he has several chicks that haven't learned to go to the coup at night but in the dark he can just walk up and pick them up like they were zoned out and stick them in the coup. Pat "I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!" Post Extras: