caught one of my chickens eating an egg!

[passionlady]

Ok, this may seem to be a silly question but, if I cull her out, where am I supposed to put her? We have a large "house" my father designed for the chickens which can hold many more than I have and their "yard" is large and closed in with chicken wire all around it. My sex-links are allowed to run around the yard for an hour or two each day but the bantams prefer the run instead of going in our yard. I just don't know where I could keep her for now and are my sex-links old enough for oyster shells? The are about 20 weeks old.

 

[HEChicken]

Yes, the sex links are old enough for oyster shell. Its something chooks will only eat when they know they need it so its safe to leave it out even as young chicks. The chicks won't eat it but around the time they start needing additional calcium they will know to take some on an "as needed" basis. If you are feeding layer feed they may not take much extra shell since layer feed has calcium in it, but if you are feeding a mixed age flock and using some kind of grower formula, you can leave out one bowl and only the layers will take it as they need it.

 

[passionlady]

Thank you all so much. Apparantly I have TWO sex-links laying now!!!! YAY!!! I was gone for a few hours and came home to find another egg in the nesting box and it wasn't touched by my bantam so.....maybe it was just a one time thing??? I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'd hate to have to get rid of my bantam.

 

[Crippledturkey]

My suggestion is buying some plastic eggs, like at easter time, or as mentioned in previous posts golf balls and put a couple in each nest box. I have a bunch of plastic easter eggs that I put in the boxes and have not had any problems, the golf balls would work better I think as they scratch they break open the hollow plastic eggs, and ya are constantly having to reclose them. 39 layers total, so I hope I am not too far off on this old wives tale thing, lol.