Recent content by AnneDrum

  1. AnneDrum

    In need of a chicken coop plan

    Welcome! I have some Boschvelder chicks, so can't report on their egg-laying habits yet. I can't really help with a coop plan on that scale. I just watched loads of YouTube videos (especially of Justin Rhodes) to build smaller mobile coops. I hope you manage!
  2. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    I hear you. The thing is that the lucerne they feed on mostly is high protein. But perhaps the animal protein is lacking mostly.
  3. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    I do soak the grains. I don't feed them extra grit besides what they are already exposed to naturally. Unfortunately there is no layer feed that is hormone free or gmo free. There is however a food scientist in a different region in my country who is working at commercialising a fee feeds that...
  4. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    That is possible. The over-foraging. Are you saying that I can add a compost heap to the enclosure?
  5. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Haha :lau I can buy fish meal, but I was always under the impression that it makes the eggs taste fishy, so not sure if I should try it. But I'm thinking of adding small amounts to see if it changes the taste. I have a whole bunch of meal worms that need to grow a bit more before I can feed them...
  6. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Thank you. Do you by any chance have any suggestions for me? I am trying to keep everything as natural as possible in terms of gmo's, hormones etc.
  7. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Thank-you! Your input is invaluble to me. I forgot to mention that there's a tail feather pecking problem too, so could be a protein shortage among other things(as far as I've researched). I used to feed them mealworms, but I ran out and had to wait for the worms to lay eggs and hatch.
  8. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Thanks for the info! Will keeping 1 cockerel be enough? Perhaps I will keep 1 as I want to eventually hatch some eggs using a different line of hens (or rooster). Will one rooster be enough to fertilise eggs from 12 hens?
  9. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    1. Nope, haven't tested the protein levels. 2. Mixing as I go. so buy the grain separately. 3. The grains are whole. 4. No poultry pre-mix as I am avoiding hormones, GMOs, and other nasties like antibiotics. I am sure where you are that you can get a pre-mix without those, but not where I'm at...
  10. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    The coop is 1m high and the nest boxes are above their eyesight only. The laying boxes are slighly above their perches. but they are able to get in as we find all the eggs in the nests we provided.
  11. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Thanks for your reply! :) They are not laying anywhere else luckily. One hen used to jump over the fence to the other "field" to lay in a coop there, but we knew about it and clipped wings etc. We always walk around to check the area for stray eggs and none so far.
  12. AnneDrum

    Egg production problem in pastured chickens (fed sorghum, barley and oats)

    Hi everyone. I have 16 chickens. 4 roosters and 12 hens, 8 months old. I am getting between 2-5 eggs per day from the girls and on very few occassions, 6 or 7 eggs. I feel this is too low. If they lay a minimum of 3 eggs per week per hen, I should be getting at least 5 eggs a day. such lovely...
  13. AnneDrum

    Newbie from South Africa.

    You are very lucky indeed. To find two RIW bloodlines within reach too. Are you paying a premium for them? Thanks for the interesting information. I'm really excited to see how they lay!
  14. AnneDrum

    Newbie from South Africa.

    Yes I do believe they are the real deal... Time will tell for sure. Facepalm... yes, I've also read the same about the vaccine - if only food security was a priority for the powers at be. But alas. You are lucky your birds didn't get sick, although I do suspect that free ranging chickens (and...
  15. AnneDrum

    Newbie from South Africa.

    Shame, sorry about the storm. Glad you're safe at least. Apparently the RIWhite is pretty rare. Breeder says they're his best layers. I can imagine how scared you must have been. It's a pity there's no vaccine available in SA. How did you not lose your mind? Did any get sick? Thanks for the...
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