"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[PrimroseMom1]

That's such a cute setup! I have a hammock with a stand set right in front of my chicken yard. The hammock has a canopy over it so I can be shaded and watch all the drama and the politics.

The first pic is my hammock and the second is my view.

You're lucky to have the grass in the chicken yard. My girls have denuded mine.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I think I had another "first egg" last night. It was below the roost bar this morning but had no shell. It was just covered by a membrane and was jelly like. Is this common or something I need to be concerned about?

Membrane eggs happen. Primrose went through it a couple of times. When she was first laying and again recently at 2 years old. She had been stressed. I upped her protein and calcium by feeding her scrambled eggs until her shells were hard again. Be sure you are giving them free choice oyster shell. BTW tonight Primrose wasn't sleeping hiding her head on the nesting box tonight. For the first time in the new coop she was on a perch. There is a low perch and a high one with the poop sling in between. She was actually perched on the poop sling dowel. She was also huddled near the others on the top perch. She would never be allowed on the top perch, but I hope she will be allowed to act more like a chicken. The coop is so big I don't anticipate any bad problems, it's easy to move away from the others.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Thank you, forgetful, reminding me to get toenail clippers for my 2 girls. My girls in AZ seldom need toenails clipped the ground was so hard and scratching kept them nice. I have had it on my list foe weeks. Just about to go out, now to add pet store to my list. Their nails are starting to get long. Some people just do not care about good animal husbandry. Food, water, and shelter they think is enough, and some leave out the food, believing foraging is good enough.
Thankfully that is not any of us.

 

[Melnic]

Question, Does pecking order come into play when they are laying eggs? Or more specifically access to the nest boxes? It seems like I have a hen that guards the best boxes until she decides she wants to get into them and lay but in the meanwhile I have others who are pacing like they "need" to but the "guard" chases them off. Is this typical?

 

[CackedNut]

When I went out to let the girls out to free range, my silver wyandotte (Nicee) was dead. She was fine last night when I put them up for the night. They had free ranged all day. I looked her over completely. There were no bugs, bites, lice, mites that I could see. Is it possible that she could have eaten something? Snake bite? However with a snake bite, I would imagine I would see some sort of "mark". I'm stumped. I have been having trouble with feather loss, however, she wasn't one of the ones that had any. Cruddy cruddy cruddy cr*p!!!!! My youngest is going to be so upset when he gets home from school. Nicee wasn't one of our "lap chickens", but she was a good layer.

 

[Ron Skekel]

When I went out to let the girls out to free range, my silver wyandotte (Nicee) was dead.  She was fine last night when I put them up for the night.  They had free ranged all day.  I looked her over completely.  There were no bugs, bites, lice, mites that I could see.  Is it possible that she could have eaten something?  Snake bite? However with a snake bite, I would imagine I would see some sort of "mark".  I'm stumped.  I have been having trouble with feather loss, however, she wasn't one of the ones that had any.  Cruddy cruddy cruddy cr*p!!!!!  My youngest is going to be so upset when he gets home from school.  Nicee wasn't one of our "lap chickens", but she was a good layer.

So sorry to here about your hen. . Unfortunately they hide illness very good. It could also be something congenital that you had no knowledge of. Only way to know for sure it to send her to LSU. If you do that you need to keep her on ice. It's good to hear from you over here. Sorry that your hen passing is the reason. Your still having feather losses? Maybe all the cleaning and treatments made them molt early. I give mine ultra kibble in times of stress and for feather issues. Pam

 

[CackedNut]

So sorry to here about your hen.

. Unfortunately they hide illness very good. It could also be something congenital that you had no knowledge of. Only way to know for sure it to send her to LSU. If you do that you need to keep her on ice. It's good to hear from you over here. Sorry that your hen passing is the reason. Your still having feather losses? Maybe all the cleaning and treatments made them molt early. I give mine ultra kibble in times of stress and for feather issues. Pam

Thanks. I'll watch everyone closely and look for any "symptoms". I'll have to get the ultra kibble to try. I hope to run by TSC this weekend.
I won't send this one to LSU, however, if there are further losses, then I will reconsider.

 

[CackedNut]

Kids have been in school about a week and a half now. I THOUGHT that "things"would settle down A LITTLE BIT!!! WRONG!!!! Just as crazy...doesn't that just figure.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Kids have been in school about a week and a half now.  I THOUGHT that "things"would settle down A LITTLE BIT!!!   WRONG!!!!  Just as crazy...doesn't that just figure. 

I'm glad I'm not in this boat alone. Now it's time to catch up on all the work chores that have been put off. I'm almost caught up. Now out to plant the winter garden. My legbar roo mated with my Easter egger I'm saving the eggs to hatch in my new bator. If you want some Easter eggers provided they hatch this will be the maiden voyage. let me know. After a month or so things should slow down. Hopefully . Pam

 

[KimmyIsRad]

Hoping everything with your husband progresses well. Go spend some time with your chickens...it's my best stress reliever!

I did, and it helped.