Deb - Definitely pets.. these guys are sooo small.. they wouldn't even make a Cornish hen dinner. But they are adorable!! Hmm.. maybe on crackers with a little honey dijon...

Skiekitty said:Deb - Definitely pets.. these guys are sooo small.. they wouldn't even make a Cornish hen dinner. But they are adorable!! Hmm.. maybe on crackers with a little honey dijon...

It is good that they will have a nice new home.

(Bump!)

No chick news here except that I will soon be adding to my laying flock, since many of the hens have reached retirement age. I expect to order Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Ameraucanas, and Speckled Sussex. I will also add Jersey Giants, Minorcas, and Buckeyes if they are available at the same time. I like to offer a variety of colorful eggs.

My hens are waking up for spring - just started laying again. They molted in November, then took all of December and half of January off. I'm OK with that, makes it easier for us to take off during the winter duldrums. Porkpal, how many years do you generally get out of your hens before they retire? I've read 5-7 years is average. Mine are going on Year 4, I let them rest in the winter, and they have a large yard plus frequent free-ranging. No rooster.

My hens normally lay very well for the first two years or so (maybe only one for the sex-links). They then slow down and lay fewer but larger eggs for another two or three years. After that production is spotty. My oldest hen currently is 8 and still lays occasionally - I only know because her eggs are easily identifiable by their unusually oblong shape, too tall for even "jumbo" egg cartons.

I'll see how they do this year. Last year I was getting 6+ eggs a day from 8 hens, so figured they were all likely laying.

It sounds as if they are doing very well. What breed(s) are they?

Mixed bag - 4 welsummers, 3 buff orpingtons, and 1 huge Brahma. All good layers for me, and one of the welsummers is my 'weeding hen' - she follows me around and snacks on worms and bugs as I garden.

My girls are laying again after a hard molt and a leisurely December. I will have to sell them soon as we are moving. The logistics are just too much to take them with. Am hopeful I'll find someone who wants a well rounded flock. They are young(ish) - all a year or less. And my rooster, Pretty Boy, a welsummer, is magnificent. His 'hey baby' dance is stage worthy, lol. I hate to give them up but.... I have welsummer, buckeye, orpington, light brama, cuckoo maran, olive egger, red star and icelandic hens.

Sounds like a colorful flock, Jersey! I had a welsummer rooster but he was too mean and nasty and met with a bullet.