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  1. TooCheep

    Water Glassing: Egg Preservation Experiment!

    Yes. Pickling lime = Hydrated lime. Here is the info I posted earlier. Sounds like you are doing fine. Feel free to post in this thread if you have further questions/issues.
  2. TooCheep

    Oyster shell...we finally got an egg!

    I give mine a mix of oyster shell and crushed egg shell and it takes care of any pickiness.
  3. TooCheep

    What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

    Yup. Another vote for an inexpensive AIO (all-in-one) laser printer. Does scanning, copying and printing if color isn't a priority and/or you print such low volume that ink dry out/clogging is a problem. I've had my Brother AIO for about 5 years now and it has been great. The cartridges last...
  4. TooCheep

    Oyster shell...we finally got an egg!

    No. Assuming they are healthy, then the oyster shell/laying is strictly coincidence. Young layers (even on the wrong feed) will have plenty of calcium in their bones that they will use for laying until they lose too much and then they will produce thin/no-shell eggs. Feeding them layer feed...
  5. TooCheep

    Need experienced input for first winter in this coop.

    My winds are easier to deal with. I can get away with only protecting two sides. Cinder blocks are a good alternative to hanging. Use whichever works for you.
  6. TooCheep

    Need experienced input for first winter in this coop.

    I recommend you put your general location in your profile. Although you did list it in your OP, it will make it easier for future queries/answers.
  7. TooCheep

    Need experienced input for first winter in this coop.

    I don't think there would be problems with the overhead panels. Just leave them there. That said, I'm not the ventilation expert. If you notice any moisture/frost inside from their breath/poop, then remove the panels for more ventilation. Frostbite is the main concern, not so much cold...
  8. TooCheep

    Need experienced input for first winter in this coop.

    ...you have a very good setup overall. -The clutter in your run is an excellent addition. It gives them some things to do and places to hide from dominant hens. -The only thing you *might* need is some type of shade for summer. Do you have an over hanging tree or other cover to help in the summer?
  9. TooCheep

    Do most/all layers, who are allowed to free range, eventually relapse to egg-hiding?

    The favorite box is definitely frustrating. I've ended up with 5 eggs in one box and 1 each in two others and one box empty occasionally. Mostly, I've seen lower-ranked hens get bullied and pecked out of a box and that motivated me to make more available. It has definitely helped reduce noise...
  10. TooCheep

    Do most/all layers, who are allowed to free range, eventually relapse to egg-hiding?

    For what it is worth, I try not to disturb the girls in their boxes. But since I leave their original "trainer" ceramic eggs in the nest boxes, there is always one/box.
  11. TooCheep

    Do most/all layers, who are allowed to free range, eventually relapse to egg-hiding?

    I've gone to 2 chickens/nest box, but that is because mine are high-volume layers (6/week) so they spend a good amount of time in nest boxes. A more mixed age group or lower-frequency layers might be fine with 3 chickens/nest box. This has significantly reduced the amount of squawking and...
  12. TooCheep

    Do most/all layers, who are allowed to free range, eventually relapse to egg-hiding?

    For what it's worth, I've only had a few eggs laid outside of the coop in my 7 years and mine free range all day. The one thing I did do is add more nests to minimize nest-box conflict. I don't like the BYC standard recommendation of 4 layers/box as it created too much drama.
  13. TooCheep

    Water Glassing: Egg Preservation Experiment!

    That is a general rule in food preservation. Light, heat, oxygen and bacteria/pests are the enemies of long-term food preservation. All forms of food preservation find ways to control those factors. I don't know how much of an effect light has with the egg shells, but personally, I would play...
  14. TooCheep

    Water Glassing: Egg Preservation Experiment!

    From my experience, lime water infiltration can be identified by a thin crack. If you see that, just assume the egg is bad and toss it. I smash bad eggs in my compost pile as the egg, shell and lime are all good for compost. Generally, when I pull out a batch of eggs from the lime, I rinse...
  15. TooCheep

    Coop run help

    Use the leaves all year long. Much better than bare soil- cleaner, easier on their feet and saves you from sending leaves to the landfill and instead creates a valuable end-product. When I talk about creating compost, understand that deep litter is simply an accelerated version of what happens...
  16. TooCheep

    What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

    I've also been using Mint Mobile for years now. I'm a light phone user and am on the same plan you are. I just pay once/year and the service has been excellent. As for the carrier locked phones, in most cases it is actually easy to unlock. If you've had your old service for a while...
  17. TooCheep

    Coop run help

    Simple and free solution: dry fall leaves. Collect a bunch of bags of leaves in the fall. Throw the leaves on the ground: 6"+ if you have good containment around the sides to hold the leaves in (deep litter), 2-3" if you don't have great containment to keep the leaves in. Periodically add...
  18. TooCheep

    This chicken is not dead

    You are in Texas. I'm sure you will value Ebenezer a lot more when he strikes oil for you. :)
  19. TooCheep

    Hen not laying in nesting box

    If this is a 1-time thing, don't worry about it. Chickens can occasionally lay in odd locations: in the coop, over night from the roosting bar, etc. They'll almost always go back to the "usual" spot next time. Otherwise: Is she low on the pecking order? Chickens are fairly mean when they...
  20. TooCheep

    Water Glassing: Egg Preservation Experiment!

    Where are you located? That can make a significant difference. You might want to include your general location in your profile. You might want to consider keeping them inside- in a closet, pantry or wherever they won't be disturbed. See if that make a difference in future batches.
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