Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[mpgo4th]

Oz, I read your post about the 5 sacks of oyster shell. Do you mix that in for the layers of put it out free choice? I have a ton of babies from 1-8 weeks in being raised by my flock. I feed them all a grower or flock raiser type feed that is about 1.3% calcium. I put oyster shell in a plastic trough style feeder next to the feed at all times. They eat very little of it. I'm getting horrible egg quality. Today I had three broken in the boxes and on that broke in my hand when I picked it up. They have been on this feed for about a month. Anything I can do to help the older ones with harder shells without harming the young ones?

 

[ozexpat]

Oz, I read your post about the 5 sacks of oyster shell. Do you mix that in for the layers of put it out free choice? I have a ton of babies from 1-8 weeks in being raised by my flock. I feed them all a grower or flock raiser type feed that is about 1.3% calcium. I put oyster shell in a plastic trough style feeder next to the feed at all times. They eat very little of it. I'm getting horrible egg quality. Today I had three broken in the boxes and on that broke in my hand when I picked it up. They have been on this feed for about a month. Anything I can do to help the older ones with harder shells without harming the young ones?

I seperate my birds by age and have little experience raising chicks in a coop

My layer feed has 3.4% calcium and I mix 12kg of crushed oyster shells to a batch of feed

Minumum requirements (my feeds are 20, 16, 14 and 15%):

Protein (%) Lysine g Ca g P g Ca ratio Sodium g
0 to 6 weeks 18 8.5 8 4 2.0 1.5
6 to 14 weeks 16 6.5 7 3.5 2.0 1.5
14 to 20 weeks 12 4.5 6 3 2.0 1.5
Laying 14.5 6.4 34 3.2 10.6 1.5


it sounds like you need to up to a layer feed with calcium in it

matbe you couls have chick feed in a location that hens canr reach for the younger birds

 

[vehve]

Just a thought, are you giving a lot of ACV? And is it possible they're a bit low on vitamin D? The first one can block calcium absorption, while the latter is necessary for enabling that same process. Sunshine and vitamin additives will fix that, if it's the problem. If I were you, I would also feed back the egg shells to your flock, they might find them more palatable than the oyster shell.

 

[ozexpat]

Here is a little article I wrote that may be of interest

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mixing-feeds-from-ingredients-available-in-the-philippines

 

[mpgo4th]

Just a thought, are you giving a lot of ACV? And is it possible they're a bit low on vitamin D? The first one can block calcium absorption, while the latter is necessary for enabling that same process. Sunshine and vitamin additives will fix that, if it's the problem. If I were you, I would also feed back the egg shells to your flock, they might find them more palatable than the oyster shell.

Yes to the ACV. They get it in their water everyday. Am I causing the problem.

 

[ozexpat]

Just a thought, are you giving a lot of ACV? And is it possible they're a bit low on vitamin D? The first one can block calcium absorption, while the latter is necessary for enabling that same process. Sunshine and vitamin additives will fix that, if it's the problem. If I were you, I would also feed back the egg shells to your flock, they might find them more palatable than the oyster shell.

After lots of research, I am convinced that the higher levels of calcium in layer feed wont harm healthy adult chickens not laying - ie roosters so i have switched to layer mash with 34grams of calcium per Kg. The oyster shell is fairly course in my chicken recipes.

Our pigs get the fail to hatch eggs - all boiled up and mashed. Empty egg shells go back to the chooks.

 

[City farm]

Yeah, I don't really understand the point of spending hundreds of thousands on a wedding. Especially when some people do it on credit. If you have the money, then sure, it's good for the economy, but taking out a loan to throw a party sounds sort of insane to me.

X2!!

 

[Leftcoastnative]

Originally Posted by vehve

Yeah, I don't really understand the point of spending hundreds of thousands on a wedding. Especially when some people do it on credit. If you have the money, then sure, it's good for the economy, but taking out a loan to throw a party sounds sort of insane to me.

-----------------------------------

Dropping out of lurkerdom ......... again.
Because I just cannot resist!

I totally and utterly agree with the sentiment expressed above. But then again....we're talking about the behavior of human beings!
How many on the planet can put "I stashed eggs in a golf bag" on their resume??

And I'm the one sittin' here, fascinated by it all.........

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Rather spend it on a house or land or improvements if you already have em.

 

[vehve]

Just a thought, are you giving a lot of ACV? And is it possible they're a bit low on vitamin D? The first one can block calcium absorption, while the latter is necessary for enabling that same process. Sunshine and vitamin additives will fix that, if it's the problem. If I were you, I would also feed back the egg shells to your flock, they might find them more palatable than the oyster shell.

Yes to the ACV. They get it in their water everyday. Am I causing the problem.

I would start by cutting down to twice a week or something. Might help a bit.