Why don't WE create something to solve this universal problem.

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lazy gardener said:
IMO, the problem is thin egg shells. Increase their calcium intake, and those shells get tougher. I have recently started giving my flock some vitamins, and it has made a huge difference in their shell quality and egg size. Still have the occasional inquisitive pullet, but if the shell is thick, she won't get any satisfaction from her investigation pecks, and will move on to better games to play with her beak.

Other considerations: Is the nest big enough? Can she move around without stepping on any previously laid eggs? Do you have many hens crowding into the same nest at the same time, and fighting over nest box rights? That can crack an egg. Do you have lots of inviting and soft bedding in the nest box, or is it "bottoming out"? I recently found (don't ask me how many years it took me to come to this discovery!) that if I line the nest box with more coarse hay, instead of fine hay, it does not bottom out as often. Perhaps a curtain to darken the boxes. "Out of sight, out of mind." Any weak egg is going to get eaten. That's instinctive behavior, and does not necessarily mean that you have a cannibal hen on your hands.
Click to expand...
Exactly, it's not just having enough calcium available but the micro-nutrients that are needed to process the calcium.
Should be in a good chicken ration fed in proportion to other foods, but I guess supplemental chicken vitamins would work too.
 
aart said:
Quote: And that is why I did so. Even when my flock is on layer or multi-flock with OS on the side, there would be one layer with weak shells... though I have eliminated her from the flock. But, I figured that giving a multi vit wouldn't hurt. No extra calcium in MV, but it has made a world of difference. Some birds just don't metabolize nutrients as well as others. And feed is formulated to provide the minimum amount of nutrient to get the job done, not necessarily the best and most healthful nutrition packed in every bag. And if a bag sits in the store for any length of time before being used... the nutrients start to decline. (One of my greatest pet peeves is stores that sell old feed.)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Hey i have a quick question... Rn i am in an AP environmental science class and we were talking about chickens. My teacher made the comment that no animal is designed to be able to eat and digest corn. So with that in mind, would scratch feed even the best quality really be the best thing to feed chickens....
 
When I had some hens do this dasdardly deed of breaking eggs and eating them,

I PUT SEVERAL EGGS FULL OF MUSTARD IN THE CHICKEN HOUSE
ANDTHEY HATE THE TASTE OF MUSTARD SO QUIT BREAKN EGGS.

I used eggs cracked roundly and emptied out the egg inside and filled egg shell with mustard,
and put ttwo halfves of egg shell back to gether with round of scotch tape.
AND THEN GAVE THE WHOLE FLOCK MY WET MASH PRBIOTIC RECIPE OR EVER.

WET MASH PROBIOTIC RECIPE FOR A SINGLE CHICKEN.
IF CHICKEN IS MOULTING AND IS STRESSED DO THIS FOR ITS HEALTH:
ALSO IF TREATING SICK CHICKS OR ADULTS.
IE: WORMING, ANY TYPE DISEASE OR COCCIDIOSIS ETC:
...
Glenda Heywood now the
WET MASH natural probiotic recipe is this:
1 qt of dry crumbles
2 qts of milk, sweet, sour, or buttermilk or a mixture of all or some
1/4 cup of non flavored yoguart ( no artificial sweetmer)
mix good.
do not make sloopy JUST WET AND CHICKENS WILL EAT IT BETTER.
chickens do not like sloppy feed AS IT STICKS ON THEIR BEAKS.

ADULT CHICKENS
NOW THE IMPORTANT INGRIEDIENT FOR EACH CHICKEN FED.
and add 1- 400 mg of Vit E (PER CHICKEN FED WET MASH PROBIOTIC MIXTURE) by cutting the end off the vit E capsule for each chicken fed this wet mash.

Putting the vitamin E in the wet mash and mix wet mash good to get vitamin E in very chickens amount.
This for each chicken your treating.
So for each chicken use 4 tsp of mixture and 1-400 mg of Vit E,
twice a day for them till the birds feathers are grown out,
then just three times a week feed wet mash and ,
Cut back on the vitamin E to 400 mg once a week,

and feed each chicken,
4 tsp full of the wet mash probiotic and what they will clean up in 20-30 minutes,
then clean wet feeders and restock dry crumbles,
IE: or each chicken your making wet mash probiotic for:

DO THIS:
4 tsp of feed and 1 tsp of the yoguart and just enough milk to mix it good not sloppy wet. And add the 400 mg Vitamin E once a week if not sick.
IF SICK feed 1-2 vit E 400 mg twice a day per chicken that is sick.
CHICKS RECIPE:

DO THIS:
IF CHICKS ARE SICK add a 1000 mg vitamin E ONCE A DAY TO THE ABOVE: ie: 1 QT OF CRUMBLES AND 2 QTS OF SOME KIND OF MILK,
AND 1/4 CUP PLAIN YOGUART.
(this is for any and all kinds of sickness ),

ALSO IF TREATING CHICKENS WHO ARE SICK,
DO NOT put Apple Cider Vinegar in the water while giving medication.

OTHER WISE use 2 tabelspoons of ACV to the gallon when not feeding medication.


GLENDA HEYWOOD
I USED THIS AND HAVE GIVEN THE RECIPE TO THOUSANDS PEOPLE HERE, ON BYC OR MYPOULTRNEWSPAPER National Poulty News WHICH WAS FINALL PUT TO BED ON 12-2005 DUE MY HEALTH PROBLEMS,
NOW I AM BACK ON BYC AS GLENDA HEYWOOD
 
MattCox said:
Hey i have a quick question... Rn i am in an AP environmental science class and we were talking about chickens. My teacher made the comment that no animal is designed to be able to eat and digest corn. So with that in mind, would scratch feed even the best quality really be the best thing to feed chickens....
Click to expand...
Well part of his answer was ight.
IE:CORN whole kernel!

Corn is 9% protein, And NO ITIS NOT GOOD FEED PERSE: FOR CHICKENS.

EVERY CHICKEN NO MATTER WHAT AGE OR SIZE Needs 16% protein feed.

HERE IS A RECIPE A FELLOW MADE FOR HIS CHICKENS:
naturalhomestead-feed.jpg

Simple Chicken Feed Recipe Formula

(This post contains affiliate links)
Mix together and feed as you would any other chicken feed. Since you are using whole grains, it should not loose it nutritive content as quickly as more processed feeds.


About the Ingredients:
Homemade Chicken Feed Notes:

  • I like how flexible this formula is– you can make a small amount or a large amount.
  • No doubt, I will get some emails over this post. There are websites/books/etc that turn feeding chickens into rocket sicence, and admittedly, you DO need to be careful in how you are balancing rations. However, I always go back to the fact that great-Grandma was keeping her flock productive long before there were shiny bags of “Chicken Chow” at the feed store, so I hesitate to overcomplicate the matter. Plus, when someone with WAY more chicken experience like Justin has consistent success with a recipe like this, I trust that.
  • Over the years, I have received emails from people in an absolute panic over what to feed their chickens. GMO/non-GMO, organic/non-organic, homemade/purchased—there is, indeed, a lot of options out there. But here’s the deal—we can’t control every aspect of our lives. Even if you (or your chickens) are eating the most perfect diet in existence, you/they will still likely be exposed to toxins in the air, soil, water, etc. This is just a side-effect of living on an imperfect planet. Therefore, my conclusion is I will do the best I can, and even if I can’t source the perfect ingredient, I will be at peace knowing I did the best I could and they are still eating 100% better than industrially-farmed chickens. Seriously guys—please don’t lose sleep over chicken feed.
save-money-chicken-feed.jpg


Cut Your Chicken Feed Costs Even More!

Not only did my friend Justin generously allow me to publish his feed recipe, but he’s teaching a special LIVE webinar this Sunday, (June 26th, 2016 at 3pm EST) and sharing 20 of his best stunts for reducing chicken-feed costs! Like I mentioned before, I always appreciate Justin’s information– it’s meaty, specific, and actionable. Without fail, he always shares tips I would have never thought of on my own!
Sunday’s webinar will cover:
  • Four obvious (but overlooked) ways to reduce your need for chicken feed.
  • Disgusting, but extremely resourceful, ways to turn dead animals into protein packed feed.
  • Discover free foods right in front of your face (that most people call problems).
  • Quick and easy adjustments to the grains you’re already feeding for 15% savings in 24 hours.
Save your spot in the Creative Chicken Feeds Webinar HERE– it’s free!
(There will be a recording sent out to everyone who registers, in case you can’t attend live)​
Other Homestead Chicken Posts You’ll Like:​

homemade-chicken-feed-formula.jpg
 
PERSONALLY THIS LOOKS EXPENSIVE
MY FORMULA IS SIMPLE
FEED PURINA 16% CHICKEN CRUMBLES
PLUS FEEDER OF WHOLE OATS
A FEEDER OF OYSTER SHELL AND GRIT FOR HENS

AND JUST GRIT FOR ROOSTERS

AND SERVE TREATS OF SUN FLOWER SEEDS ONCE A DAY.
NOT A LOT JUST A CUP FOR EVERY 10 HENS SAY AT NIGHT.
THEY WILL LOVE YOU FOR IT.

TO ME CORN ONLY FATTENS A CHICKEN NOT MAKES IT HEALTHIER.
60 PLUS YRS OF FEEDING CHICKENS
 
Im not sure if your chix are in coop, but like another reader above, mine free range only when im home as well until my flock guardian is fully trained. I provide many interesting chix activities so their interests are elsewhere. I never give them their shells back as I have read this may encourage egg breaking. I give them oyster shell in clean container, barn lime, and hanging treat balls throughout the coop and fun filled each day with scraps, garden extras (tomato, banana, cabbage. Apples, peaches, ect). Then I have various hanging baskets on the fence at various levels next to my strategically placed perches (perches are made of different shapes and textures such as branches of a tree, homemade perch tree, and different sized stumps I cut from a downed tree) and fill those with greens such as thyme, oregano, basil, grass, or a mealworm cake. and this will keep them so busy trying to get those treats they have little time for much else. Bored birds are like bored dogs, they start to destroy things.
 

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