Many hens few eggs

[Lazy Gardener]

I'm averaging 18 eggs/day with 32 layers. Half pullets, half hens. Supplemental light since Nov.

No worries about it being too warm here!!!

 

[baymule]

@CrealCritter I had sex links at our old house. Our (now) oldest grand daughter was 5 in this picture. We would take a couple of chickens to the front yard for her to play with, tied to a brick so they couldn't get away. She is holding a red sex link, the other is a black sex link.

A year later, still lugging chickens around..... She and the little girl across the street would chase those hens all over the back yard. They carried them around, put them in "chicken jail" (an old rabbit cage) and had a blast with the hens. I expected those poor hens to suck their eggs up somewhere in the vicinity of their eyeballs, but they never missed a beat. Even with all the "love" they got, they still laid like champs.

does this answer your questions?

Have you hugged your chicken today?

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Love that last pic. Belongs on a post card or calendar.

 

[CrealCritter]

You brought a smile to my face. Granddaughters and chickens is the way it was meant to be.

 

[CrealCritter]

This is the hen that sits on my head. She wants my grand daughter to pick her up

So she did, she is just laying they in her arms. Pretty gentle hen if you ask me.

Paw paw I want to hold the pretty one (my wife's rooster) who she would not let me put in the pot "he's to pretty to eat". Again though pretty gentle for a RIR/BO crossed roo.

 

[Rammy]

Your lucky. I dont have one chicken that likes to be handled. And its good your rooster is so gentle with your grandaughter.

 

[CrealCritter]

Your lucky. I dont have one chicken that likes to be handled. And its good your rooster is so gentle with your grandaughter.

Well gentle is high on the list of requirements. Our first flock of rhoad island reds (not heritage). The rooster would attack my wife. She carried a stick with her when she went to go and tend to them.

Our next flock was rhoad island reds (heritage) and they were a lot better tempered.

Now I have mainly Buff Orpentions, two Buff Orpention / Rhoad Island Red hen crossed and 1 crossed roo. I still have 2 Rhoad Island Red heritage
hens because my wife liked there calm nature but the rest of them are Buff Orpention hens and 1 Buff Orpention roo who is huge.

 

[Rammy]

Ive had two BO roosters. Both have ended up in someones stewpot because they had an attitude. I now have a SLW rooster that isnt an idiot. He gets to stay.

 

[CrealCritter]

Ive had two BO roosters. Both have ended up in someones stewpot because they had an attitude. I now have a SLW rooster that isnt an idiot. He gets to stay.

Like you I don't tolerate chicks with tudes. Mean rooster soup is pretty good

 

[Mini Horses]

My flock of RIRs are heritage from a long time private breeder. My hens & roos are large, non-aggressive and calm although a bit skiddish if you want to pick them up in a field. But no problem from the roost, or when you do catch them. They just quickly walk off when you decide to get them if they are loose. Since my flocks do have free range, I am fine with their demeanor. Mean rooster soup IS served here. Alas, some not mean roo soup, also. Ya gotta control numbers. (I like my RIRs as they have a lot of good meat. BOs, also but I have to repopulate that breed this yr.)

All of mine are fine to walk among, handle to some extent but not wait at your feet to feet picked up. I have no young kids, so it's all ok.