Backyard Poultry Forum

They are lovely Trillian and as you said, no news is good news
Your egg count beats me hands down! Egg count here for May from 3 langshans = 0
Thats right a big fat zero

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Erika

From my two Langies, also zero

They are all looking great and Jack is a gorgeous fellow!! They're in beautiful condition Very well loved birds.

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Cheerio, Rach
Blue Swedish Ducks

I have been astonished at how good the laying has been. Unfortunately I hadn't been keeping records but my impression is that Oswin in particular has had a couple of weeks off once a year and the rest of the time has laid almost continuously - I thought I had better start recording numbers of eggs so I can see if my memory is correct or not!

I would like to get another rooster next year if I can get some permanent pens set up and breed a couple of chicks from Oswin I think- I dont want to breed her to jack as they are half brother and sister but i would like some of her offspring - I don't think she is a show bird quality hen but her egg laying has been terrific so I would like to keep the line going if I can- but get a good quality rooster to improve the body type.

I have really been enjoying seeing your birds too Red Joanna- they are terrific!

Thanks Rach

Jack and Oswin would be fine to breed together. No problems there. They will make lovely babies!

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Erika

I'm not 100% sure about this but it has always been my understanding that you need to keep a male bird from your best egg laying hen then cross him back over his mother. The pullets from this mating are the ones to keep. I wouldn't worry about crossing half brother and sister together as long as they don't both carry the same faults

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Ham and eggs. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

I agree with that I wouldn't be worried about getting another rooster just yet. Get a son out of Jack and Oswin and keep the daughters of that son and Oswin.

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Cheerio, Rach
Blue Swedish Ducks

So no news continues to be good news! The girls and Jack have all settled down well. They all have a chat with me when I open the door of the house - telling me with increasingly loud voices each morning that they want to go out to explore and find earth worms and pick some grass and dig a dirt bath. Oswin loves a dirt bath and will have one even if the rest are too busy scratching around. They also love to pick at the wattle flower buds - the wattles haven't flowered yet but are getting ready too- the chickens really like it. I will post a couple of pictures with the flock out having a wonderful adventure and a couple of Sarah-Jane who has just about grown all her feathers back.

Sarah-Jane

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=8030495&start=45

This the link to my egg count for May and June

Very nice! They are all looking great. And what a fab spot to free range in too.

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Cheerio, Rach
Blue Swedish Ducks

Isn't it wonderful to see your chooks looking so healthy, doing what they love best - free ranging. They look lovely I'm so glad they're doing great.

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This is Oswin going through a really major moult - lost almost all her feathers.
I feel almost embarrassed for her it looks slightly undignified for the top hen to look like this!

But she is an amazing hen- she took about a week off but is now back to laying!

Liz and Zoe, the two blue girls and Nyssa the splash hen have been seriously broody for about 6 weeks I think. They are slowly coming out of it now but have been very determined to be broody!

Oh Oswin, you do look a bit of a sight! But soon you'll be back to your full magnificence! She sure is a fabulous layer

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Cheerio, Rach
Blue Swedish Ducks