The 18 girls of the new layer flock are laying very well. They sent up 17 eggs Monday night. My husband said he hunted for the 18th to no avail.
I still get 1 or 2 small eggs, about an equal amount of medium and large eggs and 1 – 3 extra large eggs most days. Usually there’s between 13 and 15 eggs. Not bad for birdies who just passed 6 months old.
On Monday my husband brought in 40 more bags of leaves. I’m guessing we’re pushing 100 bags stored for next year. So we decided that was enough and let everyone know we wouldn’t be taking any more leaves.
The birds have a great time out there in them. Every so often we toss them a squash or a pumpkin. The seeds in these help prevent internal parasites and the birds love them, and the pulp.
They are also getting the alfalfa mash but without the herbs/forbs/flowers, as they still have greenery in the snake fence. The way the weather is going, I expect to have to take that fence down some time soon. Poultry netting is pretty useless with frozen ground. I will start the herbs at that time.
We still have pollock for their daily animal protein, but it is getting low. My husband says as soon as the roof is on the addition, he’s going pollock fishing and restocking the freezer.
They transitioned from the organic broiler crumbles they grew up on to the custom made layer mash with no problem. They certainly are laying the best I can remember of any flock at this age.
All the record keeping, good animal husbandry, and planning is really paying off this year, with this flock!