This is a fantastic thread and I used the feed charts for our birds last year with great success. I had two cockerels that still ate a bit too much and couldn't walk for a few days, but I also had three fewer chickens and did not convert the feed charts for my flock. Likely the culprit.
To...
I inherited a coop (8X12) from the neighbors and renovated it with a new roof, floor and nesting boxes. The coop is on an axle and sits about 2 feet off the ground. It can get pretty cold here in Alaska in the winter, but not as cold as the interior or north (0-40 F for 4 months, rarely below 0...
I recently went on vacation and the folks watching the chickens sent word that one of the hens went missing. I figure that a hawk or eagle got the hen while they were in the yard. A few days after I returned I found the missing hen sitting on 14 eggs on the back edge of our property! I was able...
I posted some pictures of the rollaway inserts that I made for my nesting boxes here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/875799/strange-wet-spot-in-the-nesting-box-no-shell-or-and-membrane/20#post_13416662
if anyone is interested
The eggs then roll to the front and you are able to take the whole insert out to collect the eggs or clean as needed.
I hope this helps anyone who is looking to modify their boxes on the cheap. The total cost was around $35 + around 2-3 hours to cut and assemble.
I then finished the inserts by nailing in the top piece for the forward compartment. I cut a 2x4 to a 3 inch length and placed it at the back of the nesting box to put the rollaway inserts at a slight pitch forward.
I measured the interior dimensions of each box and cut a new bottom insert to match (minus approximately 1 inch in length to account for the forward egg compartment). I then framed three sides of the forward egg compartment with the remaining plywood. The turf was then cut equal to the length of...
The rolled up turf was purchased at Home Depot for $24.99. The two pieces of ply wood were 'scrap' pieces found next to the saw in the back of the lumber department. They were 2 feet by 4 feet (11/32 and 3/4 inch thick) pieces for a total of $7.00. The only other thing I needed has a box of...
I made sure to let them know that she was suspected of eating eggs before they took the hen home. No sense is unloading the issue onto another unsuspecting person.
I will be sure to post the photos of the roll-away box inserts when I have some free time this weekend. It was an easy and cheap...
It was just really unfortunate that the seller did not let me know that one of the hens I had purchased was a suspected egg eater. I supplemented their diet with egg shells and oyster shells, but nothing seemed to work. Before I parted with the hen I had 12 chickens and was getting 1 - 3 eggs a...
One of my favorite hens is our black sex link. She consistently lays giant eggs and is very friendly. She is the largest hen in my flock and is mild tempered with all of the other hens.
turns out they were pretty good layers, and very friendly with me and my dog. However, one of them turned out to be eating the eggs and I had to give them away to someone who was willing to deal with the issue.
I took a bunch of great photos while I fabricated some roll away nesting boxes. In theory they worked great, however none of the hens want to lay in them. I ended up giving away the hen that I knew was eating the eggs. Since I gave her away none of the eggs have been eaten, and the flock is more...
Well... the golf balls didn't seem to work, and roll away nesting boxes were a turnoff... I ended up selling the troubled hen to someone who was willing to deal with the madness. After the hen left the flock, no more eggs have been eaten.
I checked the coop before work and there was a rubber egg in one of the nesting boxes... maybe they aren't eating the oyster shells that I have been spreading around the coop...
I was thinking of using the design of an angled insert, like what in shown in the video, but instead of mesh at the end I was going to fully enclose the area where the eggs will end up.
Thanks for the link! Unfortunately I am not setup to collect eggs from behind the nesting boxes, but I may...