First Egg Countdown

[fingbob]

We had a shell less egg again yeaterday morning, and a green egg. Today no eggs.

 

[redrstr29]

So I took my layer pellets mixed it with oyster shell last week *they didnt like pellets I had half of a 25 lbbag left) and put it in the blender all together.........lol......They havent layed a shelled egg since....I made my own mash and they ate all of it.... ground up shells and all ...Im a sneaky one,,,,....And to the other poster when I moved my pullets I did it in the morning after they laid their eggs by the nest morning they were settled in and laid right on normally..

 

[Pele]

Good discussion on getting hens extra calcium!

I personally have a mortar and pestle that I use to grind up shells after they've dried and had a quick turn in the microwave (30 seconds).

In order to trick my hens into gobbling them down without being picky, I designated a spot that I always feed them treats on. I could put anything on that spot, and they'd eat it without stopping to see what they're eating. Silly girls.

 

[redrstr29]

got a new layer today....5 outta 9 are layin woohoo

 

[fingbob]

I am still at two layers. It has been just over two weeks and no new layers. I think I saw a hen "squatting" yesterday, but I have never seen it before and it was so fast. I turned around to head into the house and it looked like she could have been getting up from sitting in the grass. I don't think she was sitting a min earlier when I walked by though.

We did mess things up though. We built a new coop and added the 5, 10 week old buff O's and 11, 7week old chicks. They are doing well in a huge new coop. We put our guinea pig cage in the large coop with some string across the door so the half to squeeze in, for there safe place.

In the last three days that they have been in the new coop. we received 2 eggs the first day in the new boxes, one brown egg the second day, and one egg the third day. Lets see what happens today.

 

[redrstr29]

lol yup remember when I added new pullets (oh god) I was getting a shelless egg everyday for a week and went down to 1 or 2 eggs a day...it took a good week and now for about 2 weeks ive been getting 4 a day steadily, and today a new one started (floor egg) I saw her in the nest box earlier but I brought them some grass (not that kind) and she ran out to eat!! lol I guess she couldnt hold it anymore lol!!
Good luck I hope you get a few more eggs soon!!!

I cant wait to actually need a basket or have to bring the carton down to collect them.... I want to add more pullets again but I dont wanna mess with their rythem again!! Im so neurotic !!! i wont be happy till I have 100 and even then.......maybe i need some grass and relax lol!! Any way I think this one was the pullet...

Rose

 

[redrstr29]

to check for squattin put ur hsnd on her back betweern the wings rough pet her and drag ur hand down to her tail feather bump and kind of firmly wiggle...lol (works everytime) ill try to take a pic

 

[Happy Chooks]

2 of my 3 blue barnevelder pullets started laying this week at 24 weeks!

Sure beats the 11 months I waited on my last pure barnevelder pullet. (who is now plucking her belly I might add, just as predicted - she's not broody yet, but working on it)

I also have a broody English Orp sitting on 12 eggs.

 

[redrstr29]

months!!! wow, i would of died from impatience....barnevelders are nice!!...how are they in referece to size...usual egg production??

 

[Happy Chooks]

months!!! wow, i would of died from impatience....barnevelders are nice!!...how are they in referece to size...usual egg production??

They are a medium sized large fowl bird. A bit smaller than a welsummer. Egg production is a bit of a challenge in the pure stock, plus they are a broody breed, so that doesn't help egg production either. I'd say they are a moderate layer. I have added some of the Blue barnevelders to my flock to increase egg production and because I love blue birds. Beautifully colored, large eggs though.