My garden overproduced yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, and tomatoes. More than we could use or even give away. So I have been giving quite a bit to my flock.
The flock is mostly Jersey Giants, along with a few guinea fowl and about 9 ducks, approx. 35 fowl in all. They have been getting the veggies just about everyday for about a month, in addition to flock raiser and oyster shell (those are free fed, no limits) , and they also get corn scratch almost everyday, about 3 cups between them all.
I noticed lately that the egg production has slowed down so much it is now at a standstill. NO eggs at all. Is it from too many veggies and corn? I have stopped all corn and veggies as of 3 days ago.
Can too many veggies be bad for laying? They are still plowing through their flockraiser though, so the veggies havent slowed down their feed consumption. I also suddenly have 3 broodies, so that doesnt help egg production.
The guineas arent laying due to being too young, as well as the ducks and some of the Jerseys, but I was getting 8 or 9 eggs a day consistantly, and now....none.
Sooooo...... too many veggies or something else? BTW- they are wormed and dont have any illness's and have fresh running water all day.
WHOA!!!! I just went out to check for eggs with my 3 little boys (2 years, 4 yrs, 7 years) and as I was walking past the hen house (which is right next to our 1 horse barn used for another coop with about 10 inches of space between the two buildings) for some reason something caught my eye. My first thought was ' Who tossed a lead rope in between the buildings?" Then mommy instinct kicked in, and I took a closer look. Far towards the back is a huge ol rattlesnake curled up around itsself, with a big bulge in its middle!!!! Boy did I freak out!!! I scooped my youngest up in my arms, screamed for my other son to RUN and grabbed my 4 yr olds hand and RAN the heck outta there!! I told them to run, there is a rattlesnake in the pen!! And they sure moved it quick! Proud of them for being so obediant without saying a word- just immediate movement. PHEW!!
HUbby got the gun with some snakeshot in it and hit it once, then let my oldest son finish it off with a few more shots. Im soooo glad its dead, but I do have a tiny bit of guilt. It only had a big rat in its stomach- I thought it had been eating eggs!! I hate to kill a vermin eater, but my children are FAR more important than one snakes' life. My son did the autopsy- he's cool like that, not grossed out by that kinda stuff and very curious.
Man, not a fun way to start our day!!
NEW QUESTION- Will the hens stop laying if they are scared because of a big ol predator hanging around?
The flock is mostly Jersey Giants, along with a few guinea fowl and about 9 ducks, approx. 35 fowl in all. They have been getting the veggies just about everyday for about a month, in addition to flock raiser and oyster shell (those are free fed, no limits) , and they also get corn scratch almost everyday, about 3 cups between them all.
I noticed lately that the egg production has slowed down so much it is now at a standstill. NO eggs at all. Is it from too many veggies and corn? I have stopped all corn and veggies as of 3 days ago.
Can too many veggies be bad for laying? They are still plowing through their flockraiser though, so the veggies havent slowed down their feed consumption. I also suddenly have 3 broodies, so that doesnt help egg production.
The guineas arent laying due to being too young, as well as the ducks and some of the Jerseys, but I was getting 8 or 9 eggs a day consistantly, and now....none.
Sooooo...... too many veggies or something else? BTW- they are wormed and dont have any illness's and have fresh running water all day.
WHOA!!!! I just went out to check for eggs with my 3 little boys (2 years, 4 yrs, 7 years) and as I was walking past the hen house (which is right next to our 1 horse barn used for another coop with about 10 inches of space between the two buildings) for some reason something caught my eye. My first thought was ' Who tossed a lead rope in between the buildings?" Then mommy instinct kicked in, and I took a closer look. Far towards the back is a huge ol rattlesnake curled up around itsself, with a big bulge in its middle!!!! Boy did I freak out!!! I scooped my youngest up in my arms, screamed for my other son to RUN and grabbed my 4 yr olds hand and RAN the heck outta there!! I told them to run, there is a rattlesnake in the pen!! And they sure moved it quick! Proud of them for being so obediant without saying a word- just immediate movement. PHEW!!
HUbby got the gun with some snakeshot in it and hit it once, then let my oldest son finish it off with a few more shots. Im soooo glad its dead, but I do have a tiny bit of guilt. It only had a big rat in its stomach- I thought it had been eating eggs!! I hate to kill a vermin eater, but my children are FAR more important than one snakes' life. My son did the autopsy- he's cool like that, not grossed out by that kinda stuff and very curious.
Man, not a fun way to start our day!!
NEW QUESTION- Will the hens stop laying if they are scared because of a big ol predator hanging around?
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