I was having this issue recently, I bought rubber eggs from eBay and put loads in their nests and I have not been aware of any yolk on faces, empty shells etc since and I have been getting more eggs, so I think it has been effective, perhaps your chickens can tell golf balls from eggs..
Thanks for the suggestions, Keith's Orps look like really nice birds. I will be passing through Carlisle on Sunday and there is a sale on Saturday so nearly perfect timing, oh well. It's encouraging that you saw some big silkies, I'm sure they are around all over the place, I'm surprised they...
Hi all,
I have made a thread about the direction I want to be taking my flock, specifically asking about very large silkie strains in the UK, if you have a very large silkie strain, or know of one, please head over. I am also looking for a particularly large / friendly / docile and quiet...
Hi All,
the short version is, I am in the UK and am looking for the largest silkies I can get. Very happy to hatch posted or collected eggs, but also would be interested in birds.
Long version is; I have a mixed flock currently and though I have enjoyed seeing what has come out of the random...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/575276/captive-birds-biosecurity-inside-prevention-zone.pdf
My birds are in a roofed, welded wire run and greenhouse coop, I will be filling all sparrow sized holes in the run and using disinfectant on my garden shoes...
Thanks for the responses.
I simplified my description of how I feed them because I didn't to bore with too much detail but I will elaborate now. I feed them a fermented mash of the grower/ finisher daily, they also usually have access to a large gravity fed bin of a dried pellet, usually layer...
I use an organic feed for my flock, not so much for the chickens or myself but because I believe organic agriculture is preferable for the environment, especially cereal agriculture. In the U.K. there only seems to be one readily available organic feed range and that is by "the organic feed...
Defiantly no hidden nests, I had another check this morning. I took a closer look at the whole flock and it seems that all my cream crested legbars are moulting (4) and maybe my silkie, the others not laying must just be down to the season. The only eggs I am getting are from the legbars. My...
I had a look today and could not see any parasites but some of the pullets where looking more moulty, pin feathers coming through. There are one try that do not look too shabby though, so I think you are right, it is probably mostly just the day length. I was expecting more eggs through autumn/...
Hi All,
I have not posted in a long time as my questions have all been answered with a search, however I can find very little information about this.
My current flock is my first laying flock, They range in age from 8-10 months old (roughly) they are also a mix of different breeds. Recently they...
i have a bucket which has been totally ignored. As my coop is actually my greenhouse there is some compromise in the design, I expect j will just have to keep looking for the eggs for now, I have a planned extension that will give me a more separate laying area that they would hopefully take to...