Eggs, Escapes, and Additions

Escapes:  Last night while walking the dogs, we encountered the neighbor who lives behind us. He said he and his wife found one of our chickens wandering the alley between our houses, they attempted to catch it/corral it back, but could not.  Which is strange, because none of our girls have been missing.  I guess she found her way back in.  But last night I went around and plugged up all the holes under the fence large enough for a hen to fit through. They like to forage/dig under the fence line for treats, and in some places the gap they opened up was 6/7 inches. 

Eggs:  Today was the first day we got 4 eggs! Also, one of the hens is laying in the middle of the night, which is not normal at all. Last night I went out at 9pm to let the dogs out and check the girls. I found one laying on the coop floor, nesting in the bedding. I thought it was weird, put her back up on the perch, and didn't think anything more of it.  Then, this morning at 6am (again, out w/the dogs), I checked on them to find her AGAIN on the floor of the coop. This time when I moved her, she was sitting on an egg.  It's not really normal for them to lay in pitch black of night.  Consultation w/chicken experts (egg-sperts) seem to think she'll straighten her cycle out since she's a new layer.  The problem is since she lays in the middle of the night, it's too dark to find her way to the nest boxes.

Additions:  I think I have settled on 2 girls from someone nearby, who has an Easter Egger (XL green eggs @ 4/week), and a Silver Laced Wyandette (L brown eggs, @4/week).  I think I'll get these girls, unless someone emails me w/something I like better (i.e. a Leghorn or Austraorp would be my top choice). But these two girls are VERY pretty, so think they'll add some variety to my flock.

Egg count and sales

Now that all the girls are laying, I started keeping track of how many we get each day.  This week we got 18, which is way more than we can eat. So we sold our first dozen to hubby's coworker. There was a good reaction, and many people wanted to purchase the eggs!  Which has me thinking of adding to our little flock.

I really would like Australorps, due to their high egg production (5/week). However, I seem to have a hard time finding them online, at a good price, within a reasonable drive.  I did find someone selling 2 Barred Rocks close by for a good price, however the only lay 4/week.  But they are pretty birds, and I did want to try having that breed. Also, they are almost exactly the age of my girls. 

I'd also be interested in some Easter Eggers, they lay 4/week, but are Extra-Large Blue green eggs, but I haven't seen any for sale at a reasonable price nearby.

Snow and egg box update

This week was filled with eggs and snow.  The first day of the snow, they chickens were out forging in the yard as it snowed and didn't seem to mind at all.  It melted the next day, however the following night we got 5 inches.  With the ground/grass covered, the girls were reluctant to venture out into the snow. It seems that as long as there is dirt/grass for them to forage in, they don't mind the snow. So, for 2 days they were confined to the run below the chicken tractor.  As you can see from the pictures, I opened the door to let them out, however they chose not to come out.

They black colored Star, has been consistently laying in the egg boxes by herself. Henrietta is hit or miss if she'll lay in the box, or the bottom of the coop.  Neither Rhode Island Red has stated laying yet, despite one having a large comb/waddle.

In other news the in-laws visited, and, of course, we made them an egg breakfast!

Coop Commotion

So now that 2 are consistently laying, they are laying on the floor of the coop. They refuse to go up to the nest boxes, located on the 2nd floor of the coop.  I think they don't like the perch they have to get onto, to get into the next boxes.  They tend to not be able to get down. They tend to 'fall' down, which they don't like.  So I solicited help from fellow farm co-op members, and received some good suggestions and suggested modifications for the coop, which I plan on making this week.

They've been laying every other day, so I wasn't expecting them to lay today.  However, I heard a racket in the back yard, and went outside to hear the most god awful screeching from the ladies. I thought they were being attacked or were hurt. Seriously, it was that bad.  I thought my neighbors would think I was harming them! Last night I put a wood box in the coop in the spot they had been laying, hoping to encourage them to stand on the box to get to the nest boxes.  The two layers, were pissed as hell the box was in their 'laying spot' and were trying to find a spot to lay.  And, of course, squawking in displeasure.

I picked them up and put them in the nest boxes. They quickly stopped yelling, calmed down, and started to 'sit' and look broody in the nest boxes, looking like they were going to lay.  I feel better knowing they were acting like they are supposed to in the nest boxes.  Although I'm still confused,  they've been consistently laying every other day, and I was expecting any eggs today.

UPDATE:   After letting them sit in the boxes for 30 minutes, I went out to check on them.  Both had laid in the nest boxes!!!!   Yay!  We will see if they use them next time, this time I put them in the boxes, I hope next time they climb up there themselves! They both seemed to really like the next boxes, they were rearranging the bedding in the boxes to their liking.

2nd hen laying

The first hen to lay was the black colored 'Black Star' (I call her Blackie - I know, not very creative).  She laid every other day so far.  Today, Henrietta started laying as well (she is also a Black Star hatched the same day).  I knew Henrietta would start laying soon, as the pelvic gap was large (3 fingers) and her comb & wattle were getting very large and brightly colored.  Today, I caught Henrietta acting broody, then an hour later there was an egg w/a blood streak on it (indicating its likely the first egg to pass through the cloaca). Also, it was differently colored than the other eggs Blackie had been laying. (B's have been solid chocolatey brown, and H's had white spot on it). So I figured it was Henrietta's but was certain when  the other egg appeared a few hours later (Blackie's egg).  Today, they were both warm when I pulled them from the coop!

The Rhode Island's should start next week I am guessing. One of their comb/wattle is getting larger and brighter, but the other's is still small and pale colored.  Maybe 2 weeks for her? 

1st egg!!!

Got our first egg today!  Obviously I am so excited.  :) A few pics.  It wasn't in the egg box, so am going to amp up the egg box training.

Update...

Just a quick update.  Thusfar, the ladies are not laying even though they past the age of 20 weeks (probably due to the lay of daylight hours).  The good new is the winter solstice has passed, so they should start laying soon!  Everytime I have to purchase eggs as the store it frustrates me!

On the bright side, I am farm sitting in a few weeks. Someone is going away for the weekend, and I volunteered to take care of her farm (9 chickens, 20 meat rabbits, and 2 pregnant does).  The does are so sweet, it really make me want some. Especially since her property is smaller than mine and she manages just fine!  I figure it'll give me an idea of the care, without the milking.