Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

yep, and I let her do what ever she wants, like she found a slug this morning, I dont normally let them eat slugs due to the chance they could get gape worm from them, but, she got it and I made every one stand back- I kept them all at bay , so she could have her prize, hehehehehehe

I have been known to help someone defend their prize as well. Usually from Aurora.

 

[BY Bob]

Yes - but I don't know how I could get any better feed. They get Purina Layer Pellets as their feed.
Maybe with all the time roaming they are eating too many grass seeds and bugs and not enough pellets - but you would think that what they find for themselves would be as good as commercial food wouldn't you?

I wanted to take a moment and think this through before I responded. I am going to ask for one allowance. I am writing this to address the difference in shells between the hens. If I am missing the mark and you are trying to address a soft-shelled egg, please forgive me and let me know.

The Roadrunners are Legbars and are only 1 year old. They are in the peak of their laying cycle and should remain there for a couple of years as they are not over producers like Leghorns are.

Your other hens are Production Reds, are they not? I know Maggie is an RIR if I remember correctly. Production Reds are just like the Leghorn in that they produce a lot of eggs early in their lifespan. The Production Reds are the same age as Maggie right? You already know that as it relates to egg production, Maggie is elderly. I submit that your other hens are as well. Egg shell problems are common as chickens age (that's why soft-shelled eggs increase in frequency as a chicken ages). I would suggest that the thinner shells are likely a by-product of this aging.

Now if I am wrong and they are not Productions Reds let me know. They are not old by chicken age standards and perhaps we should be looking at this differently.

I do think that supplementing their calcium intake is not a bad thing. Do you offer oyster shell as well? (I'm sorry but with so many soft-shelled issues running around I can't keep the details straight in my head).

Keep this in mind. The layer feed offers everything they need nutritionally for laying eggs provided that is all they eat. Anything they eat outside that will unbalance the diet. I am certain that they seek out what they need. Shadrach has told those stories many times and I have trust in the ladies to do that. But if high calcium sources are not available they will actually lower their calcium intake by eating non-feed sources of food. That is why even when my ladies were on layer feed, I had oyster shell available for them. They did not use much but mine have always eaten some oyster shell.

I hope this helps. Please correct me if any of my assumptions were wrong.

 

[WhoDatChick]

My friends... I don’t know what to say. I almost can’t believe it. She went missing 4pm Saturday, I have been balling my eyes out and looking very dangerously high and low for her. Not logging in here, not knowing how to let you all know she was missing. Praying for her to come back. Scanning the sky for vultures and yelling myself hoarse calling for her. I have been walking out to the beach two or three times daily. Last night was my first night sleeping alone since January, with DH in town and the cats all huffy. I was considering emulating Alex and bringing in Sammy for snuggles.

After my post here (thinking it may be days or weeks, if she ever comes back, and hadn’t fallen off the cliff or gotten lost on the other side of the mountains) I made some spaghetti, cried some more and was talking to myself, swearing if she would just come home I would cook her spaghetti just for her, and I headed out again to look for her with just a few hours until dark. She is home! Stuffed, belching, limping slightly, and now snoring on her pillow. Thank you all for the love and thoughts. I am believing that you all brought her back to me! (And she better not be knocked up! Of course we will love her just as much if she is... but I don’t want to have to build too big a barn!)

Oh Kris!! I am SO, SO happy to hear this!! I was crying and couldn’t bare the thought of her being alone out there! I am relieved she is home... so happy for you both

 

[WhoDatChick]

Has anyone tried using the bug zapper in the coop? My newer babies have started sleeping in the run on top of something and the only thing I can conclude is that the mosquitoes are so bad inside the roosting area... they usually roost in a smaller section that is a little separated from the others and I think the mosquitoes are worse in there... when I put my head in I can feel them hitting my face and can also hear the loud buzzing!!! I think I’m gonna try it either way... I really think they need relief from these devils... I use a fan for cooling but that doesn’t really get rid of the pests!

 

[RoyalChick]

I wanted to take a moment and think this through before I responded. I am going to ask for one allowance. I am writing this to address the difference in shells between the hens. If I am missing the mark and you are trying to address a soft-shelled egg, please forgive me and let me know.

The Roadrunners are Legbars and are only 1 year old. They are in the peak of their laying cycle and should remain there for a couple of years as they are not over producers like Leghorns are.

Your other hens are Production Reds, are they not? I know Maggie is an RIR if I remember correctly. Production Reds are just like the Leghorn in that they produce a lot of eggs early in their lifespan. The Production Reds are the same age as Maggie right? You already know that as it relates to egg production, Maggie is elderly. I submit that your other hens are as well. Egg shell problems are common as chickens age (that's why soft-shelled eggs increase in frequency as a chicken ages). I would suggest that the thinner shells are likely a by-product of this aging.

Now if I am wrong and they are not Productions Reds let me know. They are not old by chicken age standards and perhaps we should be looking at this differently.

I do think that supplementing their calcium intake is not a bad thing. Do you offer oyster shell as well? (I'm sorry but with so many soft-shelled issues running around I can't keep the details straight in my head).

Keep this in mind. The layer feed offers everything they need nutritionally for laying eggs provided that is all they eat. Anything they eat outside that will unbalance the diet. I am certain that they seek out what they need. Shadrach has told those stories many times and I have trust in the ladies to do that. But if high calcium sources are not available they will actually lower their calcium intake by eating non-feed sources of food. That is why even when my ladies were on layer feed, I had oyster shell available for them. They did not use much but mine have always eaten some oyster shell.

I hope this helps. Please correct me if any of my assumptions were wrong.

Thank you for taking the time on this for me.
You are spot on and aligned with my thinking.
They are elderly as they are (I think) production sex-linked hens (I adopted them so not 100% sure) and they are the same age as Maggie (2+ years). So in the egg-laying department they are elderly unlike the roadrunners.
They have freely available oyster shell and crushed egg shells and they do eat those.
Their commercial feed is Purina Layer pellets.
My thinking was that since the snow melted and I fenced in a big area of yard for them they are spending much more time foraging and less time eating the pellets and therefore may not be getting enough of things that are not naturally prevalent in my yard. I would hope though that they would supplement themselves with the oyster shell and egg shells but maybe they just can't keep up.
The only things going against that theory is that they are eating more feed than ever (just judging by how often I need to restock) and I think their shells have been thin for a while I just didn't really notice.
I hate to lock them up just to force them to eat more feed because they have such fun poking about looking for stuff in the long grass.

 

[RoyalChick]

Has anyone tried using the bug zapper in the coop? My newer babies have started sleeping in the run on top of something and the only thing I can conclude is that the mosquitoes are so bad inside the roosting area... they usually roost in a smaller section that is a little separated from the others and I think the mosquitoes are worse in there... when I put my head in I can feel them hitting my face and can also hear the loud buzzing!!! I think I’m gonna try it either way... I really think they need relief from these devils... I use a fan for cooling but that doesn’t really get rid of the pests!

Last summer I resolved to do that - I thought of hanging it from a chain so nobody can get in trouble by touching it. I thought they might like turning those nasty biting things into dead little snacks on the floor!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Last summer I resolved to do that - I thought of hanging it from a chain so nobody can get in trouble by touching it. I thought they might like turning those nasty biting things into dead little snacks on the floor!

I was thinking the same.. that they could eat them...
How did it work?

 

[RoyalChick]

I was thinking the same.. that they could eat them...
How did it work?

Oh no I haven't done it - after last summer I resolved I would do it this summer - it has only just started being bug season so this weekend I was going to investigate how to do it.
Step one, find the bug zapper in the garage!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Kris, get a grip on your goat! You scared all of us friends!

"Get a grip on your goat"
Nice. That has got to be a classic from now on

 

[Marie2020]

Come on RC! Geez I’m a good pilot and great chickeneer! (Not as good as Chad, but I’m learning)

Now now Alex, no checking the ladies or in your words, it won't be pretty.

Are you home now?