I always give the girls greens every day. Most of the time I give them spinach but in the summer they have any of the greens from the allotment that are either abundant or have gone to seed. Today they have spinach.
Snow went broody three days ago. She had laid eight eggs in thirteen days. This is less than usual for her but it’s probably because it’s late in the year and potentially the last chance to raise chicks, which of course is never going to happen, but she doesn’t know that. This means we now have no girls laying.
Snow isn’t a committed broody and after a few days of closing the nest boxes she comes through it. She may start laying again in a couple of weeks time because as a first year girl she could continue laying through the winter.
Sugar has now started dropping feathers. I am finding them below wherever she perches. This means that she is starting her moult and as she usually stops laying in October I don’t expect her to lay again until the spring.
Red is now eight months old and still showing no sign of coming into lay. I think this means she probably won’t start laying until the spring.
In other critter news I have seen the frog again on the path near the chicken run. On my way up it was sitting on the path in light rain. On my way back down it was further down the path and jumped into the undergrowth.
We have also seen slow worms frequently. We are still seeing all sizes from tiny to really long. It seems late in the year so conditions must be good for them. We obviously have a good breeding population as they are all sizes from tiny through to full grown.
I finished worming the girls four days ago and found no worms so that’s good. The girls are all looking good and are very harmonious. We have a lovely flock.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
All is well with your girls.
It is, fingers crossed, everything is calm.
I am so pleased that you seem to be in a period of harmony, without any intense cause for concern about any of the girls. Hopefully, Snow will start laying again soon – but Red!!! I suspect you’re right about the spring; mind you, my pullets all look in brilliant condition, with headgear like layers, but not a solitary egg. As my father says, they’ll lay when they’re ready – but it is frustrating!
It’s odd that your girls have “laying” combs and haven’t started. Red has an immature comb. It’s as if she is stuck in a time warp. Her comb just hasn’t progressed so I am sure she won’t lay until spring. Your father is right though, they will lay when they are ready and there is nothing we can do about it!