She went broody, I put her in the broody house, and got her bunch of eggs to hatch, she hatched 4/7 successful, after 3 weeks transition her and chicks in stages to main area segregated until curiosity was gone, 10 days no incident, then found one was dead, then next night witnessed her trying...
Couple nights ago found one of our month old chicks had been pecked to death, next night another on floor hurt trying to live, was stunned and eventually got up and went about business, last night turned on light to get eggs, and the remaining 3 chicks saw their momma and went to her to go to...
I had same issue got new batch of chicks last Monday... one, (a really expensive one), never grew past size of 3 days old... grew 2 wing feathers on each side... but nothing more. Tried everything... last night the rest ran her over and squished her... was heart broken she just couldn't thrive.
I got fed up trying to get dozen hens to do as I wanted... so I watched for the one whom seemed to be the leader and trained her... she trained the rest
Ok, so cut back on scratch like suggested... now instead of giant fragile egg each day... a nesting box is full of egg white and yolk, yesterday and today...with small traces of an egg shell in the box... as if egg was destroyed and shell eaten, not sure which hen is doing it... but about 70%...
Hello, I too am from upper Ashland area, have small flock about 2 dozen hens, half way between Savannah and Nankin... will be moving over the border this summer into Medina County, probably Lafayette Twp
I was told with the cold snap we had to give them generously to help keep their body temp up at night... and never gave much thought since grain cost next to nothing for me
Not sure her age... she and 7 other hens were given to me becuase they were moving and I had space... they weren't forthcoming of age specifics got a general idea of a year to 3 years
Been getting giant eggs from a single hen, they way in nearly 3.5 to 4 oz daily... their shells are nearly paper thin and 60% of time dont make it from coop to kitchen due to their fragile state... those that do the egg inside isn't much different than a standard xlarge egg... why would she be...