Phil's injured finger gave us a great opportunity to process chickens, which we've considered doing for some time. At 26 weeks, a good month and a half after the hens should have started laying, we decided it was time.
We processed a hen first, to see if the egg-laying parts were developing. If they were, we were happy to leave the remaining hens and a sole rooster alive. After all, we didn't move to the country to eat store-bought eggs!
There was no development of eggs whatsoever.
So we butchered the roosters, and we butchered the hens. Phil did the actual killing, Jadon scalded, and Isaiah plucked and delivered to me. (Finally smart, I set up my eviscerating center in the motor home, where I had heat, hot running water, and music. Brilliant!)
Not a single hen had more than a collection of eggs the size of a pea (her tiny ovary).
What went wrong? Why are we facing another year without eggs?
Looking back, we had Rhode Island Reds laying last May. We introduced a group of Barred Rocks and White Leghorns from the same hatchery at that time. Immediately all egg production stopped. The Leghorns eventually began laying, but when we processed birds last fall, we killed all the others: the Reds had never resumed laying, and the Rocks never started.
We figured the Rocks introduced something to the Reds. Too bad, but that happens.
This year, we ordered Holland chicks from a different hatchery. But to have them also succumb to the same complete infertility—we wonder now if the Leghorns were carriers for some virus: they weren't affected, but they affect all others.
It's disappointing enough to bring tears to my eyes. Phil bleached the various parts of the hen hut and the brooder. But if the Leghorns were the issue, they were there all the time.
And if it is a virus, is it now on our land? Are we destined to pump hundreds of dollars into birds that will never lay, in the vain hope of having home-grown eggs? Eggs are the low-lying fruit, the easy starter for urbanites and neophyte farmers alike.
To have failed two years running, despite top quality feed, rotational grazing, all the sun Virginia offers ... as I said, it brings tears to my eyes.
On the positive side, I can, in some ways, be thankful that 3/4 of the original flock died through predation and accidents months ago. If we had 100 birds that we'd paid to keep for over half a year without eggs, that would have been a blow even more bitter. (The carcass size was not worth six months of feed.)
And I'm thankful we didn't wait longer to process.
Just wondering... our young hens never lay in winter. Once the days lengthen, then they start laying, no matter when they were hatched.
ReplyDeleteOur older hens (the ones still young enough to lay) stop for the winter too.
However, it is possible to fool mother nature by extending their daylight hours with artificial lights. Then we can control when they lay and when they molt.
That is a good point, and I suppose it is possible. The first year, we got chicks in October, and that worked well: they started laying at about 20 weeks in the lengthening days of spring.
ReplyDeleteBut we have friends with younger pullets that have started to lay in the last two or three weeks (breed difference perhaps?). And last year, our Leghorns all came into laying at about 20 weeks, though that would have been in August, not October. Maybe those two months were the key.
Argh! So much I don't know!
But I like the thought that maybe it's not some odd infertility virus hanging out in our land. A much happier thought indeed.
Amy, I would also check their food.. I know you are going soy free but do make sure there is enough protein in the food. Even given that fall really makes the hens slow down, you ought to have had the odd egg by now from 6 month old pullets.The positive is that you have freezer full of top class meat!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point. Checking online, Phil came away wondering if that was the issue (since little else makes sense).
ReplyDeleteI think, when we do chickens again, I will maybe supplement with maggot meal. I have seen reports about putting scrap meat (non-chicken, preferably) in a bucket with holes in the bottom off in a corner of the chicken enclosure so those little wiggling maggots will fall down and be gobbled up.
Lure flies away from my house and feed my chickens a high protein, free forage? I'm ready!
If you can control the ick factor....YUCK
ReplyDeleteHi Amy and family,
ReplyDeleteI started from the beginning with your blog and have reached this point. What a journey you've been on!
I was spurred to comment due to your lack of eggs. We live in Alaska and have always had our pullets start to lay at 20wks (give or take a week or so). We've generally purchased chicks at the end of May/beg. of June and had them laying in Nov. We supplement with light and definitely make sure they have the highest protein feed possible. Both of those things were the first I thought of when contemplating your dilemma. We've had an assortment over the years: Buff Orp., Auracana, Black Jersey, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Silver Laced W., Golden Comet, and Black Sex Link. Right now, we are raising Silver Laced, Blue Laced and Barred Rocks. It's been the same with all of them. Anyway, hope this helps in some way... Looking forward to being caught up and seeing how this new year is working out for you!
Blessings,
Tamara