Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[KnobbyOaks]

What I learned from my chickens today...

Do not drop chicken scratch between your toes (on accident) while wearing flip flops as
your girls are free ranging

 

[debbie_nibbles]

So not chicken related but I tried my hand at needle felting, amazing I think I'm going to try a chicken LOL


From this wad of wool

to an Orca for the Grand daughter LOL

 

[xshoshin]

What I learned from my chickens today...

Do not drop chicken scratch between your toes (on accident) while wearing flip flops as
your girls are free ranging

ROFL don't I know it! They also peck at my pedicure -- the couple of weeks I had polka dots were hideous! They've pecked at freckles, my hair, buttons, earrings...they certainly exploit every opportunity for a possible treat...

 

[Crafty chick]

I have one hen in particular that unties my shoe laces. Its a compulsion of hers to get atleast one shoe untied before I leave the coop.

 

[Melabella]

Awesome story...hilarious. I laugh and laugh at these silly chickens but they have their own ideas about how to do things. And I just went out and retrieved the dummy eggs...they will lay as they will.

I have a question...I know people feed their chickens eggs and eggshell but I don't know details. Today one of our eggs was cracked....not ruined, just cracked enough when I retrieved it that I didn't feel like we should keep it. I didn't want to throw it out so I baked it, chopped it shell and all very finely, and put it out for the hens. They devoured it in seconds. My question is....is there any way that eating eggs in this manner could lead to pecking/eating raw eggs in the nest?

Morning x,,,
I used to think the same thing. I keep out grit and oyster shell for my girls free choice, but to the oyster shell container, I put all my crushed up egg shell in with it as well. So as to feed the shells right back, I heat them up to dry them out, that way the inner coating of the white shell will dry out, and when you crush them they break up easier instead of sticking to your fingers. I have an electric stove (not by choice, I hate it!), but after cooking my eggs, I put the burner down to the setting of "1", just above the low. I put the open used egg shell face down on the burner for 10 minutes, and it dries up the eggs shells just right, and after they cool, they crush up just right. I crush them up to bite size pieces, no need to make them dust, nor don't make them to big that they can't be eaten in one bite.
This is what it looks like before I feed it back to the girls



I've been doing this ever since the eggs have been coming, and it's never caused an issue with them turning to eating the eggs. I also try to add the egg shell late afternoon as they calcium is slow released during dark/sleep hours during the night while the next egg is getting ready to be laid. The following is an excerpt from an article about this topic that was posted over on the Natural Chicken Keeping thread.

"
Calcium

The egg shell is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The pullet's requirement for calciumis relatively low during the growing period, but when the first eggs are produced, the needis increased at least four times, with practically all of the increase being used for the productionof eggshells. Inadequate calcium consumption will result in decreased egg production and loweregg shell quality.
Hens store calcium in medullary bone, a specialized bone capable of rapid calcium turnover. As calcium stores are depleted, bones become brittle. In severe cases, hens are unable tostand. The condition is known as caged-layer fatigue. Birds on the ground or on litter floorsrecycle calcium and phosphorus through consumption of feces, and do not have caged-layer fatigue.
Calcium can be supplied in the diet as either ground limestone or oyster shell. Particlesize affects calcium availability. Usually the larger the particle size, the longer the particlewill be retained in the upper digestive tract. This means that the larger particles of thecalcium source are released more slowly, and this may be important for the continuity of shellformation, especially in the dark period when birds do not ordinarily eat.
Periodically, dolomitic limestone is offered to the feed industry. However, dolomitic limestone(which is used in the steel industry) should never be used in poultry diets. Dolomitic limestonecontains at least 10% magnesium, and this complexes with calcium or competes with calcium forabsorption sites in the intestines. The consequence of feeding dolomitic limestone is inducedcalcium deficiency.
Young birds should not be fed a high calcium layer diet because the calcium/phosphorus ratiowill be unbalanced, resulting in increased morbidity or mortality"

Well today was the first day in over a week that the temp was above 32 and the wind wasn't 20 MPH, and the sun finally came out late in the day. We haven't gotten any significant snow fall for quite a while but what we have been getting is cold temps, clouds, WIND and snow squalls, and the occasional monsoon rains. I know all to well what MB is talking about. I get the winter blues so bad but I know it will get better and I know MB it will get nicer for you soon. I too appreciate all the sharing everyone has done on this thread. I got to sit out in the yard tonight without being wind blown and frost bitten and actually got to enjoy my girls having a good time. It's funny how they'll go way out into the middle of the yard but then will make a bee line back to where ever I am, let me pat their backs and then off they go again. I've been watching the skies for hawks and we have bald eagles as well so I'm really nervous about leaving them unattended. Maybe MB you could just fence a smaller section of your 6 acres to keep your chickens in and maybe make it a little harder for those predators to get in. Hey, I also love those pics of the egg holders. Got to find me one of those. Oh, and my girls once in a while will lay in the same box but the other day, I caught Miss Bully Clemi picking at her egg. Now I know why her egg always has white speckles. I think she must peck it after she lays. I also find the occasional egg laid in the middle of the coop floor?? I think sometimes everyone tries to lay at once-- but only 3 boxes and 4 hens so someone may get left out. ??

Oh gosh, thank you for the understanding, you should see DH face when I was complaining about the weather the other day, I think he thinks I've flipped my lid... the poor man drives about 200 miles to work 5 days a week. He finally got it when I said I feel the same way about this flippin weather as he does about the commuter traffic. He said,, "at least yours is going to end soon", he has a point, just another month away and I can pack up the snow boots, winter coat, and everything else... Get a grip Mela! Glad you got to sit outside for a bit and actually have a chace to enjoy their company, that is what it's all about!

LOl - I just made my first dozen!! Yesterday and today I got 3 eggs from the same 3 girls, so after sporadically getting the first 6 over a week and a half, I made the last six in two days!

Oh gosh, I remember my first full egg carton! I was so excited! It's funny how the more you get the more you want! If I don't have at least a 7 egg day, I'm dissapointed! What's up with that, how quickly I forget when I was begging for just one! See how human nature is! lol...The last 4 days have been 9.9.8.9! My girls are in full swing laying mode. I wish they had some lush green vegitation to be able to eat, I'm going to be feeding them beet tops since I am roasting a bunch today!

So not chicken related but I tried my hand at needle felting, amazing I think I'm going to try a chicken LOL


From this wad of wool

to an Orca for the Grand daughter LOL

Oh how lovelly that is! I admire all you talented people! That is beautiful! Have you ever gone to Brooster's profile page, and click on her link for her website? (brooster, I hope your ok with me pointing this out). She has the most amazing things she creates, it's enough to make me want to learn how to knit,, or crochet, or whatever it is that creates that stuff! My mother and grandmother were seamstresses of the highest order. My grandmother was a Sicilian immigrant. They were both so talented,, they could sew anything. My mother wanted for me to learn, but I didn't seem to inherit an ounce of passion for it,, or talent. Wish now I had tried to learn. I was too busy chasing the animals!

Have a great day everyone! I am picking up my first born from the train at 3pm, I can't wait!! I have missed him so badly, ,his spring break at University of Delaware is super late. He is such a wonderful loving son, I am so happy that I have him in my life!
Here he is working at the racetrack this summer with one of the horses getting ready to cool out after a bath and workout.

XO to all!
MB

 

[Melabella]

just got ready to head out to the barn to finish mucking stalls, ,, and it's snowing again! This is getting waaaaaayyyyyyyyy old!

 

[KnobbyOaks]

"but after cooking my eggs, I put the burner down to the setting of "1", just above the low."

Which you couldn't do if you had a gas stove. I have a gas stove and I hate it just because you can't get the heat low enough to not burn or boil even on the little burner. But I thought it was a better idea to have a gas stove out in the country. Trade offs!

 

[Melabella]

Speaking of weather...i live on the coast in Texas. It never snows here, never gets really cold, and the humidity is off the charts! With weather like this we also have mammoth mosquitos!!! I wanted 6 chickens but now have 18 and i hope everyone of them will eat nothing but MOSQUITOS the entire summer!!!! Maybe then my kids can play outside without getting eaten alive!!! Oh how i wish for a week or two of snow to kill off some of these monsters!!!

For all of you battling snow and cold weather..i hope the sun comes out and warms yall up soon!!!! Maybe me and the kids can come visit and play in it before it all melts away

PS..I ordered my egg skelter 2 days ago!! Cant wait to get it

jklyles,

This is perspective I need to hear. I have worked in several places in mylife where humitidy is a horror. Upstate New York where I live is known for that as well. I too hope your chooks eat some of those darn things. For me, it is the ticks...H O R R I B L E!! Dutchess County has the highest population of lymes ticks in the country,,, COUNTRY. Even worse than Lymes, CT which is not too far away, and where the disease got it's name. I have considered getting guineas just to combat this issue, even if they all get picked off every winter, just to have a flock to get the ticks in the area. I have to think about that. I was a bit worried as they are a bit harder to train about coming home to roost at night. Someone just told me to feed them suet every day for two weeks when they come home, and they will be fine. just would have to figure out where to put them. The other issue is one neighbor who is close by, I hear they are very very LOUD. So, I am sure he wouldn't like that. He puts up with Duke's crowing, I've been leaving him eggs when I can... try to keep the peace!

MB

 

[Melabella]

Which you couldn't do if you had a gas stove. I have a gas stove and I hate it just because you can't get the heat low enough to not burn or boil even on the little burner. But I thought it was a better idea to have a gas stove out in the country. Trade offs!

you can buy one of those metal diffuser plates, I had one in my old stove when we lived down on Long Island. You can also put them on a cookie sheet for a bit maybe, or even just a sauce pan or skillet. You are right though.. trade off..lol

 

[debbie_nibbles]

Morning x,,,
I used to think the same thing. I keep out grit and oyster shell for my girls free choice, but to the oyster shell container, I put all my crushed up egg shell in with it as well. So as to feed the shells right back, I heat them up to dry them out, that way the inner coating of the white shell will dry out, and when you crush them they break up easier instead of sticking to your fingers. I have an electric stove (not by choice, I hate it!), but after cooking my eggs, I put the burner down to the setting of "1", just above the low. I put the open used egg shell face down on the burner for 10 minutes, and it dries up the eggs shells just right, and after they cool, they crush up just right. I crush them up to bite size pieces, no need to make them dust, nor don't make them to big that they can't be eaten in one bite.
This is what it looks like before I feed it back to the girls



I've been doing this ever since the eggs have been coming, and it's never caused an issue with them turning to eating the eggs. I also try to add the egg shell late afternoon as they calcium is slow released during dark/sleep hours during the night while the next egg is getting ready to be laid. The following is an excerpt from an article about this topic that was posted over on the Natural Chicken Keeping thread.

"
Calcium

The egg shell is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The pullet's requirement for calciumis relatively low during the growing period, but when the first eggs are produced, the needis increased at least four times, with practically all of the increase being used for the productionof eggshells. Inadequate calcium consumption will result in decreased egg production and loweregg shell quality.
Hens store calcium in medullary bone, a specialized bone capable of rapid calcium turnover. As calcium stores are depleted, bones become brittle. In severe cases, hens are unable tostand. The condition is known as caged-layer fatigue. Birds on the ground or on litter floorsrecycle calcium and phosphorus through consumption of feces, and do not have caged-layer fatigue.
Calcium can be supplied in the diet as either ground limestone or oyster shell. Particlesize affects calcium availability. Usually the larger the particle size, the longer the particlewill be retained in the upper digestive tract. This means that the larger particles of thecalcium source are released more slowly, and this may be important for the continuity of shellformation, especially in the dark period when birds do not ordinarily eat.
Periodically, dolomitic limestone is offered to the feed industry. However, dolomitic limestone(which is used in the steel industry) should never be used in poultry diets. Dolomitic limestonecontains at least 10% magnesium, and this complexes with calcium or competes with calcium forabsorption sites in the intestines. The consequence of feeding dolomitic limestone is inducedcalcium deficiency.
Young birds should not be fed a high calcium layer diet because the calcium/phosphorus ratiowill be unbalanced, resulting in increased morbidity or mortality"


Oh gosh, thank you for the understanding, you should see DH face when I was complaining about the weather the other day, I think he thinks I've flipped my lid... the poor man drives about 200 miles to work 5 days a week. He finally got it when I said I feel the same way about this flippin weather as he does about the commuter traffic. He said,, "at least yours is going to end soon", he has a point, just another month away and I can pack up the snow boots, winter coat, and everything else... Get a grip Mela! Glad you got to sit outside for a bit and actually have a chace to enjoy their company, that is what it's all about!
Oh gosh, I remember my first full egg carton! I was so excited! It's funny how the more you get the more you want! If I don't have at least a 7 egg day, I'm dissapointed! What's up with that, how quickly I forget when I was begging for just one! See how human nature is! lol...The last 4 days have been 9.9.8.9! My girls are in full swing laying mode. I wish they had some lush green vegitation to be able to eat, I'm going to be feeding them beet tops since I am roasting a bunch today!
Oh how lovelly that is! I admire all you talented people! That is beautiful! Have you ever gone to Brooster's profile page, and click on her link for her website? (brooster, I hope your ok with me pointing this out). She has the most amazing things she creates, it's enough to make me want to learn how to knit,, or crochet, or whatever it is that creates that stuff! My mother and grandmother were seamstresses of the highest order. My grandmother was a Sicilian immigrant. They were both so talented,, they could sew anything. My mother wanted for me to learn, but I didn't seem to inherit an ounce of passion for it,, or talent. Wish now I had tried to learn. I was too busy chasing the animals!

Have a great day everyone! I am picking up my first born from the train at 3pm, I can't wait!! I have missed him so badly, ,his spring break at University of Delaware is super late. He is such a wonderful loving son, I am so happy that I have him in my life!
Here he is working at the racetrack this summer with one of the horses getting ready to cool out after a bath and workout.

XO to all!
MB

Tried to check out Brooster and website is expired I love crocheting too! My hats are sold at a local store and right now I'm in the middle of making 7 beaver hats for a group of girls LOL I love crafting! Not sure about the needle felting though Quite painful with those barbed needles

Think I'll stay with the hooking and couponing! What ahandsome son Have a great weekend!