Can you give chickens their eggs scrambled?

[drumstick diva]

Scrambled eggs do not resemble the raw eggs just out of a broken shell, so chickens don't become egg eaters. As someone pointed out, grind up the shells if you feed them back so they don't look like egg shells

 

[pamonarch]

I'm feeding my laying hens a few handfuls of alfalfa..it comes in an air-tight bag..smells wonderful. The girls love it..I throw it all around in their runs and they scratch around in it for days. Is this ok for them while they are laying? I read that it helps give the eggs extra vitamins? I also let them free range every night for about 2 hours..then I give them a treat of some scratch and dry oatmeal mixed up...about 3 cups worth...I have 15 birds...8 Buffs, 4 Barred Rocks, and 3 Red stars...they love it...hoping the scratch and oatmeal is good for egg laying too..plus I have unlimited Dunmore Layer feed in their coop all the time. And piles of oyster shells...Any other ideas?

 

[Richard Charles]

Pamonarch- It sounds like you treat your girls like Queens! You should also treat them to a nice Princess Cruise- they have great buffets and the girls will love you for taking them!

 

[NNYchick]

I'm feeding my laying hens a few handfuls of alfalfa..it comes in an air-tight bag..smells wonderful. The girls love it..I throw it all around in their runs and they scratch around in it for days. Is this ok for them while they are laying? I read that it helps give the eggs extra vitamins? I also let them free range every night for about 2 hours..then I give them a treat of some scratch and dry oatmeal mixed up...about 3 cups worth...I have 15 birds...8 Buffs, 4 Barred Rocks, and 3 Red stars...they love it...hoping the scratch and oatmeal is good for egg laying too..plus I have unlimited Dunmore Layer feed in their coop all the time. And piles of oyster shells...Any other ideas?

Where do you find the alfalfa? Is it cubes, chopped or pellets? I am looking for more ideas to keep them busy during the winter and more ideas for greens as they wont be able to forage once the snow comes. I do sprout BOSS, mung beans, and wheat berries for them already.

 

[pamonarch]

Where do you find the alfalfa? Is it cubes, chopped or pellets? I am looking for more ideas to keep them busy during the winter and more ideas for greens as they wont be able to forage once the snow comes. I do sprout BOSS, mung beans, and wheat berries for them already.

I get the alfalfa from a local feed store..its in a vacumme packed square bale...smells great and has lots in it...its chopped up..they love to scratch around in it..i put it in their coop and runs when i am not able to let them free range. (only a day or two a week) i try to get them out to free range almost everyday for at least 2 hours in the late afternoon after they have all laid an egg lol

 

[NNYchick]

I get the alfalfa from a local feed store..its in a vacumme packed square bale...smells great and has lots in it...its chopped up..they love to scratch around in it..i put it in their coop and runs when i am not able to let them free range. (only a day or two a week) i try to get them out to free range almost everyday for at least 2 hours in the late afternoon after they have all laid an egg lol

Thank you, I will look for that. I do the same they get out in the backyard for about 2 hours in the evening when I get home from work but once snow starts falling my silkies probably wont go out in it.

 

[pamonarch]

Thank you, I will look for that. I do the same they get out in the backyard for about 2 hours in the evening when I get home from work but once snow starts falling my silkies probably wont go out in it.

ok...maybe try a Tractor Supply? Yes, I am a little worried about the cold winters here, but I am now working on getting some supplies to put up to protect them from the wind and still leave some small openings up near the roof to have adequate ventalation. I am even going to get a small heat bulb (redish) incase it gets below zero...poor babies. I also read that putting petroleum jelly on their combs and waddles will protect them from freezing? Silkies...they are so cute..my neighbor has a few of those

 

[NNYchick]

ok...maybe try a Tractor Supply? Yes, I am a little worried about the cold winters here, but I am now working on getting some supplies to put up to protect them from the wind and still leave some small openings up near the roof to have adequate ventalation. I am even going to get a small heat bulb (redish) incase it gets below zero...poor babies. I also read that putting petroleum jelly on their combs and waddles will protect them from freezing? Silkies...they are so cute..my neighbor has a few of those

I have done a lot of research for winter. A chicken does not mind the cold as long as no direct winds hitting them on the roost and they are dry. I have talked to many local chicken keepers in my area and everyone says NO EXTRA HEAT just lots of straw for them to burrow in, two problems with heat sources 1) big time fire hazard and 2) if the power goes out they are not acclimated to the cold and you will lose all of them. I am way up north our winters are cold (-30 degrees) and brutal. There are some great articles and forum threads for dealing with winter.

 

[pamonarch]

I have done a lot of research for winter. A chicken does not mind the cold as long as no direct winds hitting them on the roost and they are dry. I have talked to many local chicken keepers in my area and everyone says NO EXTRA HEAT just lots of straw for them to burrow in, two problems with heat sources 1) big time fire hazard and 2) if the power goes out they are not acclimated to the cold and you will lose all of them. I am way up north our winters are cold (-30 degrees) and brutal. There are some great articles and forum threads for dealing with winter.

thank you for the advice..i have just now been reading more on the heat source..and it does say no heat...ive never seen it negative 30 here...maybe negative 10..but not much lower..i will let mother nature help them as much as i can...i will check them often and plug up drafty places near the roosts..oh and i already have a few bags of hay from a neighbor who has horses...I will also get more leaves and more hay before winter to put on the floor of the coop for them to nestle in when off the roost..thank you so much for your input..i really appreciate it!!

 

[pamonarch]

I have done a lot of research for winter. A chicken does not mind the cold as long as no direct winds hitting them on the roost and they are dry. I have talked to many local chicken keepers in my area and everyone says NO EXTRA HEAT just lots of straw for them to burrow in, two problems with heat sources 1) big time fire hazard and 2) if the power goes out they are not acclimated to the cold and you will lose all of them. I am way up north our winters are cold (-30 degrees) and brutal. There are some great articles and forum threads for dealing with winter.

is straw better than hay? I have mostly hay, but can get some straw if it holds the heat better.