Quote: The reproductive system can be compromised by poor daily nutrition and even more so by exposure to infectious disease. Low calcium levels are associated with egg binding. Tumors caused by disease in the ovarian tract can be a common cause of failure in the hen’s reproductive organs and hens that are too fat can suffer prolapsed oviducts. Bacterial and respiratory infections can also derail the egg-laying process. Yolk peritonitis may result from secondary bacterial infection. The mature hen only has one active ovary (the second ovary does not develop), which can atrophy from disease or severe stress caused by a lack of feed or water. So as you can see, keeping your hens as healthy as possible will have a lot of bearing on producing vigorous eggs with a healthy vitality and viability.
Herbs are a perfect choice for supplying all these vitamins and minerals, but calcium and protein as well.
Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a good choice herb. This nutritive herb is particularly high in calcium, protein, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium, Vitamins A & C, among others. Another nutritive herb, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) contains proteins, amino acids, minerals, and high in chlorophyll, which makes it a valuable antioxidant. Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) has long been used as a pasture forage food. It is a great tonic for the whole digestive system. It is high in protein, calcium, and vitamin A & C, B complex vitamins and iron. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a complete food that should be easy for everyone to find to use! It is high in protein, vitamins A, C, K, D, and B complex, iron, manganese, phosphorus and other trace minerals. These greens can be applied fresh or dried, or as an herbal tea. When offering as tea, make sure the waterer is nearby brooding hens and offer another separate waterer nearby. This should be offered to the growing chicks as well to build healthy immune systems. Herbal tea offers the array of benefits of these herbs in a uniform, concentrated mixture that ensures the hen is dosed with as much as she chooses to drink. It can be considered a "green" food and offered daily.
Hens will lose weight and valuable fat from their bodies because of the redirection of nutrients from their own bodies to egg production. They are slower to recover from molt if they lay during molt too. Hens should be a healthy weight before egg production begins. Once egg production has begun, it is hard to adjust body weight. Garlic oil made with olive oil (or another monosaturaIted fat), (I use duck fat or bacon fat)raw crushed garlic, and then mixed with sunflower seed or wild birdseed will give hens healthy fats, and also provide medicinal value from the garlic. Applying this oil periodically during the winter months will not only help to keep the birds internally warm, but help prep them for spring as well.
I wrote a bit more here and you can read more if you like..This is getting long..and I do not want to make people upset with my long post..
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/05/herbs-and-their-uses-for-your-chickens.html
Nice sized eggsI would say light blue...let me show you I think I have a pic on my cell...
The one on the left is a Chantecler egg and the other one an Amérau...
This is my pastel box as I like to call it...
Another pix of this time where I got a double yolk egg..bigger than the other.
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. This is Rosie, my so called Blue Wheaten Ameraucana. I have been looking for a true Wheaten Ameraucana for a pretty long time when I found her. I knew nothing about Ameraucanas other than they had muffs and they layed pretty blue eggs, so I wanted one of course! I've since done research and found that her legs are not the color a pure bred Ameraucana is supposed to be. I've pretty much ruled out all possibility of her being pure, what is your opinion? I'm keeping her either way, she is so sweet. Her legs are more gray green than the picture shows.
