I bought two bantam pullets yesterday from a guy who doesn't know how old they are. They're definitely on the smallish side (even for bantams). After I got them set up at home in a nice little pen, they were still pretty upset and I heard them cackling just the way grown hens do after they've laid an egg. Does the cackling say anything about how old they might be? When I've raised regular (standard size)chicks before, I've never heard them cackle until they were of laying age. Do bantams mature faster or slower than standard breeds? What is your opinion on the cackling? I plan to use these to hatch eggs when they get broody; my incubator is broken and the eggs are piling up:o)

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), January 13, 2002

Answers

Hi Elizabeth, what breed of bantams did you get? I'm not an expert on bantams, but I also would be inclined to think that they must be pretty mature to be cackling. We had a little Rhode Island Red bantam in Texas, who really only laid kind of seasonally, but she was an awfully sweet pet(would let the little children carry her around), and she did hatch eggs for me in the spring,was a nice little mother.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

I don't think these banties are any particular breed; we bought them from an old man who had all kinds of poultry loose in the yard, so I'm pretty sure they are mixed. One is a golden buff, and the other has partridge coloring, I think it's called. I really wanted Silkies (and still do), but we had to take what we could get. We paid $4.00 each, and they seem free of mites and disease, although my friend, who also bought two, pointed out that their combs are pale and kindof scaly/dry looking, instead of bright red and shiny.

I think I'll go take a picture and see if I can post it.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), January 13, 2002.

Elizabeth--- If the bantams had already started laying /the egg would already be developed in them----& as most will quit laying /if they are moved or upset--they will lay that egg already in process that was in their body-(before the move started)-if they were to laying age----(did that make sense??)

We have always rasied bantams---- first I'd put them in the chicken house or where ever you are going to keep them---with food & water for a few days---shut up--

Our bantams have started laying when they are around 6 months old -or so--- it will depend on what kind of bantam they are---on size---as I have several kinds & also mixes!!

The cackle----gosh-----you know I have all sizes & we just put some young ones in with the older hens--- & they are not close to laying size(or age) yet---& I have heard them do the bantam "sing"---& I have heard a cackle ---but not the one they do after they lay an egg-- -(I'm sorry did that make sense ???)

Hope that was some kind of help---

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 13, 2002.

my bantams havnt laid one egg since I have had them. They are over a year old,, but as long as they start in the spring,,, its ok,,IM also going to let them do my hatching for me,, if they go broody

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 13, 2002.

When I raised bantams I could not get them to lay at all during the winter. Mine always seemed to start laying around April.

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Well all I have are bantams & they are laying their heads off--of coarse we put a little bit of vinegar in their water in the winter---- now I have no clue why---but my Dad taught me that & his Dad taught him etc/etc/---(they were the kind of men you did what you were told & didn't ask questions--now they--are both dead & I still do what they told me & I have no idea why!!! ha!)

So I tell my chickens---now I'm putting a little vinegar in your water to help you all to lay better & it has worked so far ----for many/many/many/many---years!! ha!

Wish you were closer as I said /to hubby this morning we have to take eggs to church with us tonight & give away & take some to our daughter----

We eat eggs like crazy & we still have eggs!!! Bless the little girls hearts!!!!

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 13, 2002.

We live in Northeast Texas, and our hens have always layed well in the winter; they free range and get lots of sun. But I know I need to be patient with these little banties; they're really small and may only be a couple of months old. I couldn't get a good picture of them to post. Even if they were broody right now, they could hardly handle hatching the nearly 60 eggs I have! I foolishly started saving eggs *before* I tested my incubator; I won't do that again.

I've had these hatching eggs sitting out at room temperature for a couple of weeks but I'm sure I can use the oldest ones in cakes and such, so no harm done,really. Only I was looking forward to hatching out a bunch of baby chicks.

Thank you all for the replies!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), January 13, 2002.

my banties were 7 mo old when i got them. they were laying for the man i got htem from, but when i got them it took them 5 mo to lay their first egg!!! tempermental little things.be patient. mine are aracaunas and every day i get a litle blue egg. i live in north ga it its is very cold here. they didnt lay all summer and just started this month. go figure. good luck. cody

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), January 14, 2002.

Hello I just discovered this forum today - what a wonderful thing! Wish I knew about this summer of 2000 when I got my first chickens. Anyway, I would like to quote a bit from a resource book I have. It is entitled "A Guide to raising Chickens" by Gail Damerow. It contains excellent information. I always find advise easier to follow when I understand "why!".

pg 113 "Rate of Lay All pullets lay small eggs when they first start out, and they lay only one egg every three or four days. By the time a hen is 30 weeks old, her eggs will reach their normal size and she should lay at least two eggs every three days. A good laying hen produces about 20 dozen eggs in her first year. At about 18 months, she'll take a break to molt. After the molt, she'll lay bigger eggs than before, but fewer of them. During her second year, she'll average between 16 and 18 dozen.

-- Bernadette Kerr (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

To quote my favorite resource book on chickens: "A Guide to raising Chickens" by Gail Damerow. pg 113 "Rate of Lay All pullets lay small eggs when they first start out, and they lay only one egg every three or four days. By the time a hen is 30 weeks old, her eggs will reach their normal size and she should lay at least two eggs every three days. A good laying hen produces about 20 dozen eggs in her first year. At about 18 months, she'll take a break to molt. After the molt, she'll lay bigger eggs than before, but fewer of them. During her second year, she'll average between 16 and 18 dozen. All hens stop laying in winter, not because the weather turns cold, but because daylight hours are shorter in winter than in summer. When the number of daylight hours falls below 14, hens may stop laying until spring." Out of space - see next message

-- Bernadette Kerr (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

I hope the paragraph from Gail Damerow's book helps. I think the rest will depend on how old the hens are.

I'm new to this forum - just discovered it today. I wish I was aware of it summer of 2000 when I got my first chickens!

Bernie

-- Bernadette Kerr (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

Oops - sorry about the double post-I didn't realize the first message actually went when I ran out of space. I'll learn. Just like the "accidently" kept rooster will make me figure out how to work the incubator that I've since acquired. My first experience with layers (not counting what Mom & Dad had when I was a kid) was summer of 2000. I purchased ten 20-week old layers, and 25 White Rock day old chicks. Then I told my husband, and then we built the chicken coop. It was finished the night before we expected delivery of the birds. This year, I purchased 30 dual purpose meat birds, 4 harco pullets and 4 barred rock pullets, all day old. One barred rock ended up a rooster, hence the incubator. Learning by doing - wonderful fun!

-- Bernadette Kerr (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 14, 2002.

If you put the eggs you kept at room temperature on water you will know if they are still good or not. Bad eggs float, Good eggs sink, fresh-laid eggs sink and lay on their sides as well!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), January 15, 2002.