Wednesday, August 15, 2012

It has begun!

I've been late collecting egg the last couple of nights because it's too freakin' hot.

The day before yesterday, I found a peahen egg, and she was sitting on it. I left it there. Yesterday, as well as today, she seems to have no interest, whatsoever. Oh well, it's a little late in the season for peeps, anyway!

However, the cochins seem to be coming through their moult in record time. I'm back up to 4-5 eggs one day, 1 or 2 the next. and due to the great whacking to end all egg eating, I'm down to 6, 2 1/2 year old hens.

Yesterday, I went down to find all the waterers empty. I had just filled them the morning the day before. Have I mentioned that it's hot? Anyway, while filling them, I collected 2 eggs, and set them on the poultry pen trashcan lid. The gang was beginning to look for their nightly roosts, and through the shade cloth from inside the pen, I noticed one of the Cuckoo Maran pullets eying them... I dashed out to rescue them, and prevent her from getting started down the road that ends with decapitation.

So this evening, I went down, collected 4 eggs, and on my way out, spied this:
Can you see it? Here's a close up:
One of the pullets, most likely a Cuckoo Maran, has started laying. Wow! I got them the first week of May, and they were about a week old at that point. They're 4 months old! Now granted, it could be one of the buffs or Australorps, but they're a little younger, so I doubt it. And it's certainly not one of the Americanas (not green or blue).

Since the 2 buffs and 1 Americana are going to Michelle, whenever I can get together with her, they will likely be laying hens at that point and no longer pullets! The other two buffs, an Australorp and a Maran are going to my sister in a week. She may have eggs sooner than she thinks, too!!

For comparison, here are the 4 eggs that I collected tonight (medium size, not large) and the newest, "practice" egg:
The lighter ones in the box are cochin eggs, the other two are from the Birchen hen and the Barred Rock.

I'm going to have to order egg cartons - I'm all out after this 18 holer is full!!



3 comments:

Michelle said...

My hens are starting to do a little better, too; several days lately I've gotten three whole eggs, instead of just one or two (from SEVEN hens).

I'd say that's definitely a Maran egg. When we meet up I can give you some recycled cartons; I always have more than I need thanks to people giving them back to me with "interest."

Off to TX tomorrow....

Theresa said...

It is freakin hot! Everyone is drinking up water here like crazy too, and it's a good thing!

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

I have enough egg cartons to start a business! Just before my chickens got whacked last year I had bought two dozen, I forgot that I'd asked my FIL to save his for me, so when we went down to visit in January he handed me two stacks of them (I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't have chickens at the time), and I've been saving them, for the simple fact that I can't throw them away!
So if you want me to toss some in a box for you, I will do that. Will have to wait until next week sometime, after I get home from this fire. I thought I was going home on Saturday, but it looks like possibly next Tuesday.