Many hens few eggs

I just want eggs again

CrealCritter said:

I just want eggs again

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Me too! But, chickens have so much diversity. They're kinda like flowers with many colors and characteristic to choose from. I can't pick just one!

I really prefer a good breeder bird. Now, there's good & bad, I know but, a good breeder will develop a good bird. It does cost a little more up front but, worth it to me. There is a good contingent of "show bird" breeders about 1 hrs from me. Several shows in that area and near big showgrounds.

CrealCritter said:

I just want eggs again

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Patience, Grasshopper. We all want that. Mine are starting up again - s.l.o.w.l.y.

I let them out to roam and forage the property. My wife complained because her Rottweiler, pulls her around like a little girl wanting to chase chickens (even with the pinch collar on). What's a guy to do??? Well let's just say chickens gate is locked again.

Make love, not war - that's my motto.

frustratedearthmother said:

Me too! But, chickens have so much diversity. They're kinda like flowers with many colors and characteristic to choose from. I can't pick just one!

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Yeah... I'm not much of a flower guy. Nice to look at and smells good. Ok I'll give you that, but not much usefulness. Unless to attract pollinators. Hummm there is a distinct similarity here, isn't there?

Mini Horses said:

I really prefer a good breeder bird. Now, there's good & bad, I know but, a good breeder will develop a good bird. It does cost a little more up front but, worth it to me. There is a good contingent of "show bird" breeders about 1 hrs from me. Several shows in that area and near big showgrounds.

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I never been much of a showy kind of guy. I could have the ugliest chickens there is but as long as they lay eggs, I'm cool with that.

"Are they good egg layers, calm and gentle?"

CC, the golden comets lay well, but they eat a LOT for their size compared to my other birds. I don't handle my birds routinely as they all free range, but they are reportedly a good gentle bird. Im not impressed with them because I don't like birds in my flock waiting around do handouts. I like mine to be out foraging. I don't have any birds in my group that fight (I cull those) and the GCs will run toward me (like much of the flock) every time I'm walking around the yard. So they're not afraid of people, and they're not doing anything like fighting yet to be culled, but if they don't forage better this next year, I'll be getting rid of them.

CrealCritter said:

I let them out to roam and forage the property. My wife complained because her Rottweiler, pulls her around like a little girl wanting to chase chickens (even with the pinch collar on). What's a guy to do??? Well let's just say chickens gate is locked again.

Make love, not war - that's my motto.

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My birds are also locked up for the most part. Hubby has this thing about falling into their dust bath trenches and stepping in piles of chicken poo. (He doesn't like that.) He likes a neat lawn. I like seeing the chicken eye candy spread across the lawn ridding it of insects and fertilizing it. So, for the most part, my flock is penned. Not to mention... we have severe hawk predation here.

CrealCritter said:

I never been much of a showy kind of guy. I could have the ugliest chickens there is but as long as they lay eggs, I'm cool with that.

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Pretty can be good layers also. I absolutely LOVE barred/cuckoo patterned birds. Cross those with a drop dead gorgeous Buck Eye roo, throw in a bit of EE, and I get: Good layers. Colorful egg basket. A flock of varied color, including black sex links, with small combs that excel in my harsh winter climate. (Pea, rose, walnut). Unfortunately, my BE roo is not bred pure for comb, so he's throwing some single combs. I hope that eventually, he'll produce a BE son who will not carry the recessive for single comb.

I must confess I keep chickens for fun, not eggs. Whatever eggs I get I give away mostly, or DS sells them. I'm going to import hatching eggs from England this year as I couldn't find what I was looking for here (Andalusians and specific strains of OEG)