no freeloaders today!

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:03 pm

It has been a few months since ALL of our hens laid on the same day! That would be all 15.
So... I'm happy to announce that there were no freeloaders today! And this is the third time it has happened since we've had them.

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 7:39 am

Yeah, I'm waiting for that day here..still not the case...but then the Rock machines are kicking in again after a serious moult so things should ramp up...getting about 16-18 eggs a day out of 26 hens right now...and an olive egger who thinks about kaying an egg once in a while..just who is in charge here?..lol. :running-chicken:

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:31 pm

TomK wrote:QR_BBPOST Yeah, I'm waiting for that day here..still not the case...but then the Rock machines are kicking in again after a serious moult so things should ramp up...getting about 16-18 eggs a day out of 26 hens right now...and an olive egger who thinks about kaying an egg once in a while..just who is in charge here?..lol. :running-chicken:

Who's in charge!!! Ha! Ha! We all know now!

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:06 pm

to no freeloader!! What's your secret!! LOL

Wished mine would pick up.....they really started laying in Feb, then because it was mild I moved to the top of the barn so they could go outside. Turned cold, sent them into a mini molt, no eggs

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:01 am

Mine are finally picking up in the laying dept. and everyday it seems another free loader is laying another. I dont know how many hens I have

but yesterday I got 8 eggs! WOOOHOOO I have about 3 dozen in the fridge and half a dozen reds set aside for hatching. It seems like forever since I had a full dozen of our own eggs. We did scarf down 2 dozen last sunday for brunch and OMG they are sooooooooo much better than store bought! I hope we dont have to buy anymore!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:33 am

thegawd wrote:QR_BBPOST Mine are finally picking up in the laying dept. and everyday it seems another free loader is laying another. I dont know how many hens I have but yesterday I got 8 eggs! WOOOHOOO

Yeah well I was pretty excited about 16 eggs yesterday, until I thought how many hens do I actually have and started adding them up, well I stopped once I got past 20 no point raining on my parade, but still free loaders here for sure

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:46 pm

I had one day last week that I went 9 for 10 (the 10th hen was sitting on eggs!)
I'm feeling pretty good about averaging 5 eggs a day considering 4 of my girls are 5 years old!

Skinny rooster · Post by **Skinny rooster** » Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:44 pm

I think I got everyone's freeloaders! Today I got zero eggs from 5 hens. I thought things would get better but the two Wyandotts only give me one egg a day and every few days I get none. I got three bantams on Saturday, two keep making nests but no eggs yet. Everyone is healthy, no bugs and they have everything ahead of them so hopefully the new ones are getting ready to lay. It's a bit annoying since I wanted to start the incubator. I got some mixed bantam eggs from my neighbour to add in.

The three Ameraucanas are growing nicely, they are such sensible and smart birds, that's why so many people like them. So far no red combs and they are nearly 16 weeks so here's to hoping I have at least two girls and maybe three, I suspect one could be a rooster but I am okay with that, I am enjoying them. I think they had been over crowed, but they are growing really fast and their picked feathers are coming back in nicely.

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 3:10 pm

Skinny rooster wrote:QR_BBPOST I think I got everyone's freeloaders! Today I got zero eggs from 5 hens. I thought things would get better but the two Wyandotts only give me one egg a day and every few days I get none. I got three bantams on Saturday, two keep making nests but no eggs yet. Everyone is healthy, no bugs and they have everything ahead of them so hopefully the new ones are getting ready to lay. It's a bit annoying since I wanted to start the incubator. I got some mixed bantam eggs from my neighbour to add in.

The three Ameraucanas are growing nicely, they are such sensible and smart birds, that's why so many people like them. So far no red combs and they are nearly 16 weeks so here's to hoping I have at least two girls and maybe three, I suspect one could be a rooster but I am okay with that, I am enjoying them. I think they had been over crowed, but they are growing really fast and their picked feathers are coming back in nicely.

Do you have any pictures of your Ameraucanas? I Googled the name and got a lot of different looking chickens. Or are they Araucanas?

Skinny rooster · Post by **Skinny rooster** » Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:01 pm

These are Ameraucanas because they have a tail and most importantly a bum, lol as Araucanas are rump less. However before everyone jumps down my throat, they are actually classed as Easter eggers because the colour of their legs and feathers are not correct but nobody better run down my babies lol! They have really grown a lot bigger now since I bought them.