Laying hens

[urbanfarmer]

Well, I guess my turn had to finally happen. I cannot find my Cuckoo Marans. boo hoo. Her buddy, the Golden Wyandotte is standing out in the rain waiting for her to come back. 

[Dystopia]

With low light you usually don't get many eggs. I have silver penciled rocks, they are pretty girls but constantly broody and late molters and I'm thinking of putting them in the freezer and starting from scratch next spring. I had a rooster and he just tore the hens up and when he started attacking me he quickly became dinner.

Grower thats awful, my SO keeps bringing up weasels but we have been lucky there, we've just had to deal with dogs, coyotes, raccoons, hawks & fox so far... Check out back yard chickens they have loads of information about pest control.

[Grower]

I'm fairly lucky with roosters. I have two now. The first one is rotten about attacking us, BUT if you don't walk towards him, he is okay. The other new one loves me so far, but I'm waiting till he gets spurs to decide whether he's *really* friendly! Both of them do their fatherly duty, but they don't beat the hens up with it. They are very good husbands of the hens -- they keep them from wandering off individually, look out for sky dangers, cluck in a satisfied way when they have dug up a morsel for a hen to eat. They really do look out for the girls.

[Dystopia]

What breed do you have Grower? I've heard 2 roosters generally balance each other out. I ordered a mixed run and I kept my Black Minorcas (he was an extra chick I got from McMurray) and he was hansome but he really tore the hens up and I got sick of being attacked every time I went into the coop. Wish I'd kept one of my SPRock roos but they tasted good and who needs 12 roosters?

I'm looking for recommendations for what I should get next spring, I know I'd like some Australorp hens plus I need something that can take the cold any advice? Plus how many hens do you have for the 2 roosters?

[Grower]

I have Buckeyes, an heirloom breed. They are also very winter hardy. Large for body heat and they have a "pea comb" that's less prone to frostbite. Some call it a "rose comb."

I have about 40-50 hens.

[akaskip]

I'm fairly lucky with roosters. I have two now. The first one is rotten about attacking us, BUT if you don't walk towards him, he is okay. The other new one loves me so far, but I'm waiting till he gets spurs to decide whether he's *really* friendly! Both of them do their fatherly duty, but they don't beat the hens up with it. They are very good husbands of the hens -- they keep them from wandering off individually, look out for sky dangers, cluck in a satisfied way when they have dug up a morsel for a hen to eat. They really do look out for the girls.

  My rooster is just the opposite, when my hands are full and my back is turned is when he decides to attack (sneaky ), the only reason we tolerate him is he is good with his girls.

[Grower]

Buck will do that more often with Hub than with me. And yes, usually when you are not looking!

Bo is good natured so far, but again, he doesn't have his spurs grown in yet either! We'll see how he is in the spring.

[country squire]

This morning we had two eggs!!!!!  I had just about given up!!   The hens were going in the freezer and tada!!!!We are pumped!!!

[Grower]

They knew.

[AreWeThereYet]

Mine just started up again as well about 2 days ago.  They'll be good til the next freeze.  I usually have to buy maybe 1 doz store eggs during the winter as they either totally stop or just lay one or two now and then.

[Grower]

I've had good luck with the light on down there, from 5:30 or so till 9:30. They lay best with 14 hours of light per day.

[AreWeThereYet]

I've had good luck with the light on down there, from 5:30 or so till 9:30. They lay best with 14 hours of light per day.

Ah..that would do it.  No, I don't have lights.  I just let them do their thing and work around their schedule.

[LSU2001]

I collected 8 eggs today out of 11 hens.  I have been getting about 4-5 per day but my pullets hatched this summer under a broody RIR hen are finally starting to lay.  out of the 8 eggs 3 were pullet eggs.

I had a RIR hen that was less than 1 year old go broody and sit on a clutch of 8 eggs.  She hatched and raised 5 chicks.  1 roo and 4 pullets. 
Seems like my flock is doing ok for now.
Tim

[Grower]

Wow, what a great ratio!

[WeedEater]

Looks like my hens are starting to increase their ration as well, picked up 16 eggs this morning.  My light is not on a timer, so it's been erratic how much time they get lit up.  Roosters gotta go soon, though!  Hens can't lay if they are continually ganged up on!