Cream Legbars

[chicken pickin]

Thanks BBS - it helps to know I'm not the only one. Perhaps the oyster shells - free choice just aren't that yummy. So some calcium has to be 'sneaked' in. I'm the same way -- not going back to flock raiser solo -- but trying to figure practical reasonable way to boost their protein. Because of my predator problems I can't let them free range any longer... breaks my heart and theirs....but that's how it is...and I know that those bugs and forage would give them the supplementation that they would thrive on.

ETA - they vastly prefer egg shells over oyster shells.....

I have thought about doing egg shells as well, do they need to be baked or anything like that? Or just crushed up and served back to them?

 

[ChicKat]

I have thought about doing egg shells as well, do they need to be baked or anything like that? Or just crushed up and served back to them?

Lots of people say no processing is needed -- they just let them dry. I have a friend who rinses out egg shells each time she breaks one. I actually put mine in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes -- they crush easier - I in my mind -- I'm thinking I'm zapping any unwanted bacteria that are on the shells.

Probably either way would work fine.

 

[Ravynscroft]

I have thought about doing egg shells as well, do they need to be baked or anything like that? Or just crushed up and served back to them?

Egg shells crush up much better if you bake them for approx 15 mins... also helps to keep them from recognizing the connection to the eggs they lay to avoid egg eaters...

 

[Debs55]

Would like to add my experience with feed as well, my leg bars get layer feed supplemented with eggshells (baked and crushed) I had some younger birds in with them and was mixing their feed half layer and half flock raiser and their eggs were awful, very porous and cracking, lots of soft shells. Switched them back to all layer feed and they have done awesome every since. I do supplement with sunflower seeds for extra protein and we raise red worms so they get some of them as well. On the other hand, my silkies are almost exclusively on flock raiser because one of them always has babies and I have never supplemented them regularly with egg shells and their eggs are fine. Not porous or anything. So really it just depends on the birds. Also, my roosters eat whatever my hens eat and considering Ive only ever lost roosters to old age I think they do all right

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

I have thought about doing egg shells as well, do they need to be baked or anything like that? Or just crushed up and served back to them?

When I have extra eggs I scramble them with the egg shells and add any extra shells I have and give them to the chickens. I am also lazy and just throw all my egg shells into the veggie scrap bin and give them to them. I never cook them first or crush them and they eat them no problem, have never gotten sick and I have never had an egg eater. Your mileage may vary.

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Thanks BBS - it helps to know I'm not the only one. Perhaps the oyster shells - free choice just aren't that yummy. So some calcium has to be 'sneaked' in. I'm the same way -- not going back to flock raiser solo -- but trying to figure practical reasonable way to boost their protein. Because of my predator problems I can't let them free range any longer... breaks my heart and theirs....but that's how it is...and I know that those bugs and forage would give them the supplementation that they would thrive on.

ETA - they vastly prefer egg shells over oyster shells.....

I am sorry you can't free range. It is one of the things I enjoy most about having chickens. Watching them wander about doing what chickens do. I don't seem to have the predator problems that others do (Knocking on all the wood I can find!). We have foxes, coyote and both black bear and grizzlies but I have a lot of dogs on my property and it keeps those kinds of predators at bay. We also do not have any raccoons for which I am very thankful.

We have airborne predators but the harriers control the territory around our place and they are not interested in the full grown chickens. We have bald eagles in the winter but they too have shown no interest most likely because of the dogs. That doesn't mean it can't happen and if I began to lose chickens I would have to change things here too.

 

[ChicKat]

When I have extra eggs I scramble them with the egg shells and add any extra shells I have and give them to the chickens. I am also lazy and just throw all my egg shells into the veggie scrap bin and give them to them. I never cook them first or crush them and they eat them no problem, have never gotten sick and I have never had an egg eater. Your mileage may vary.

or maybe my mileage would be the same....

It is surprising that it's not a one-size-fits all -- but seems for most of us our CLs need to have that calcium from the layer feed...then just to figure out how to supplement -- scrambled eggs sounds like a winner.....they will gobble that up.

 

[ChicKat]

I am sorry you can't free range. It is one of the things I enjoy most about having chickens. Watching them wander about doing what chickens do. I don't seem to have the predator problems that others do (Knocking on all the wood I can find!). We have foxes, coyote and both black bear and grizzlies but I have a lot of dogs on my property and it keeps those kinds of predators at bay. We also do not have any raccoons for which I am very thankful.

We have airborne predators but the harriers control the territory around our place and they are not interested in the full grown chickens. We have bald eagles in the winter but they too have shown no interest most likely because of the dogs. That doesn't mean it can't happen and if I began to lose chickens I would have to change things here too.

I need my dog here..... Hate to think of her out there all alone against them -- I need to get a companion for her.... there you go! -- Have had tracks of cougar -- and that has kept me from bringing her away from the ranch among other things. I bet she would go after anything (ACD- I've seen her after a 2,000 pound bull) -- but maybe a cougar would just keep away if it knew a cattle dog/working dog was here........

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

I have three dogs of my own. Three cattle dog X. I also board dogs on my property so all of the dogs are out and about during the day. They pee on stuff and make a bunch of noise during the day. At night they all sleep indoors. My coops are secure and it seems to work. I have never even had an attempted break in. We do not have mountain lions here though. They are willing to take a single dog but usually will stay away from a group of dogs.

The clear answer is: you need more dogs!

 

[caychris]

Back on the egg grading. I am thinking that eggs graded high for eating would make very poor eggs for hatching.