Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

Got a question for you. So my black sex link hens started laying again but I have had two eggs without the shell now. Are they lacking calcium? Or is it just this extreme heat we have landed in all the sudden? I am feeding layer pellets now so I am not sure what the issue is. Please help!!

This is normal in new layers. My leghorn gave me a few eggs without the shell when she first began laying. One day, she laid an egg with a shell in the morning, then TWO eggs with no shells later that afternoon You can offer more calcium, but typically it just takes some time for their systems to figure it all out. I would not be too concerned about it!

 

[SonoranChick]

Mama escaping the heat in some damp dirt with her 3 week old babies!
On a side question... how long until mama's face and comb get red again? Will that just be when she starts laying? This was my first time letting a hen brood View attachment 1417319

Look at all those BABIES! How very sweet! I'm not sure about the reddening of the comb and waddles. Just wanted to comment on the cuteness

 

[SMorrison7k]

Look at all those BABIES! How very sweet! I'm not sure about the reddening of the comb and waddles. Just wanted to comment on the cuteness

Haha thanks! She has 10 of them!

 

[nicollee]

Haha thanks! She has 10 of them!

WOW

 

[meetthebubus]

Mama escaping the heat in some damp dirt with her 3 week old babies!
On a side question... how long until mama's face and comb get red again? Will that just be when she starts laying? This was my first time letting a hen brood View attachment 1417319

Yes when she starts laying it will get redder, also the heat can take their color for awhile so she might start laying later and look pale for a few hours after laying bc of the heat at least that's what happens to mine

I haven't let them hatch but they do take laying breaks so I see them get pale during that time

 

[meetthebubus]

Such cute chickies btw! Keep us updated love pics!

 

[SMorrison7k]

Yes when she starts laying it will get redder, also the heat can take their color for awhile so she might start laying later and look pale for a few hours after laying bc of the heat at least that's what happens to mine

I haven't let them hatch but they do take laying breaks so I see them get pale during that time

Thanks for the help!

 

[SMorrison7k]

Such cute chickies btw! Keep us updated love pics!

Will do!

 

[FeatherPugs]

@SMorrison7k Way, way cute. I find the ones I let be mamas don't red up again for about 8 weeks'ish. Usually about 2 weeks after they kick the kids out on their own! The heat doesn't help either. No eggs this summer from that girl - she's say "yahooo!!"
@Suzyqchickens I would give them oyster shell. Keep a dish out or more than one dish if you need to but the oyster shell will help the shell. This heat really leaches the calcium out of them. When I feed at night I say to them - now remember your oyster shell - it'll help with the heat tomorrow. People who are feeding with me for the first time just laugh and laugh as I talk to them like kids heading to bed!
Last night one of my younger NN girls (Sister - as in Mo's sister) decided to roost in the tree. (this is one of the 3 we ended up raising that were rejected by a broody)This girl is a beauty too and about 2 weeks younger than the older - more robust NN kids. She has tried this before and been brought back down and put on the roost. So last night I was up on the ladder bringing her down again. Tonight we had a talk about being on the big girl roost and not getting in the tree. She was just too little and the owl would take her away. One of those three is a rooster who is very protective of her and her little sister Bitty. My next door neighbor startled me and said she didn't want to interrupt while I was disciplining my chicken! OOPS sorry about the chapter! Stay cool and safe friends

 

[BlueBaby]

@FeatherPugs It look's like you have decided that you like the NN's, too! I'm still waiting on my group of White NN pullet's to start laying eggs over here. What color was the NN girl that flew up in the tree?