Raising chickens for eggs and turkeys for holiday dinners has taught us so much …
You do not have to have a rooster to have hens who lay eggs
Hens start laying eggs at approximately 4-6 months of age
Egg color: Look at the hen’s ears. If they are white, she will lay WHITE eggs. If they are red, she will lay BROWN eggs. If the hen’s legs are blue/green, she will lay blue/green eggs.
Eggs should be stored with pointed end down.
Incubation period of a fertilized chicken egg is approx. 21 days.
Higher protein feed yields more eggs
(increased productivity with layer pellets over scratch feed)
Egg production will decrease as the days get shorter and during periods of stress or molting.
Chickens of different ages should be raised separately.
Newcastle disease is very contagious. Currently (2019), in California, poultry shows are being cancelled to prevent the spread. There is no cure.
Turkey poults should not be raised with chickens.
Chickens are easily captured in the dark.