Constant egg-eating

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
You can keep your hens if your family is so attached to them, you just won't get any eggs from them anymore. I don't have a use for hens that don't lay or eat their own eggs but thats up to you.

 

[Q9]

I'll see if there's a way to incorporate a roll-away nest box in - that would, however, entail the removal of the current nest box, since it's level with the floor. I like the golf ball idea. As for isolating them, we'll be building a new tractor soon, so maybe we can do that before we get new chicks.

Thanks for the help, y'all! This forum has probably saved our chickens' lives several times over by this point.

 

[Spudd dud]

Quote:
I'M willing to do something - I wouldn't like it, as I have unfortunately become somewhat attached to these hens - but my mom and sister? There's NO WAY they would go for it. My dad and I have had enough trouble convincing them that we should give them away after two years to a friend who would like them.

Said friend would probably stew them, so it's the same basic effect, but try explaining that to my mom and sister.

I like the golf-ball idea, but the problem is, our hens are RIRs, so their eggs are brown.

I have barred and partridge rocks that lay brown eggs too, but if you can get the golf balls a little dirty (sand them to make them rough and smear in dirt/mud) they still work quite well.

 

[rufus]

If you put enough old light bulbs, door knobs and golf balls in the nest, they will get frustrated pecking on all of that junk.

Make sure your hens are getting enough greens. I pick weeds and grass every day out of the alleys to feed my chickens. Also, make sure they have a fresh supply of soil to dig through for grit.

If you have small kids, this is a job for them. Send them out every hour or so to see if any eggs were laid, and collect them. This keeps the hens from eating the eggs, and it give the kids something to do.

And don't be cheap with the oyster shell.

Rufus