Finaly Joined! Flock of 10 in Provo, UT

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ChickenExplorer

ChickenExplorer

In the Brooder
5 Years
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
21
Reaction score
1
Points
26
Location
Provo, UT
I've had my chickens for 1 &1/2 years now, (though my family always had at least one growing up). So I'm not new to chickens. But over the past year, it seemed every time I Googled a question, I ended up here. Some one had usually already asked the same question and there had been good answers back. So today I decided I want to participate!

Have 3 EE, Buff, Barred Rock, Sex Link, Jersey Giant, Golden Sex Link, Leghorn, One bantam(spec unknown) and one that I have no idea other than my wife thinks she's cool looking.

Sadly I will be culling some of my girls this weekend due to aggressive egg eating. Tried to the mustard in the egg trick, didn't work. But, its a chance to explore a new aspect of raising chickens and I plan on replacing them with Leghorns and Barred Rocks.

Hurray to one step closer to independent living!
 
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Egg eating can be trouble some. Have you tried using curtains over your nest boxes? I have had really good luck with this technique on my egg eaters. They can't see the eggs just by walking by and are less likely to do their rounds to peck at eggs. They have to peek into dark boxes and my girls don't mess with the eggs in the darkened boxes. Also, always keep a fake egg in each box. Not a golf ball, but a regular looking egg. This also helps to convince them that eggs are impenetrable.

And always keep oystershell available at all times. This time of year when there is not as much light in the day to eat their layer feed, keep the treats and free ranging down to a dull roar so they eat more layer. And by keeping the oyster shell in their faces near the feed and water, they are more likely to eat enough of it and lay eggs with harder shells.

Great to have you aboard and good luck with your flock!
 
Could you put up a picture of how the curtains on the nesting boxes are supposed to look? I was planning on re-doing the coop anyway this summer.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan
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Another consideration would be to use roll-out boxes - look in Opa's profile, he has plans for some that are really nice. You could also try using ceramic eggs in the boxes, and remove real eggs as soon as possible. I understand the hens do not like it when they hit a rock-hard egg while pecking. I would also make sure they are getting adequate protein (not too much or too little) and have calcium available at all times.
 
The roll away nest boxes are great BUT, hens don't always lay eggs in the nest. Sometimes they just lay anywhere they happen to be - which makes it hard to catch them eating eggs. I like 2 Crows methods - well thought out.
 

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