Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
December.
The days are at their shortest this month and egg production is also at a low
point. Continue to supplement your day length with artificial light if you want high egg
production. Check for lice and mites again. Paint the roosts with a mixture of motor oil
and kerosene. If mites are rampant you might have to add a fumigant to the mixture.
Worm your birds if they are in good condition and not overly stressed.
YEAR 2, January.
Natural light is starting to increase and birds on natural light will
start laying on their own. Colder days require careful monitoring for frozen combs and
wattles, and monthly checks for lice and mites that zap the birds' already limited cold-
weather strength. If you are going to keep a constant supply of eggs you will want to
refer back to year one and start again with a new batch of chicks while continuing to
care for the grown birds in their second year.
February.
If you forced the young to lay throughout the winter, they are getting a bit
tired; expect some periodic drops in egg production. Birds on a natural light cycle are
just starting to go strong by month's end. Increasing day length will increase egg pro-
duction.
March.
Your babies are now a year old. You'll either receive a new set of chicks to in-
corporate into the existing flock for a continuous supply of eggs in the fall, or see if any
of yours are of the breeds that go broody and plan accordingly. The first warm days of
spring will push some of the mothering types of chickens into broodiness. If you want
to raise your own chicks, provide your prospective mother or mothers with a separate
place to start their 21-day journey.
April, May, and June.
Your babies are no longer pullets; they are now called hens, as
they are older than one year. This is the time to check to see who is laying and who is
not. The easiest method is the two-finger method: Take your two fingers next to your
thumb and they should fit between the pubic bones of the hen. The more space the bet-
ter. If your fingers will not fit, your hen is not laying eggs. The hens that are the highest
producers tend to attract the most attention from the males. The most abused-looking
hen with a pecked spot on her head and her back feathers missing is likely the best lay-
er you have. The hen that sits on the roost or walks around and looks like she is ready
for a beauty pageant is most likely a laying dud.
Birds discovered to be duds can be separated for a while and perhaps given a special
treat or two to see if they can improve their habits. If there's no change after a month,
it is time to either have a chicken to dinner or find a new home for her.
