8th-annual-byc-new-years-day-2017-hatch-a-long

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

excellent post

 

[ronott1]

The ratio of calcium to phosphorus needs to be correct. Vitamin D regulates the use of those minerals in the body.
Fatty fish like salmon, herring and sardines are good sources. The dairy products that have vitamin D have been fortified.
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin as are A, E and K.
Megadoses of the fat soluble vitamins can be toxic.
Chickens that forage outside all day AND are fed a complete feed should have sufficient D in their systems.

The advantage of oyster shell is that the large particles stay in the upper digestive tract longer allowing them to reach the calcium absorption sites in the small intestine at night when the egg is normally in the shell gland.

Yes, Oyster shell calcium is preferred but sometimes a hen will not eat it. If so, adding a tablespoon of DE in the feed will correct soft shells in a day. After that, going back to calcium is a good idea.

Sometimes chickens are just silly!

 

[orrpeople]

Well, it's pouring rain here in Northern Cali - Outdoor chickens insist on being outside and look like drowned rats, indoor chicks (still indoors) hatched in Nov have wing feathers and are entering the dinosaur phase, and eggs are snuggled nicely in their warm, slightly humid incubator! The semester is over for me (gave my last final Tues) so, it must be a good day for a book and a cup of hot coffee!

 

[ronott1]

Well, it's pouring rain here in Northern Cali - Outdoor chickens insist on being outside and look like drowned rats, indoor chicks (still indoors) hatched in Nov have wing feathers and are entering the dinosaur phase, and eggs are snuggled nicely in their warm, slightly humid incubator! The semester is over for me (gave my last final Tues) so, it must be a good day for a book and a cup of hot coffee!

Rain is just getting to Woodland. It is going to be very wet today!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

She should have sufficient calcium. In addition to the layer feed, there's free choice oyster shell. I don't see why she would have a problem with calcium. They also get plenty of greens and other scraps from the garden/kitchen.

awesome on the oyster shell, be careful with too many kitchen scraps they should be no more than 5-10% of their diet
@ChickenCanoe gave awesome advice and is very knowledgeable on chicken nutrition (among numerous other things)

I have growth in my NYD hatch eggs!

Well, it's pouring rain here in Northern Cali - Outdoor chickens insist on being outside and look like drowned rats, indoor chicks (still indoors) hatched in Nov have wing feathers and are entering the dinosaur phase, and eggs are snuggled nicely in their warm, slightly humid incubator! The semester is over for me (gave my last final Tues) so, it must be a good day for a book and a cup of hot coffee!

we have had off and on snow squalls and bright sunshine with crazy cold tempratures
i would prefer the rain and drowned rats lol

 

[Bug n Flock]

Whoo hoo! I may be trading with a local quail keeper my already hatched peepers and fuzzers for some baby Bobwhite quail! I'll have three species of quail then!

Any tips if anyone here has experience with bobwhites?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Well, it's pouring rain here in Northern Cali - Outdoor chickens insist on being outside and look like drowned rats, indoor chicks (still indoors) hatched in Nov have wing feathers and are entering the dinosaur phase, and eggs are snuggled nicely in their warm, slightly humid incubator! The semester is over for me (gave my last final Tues) so, it must be a good day for a book and a cup of hot coffee!

Rain is just getting to Woodland. It is going to be very wet today!

We have 10° with - wind chills and blowing snow. Want to trade? Lol

 

[kyeschicks]

Update on my 'blood ring'

It appears that it is NOT a blood ring!

Candled today and it is still a small embryo to be on day 4 so it might be a late hatcher and the 'blood ring' is less prominent. I can see it's little heart beat

and it's actually one of TJChickens eggs! It's a Golden Neck D'uccle. Tried getting a pic but my camera wouldn't focus lol so here's a not so good one, you can kind of see the 'blood ring' I thought it had.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

congrats!

 

[ronott1]

Yes!

Always wait on those. Blood rings will turn brown and the inside of the egg will go more of a white color. Often veins will look odd and then resolve into good looking veins and embryo.