Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NovaAman]

I'm having a lot of eggs break in the nesting box. I have plenty of straw in there, but they swirl it around "nesting" and end up laying on the wooden bottom. What should I put in them to keep them from breaking?

OR, you can put those foam drawer liners in the bottoms under the straw. They are nice and washable too.

 

[Opa]

I'm having a lot of eggs break in the nesting box. I have plenty of straw in there, but they swirl it around "nesting" and end up laying on the wooden bottom. What should I put in them to keep them from breaking?

It's pretty rare for egg to be broken when laid regardless of what type of material is on the floor. While my rainbow flock uses a rollout nest box system, my Welsummers and all of my bantams have wood floored nest boxes. I can't keep any type of nesting material in most of the nest boxes and the chickens seem to scratch it out as quick as I replace it. I have never had eggs broken even when laid on a bare hard surface.

I think you will find that the egg are actually being broken by other chickens entering and leaving the nest box. If the majority of the eggs are being laid in one box you may need to collect eggs more often or increase the size of the nest box.

 

[Juise]

OR, you can put those foam drawer liners in the bottoms under the straw. They are nice and washable too.

Okay, yeah, Nova suggested that to me, too. I was, perhaps irrationally, afraid that they would eat it. >.>

It's pretty rare for egg to be broken when laid regardless of what type of material is on the floor.

Yes, I was going to say, none of mine actually broke. I had an egg or two get a little spiderwebby crack on them, but none broke. Do you give your hens any sort of calcium supplement?

 

[taprock]

The only times I've had broken eggs in the nest box was when I had 5 broody girls fighting over the boxes. Otherwise wood and some pine shaving have worked for me.

Tonight I am missing my wandering polish Peep. I was gone until after dark but I think when it started raining about 6 she most likely found a dry spot and then didn't come back to the coop when it got dark. I hope she has a good spot for the night. She has done this several times before but it doesn't make me worry any less. I spent 45 minutes in the dark and rain looking for her with a flashlight. Dh spent that much time as well. Now it's just wait and see come morning.

 

[swampducks]

Well, I can't blame the chipmunk for bowling over fluffy white cotton balls. It probably had NO CLUE those were chickens!

I have had a couple pests around for the last couple months and let it go. But today after watching her run into a chicken, refuse to be scared of me and hoarding food, that it was enough and time to get rid of her. So with tears for the cute little furry critter....


Notice Buzz had to keep tabs on what was happening.

 

[NovaAman]

Hope she shows up in the morning tap... Maybe she is afraid of the gun?

 

[chickflick]

I put those padded place mats in my nest boxes. Usually it's the kid's designs that are padded. Got Easter ones on clearance last year. So, I always have eggs in the nest boxes!

Good Night, all. Sleep tight!

 

[Juise]

Well, I can't blame the chipmunk for bowling over fluffy white cotton balls. It probably had NO CLUE those were chickens!

Hope she's okay, Tap!

 

[kimmie6067]

I got my blue orp from Shelleyb1969 at starbrightfarm.com Mine are beautiful. I don't know if she still has some, but you can give her a e mail and see.

Thanks for the lead

I just received an e-mail newsletter from My Pet Chicken. They have blue orps.

Not sure that I would pay $14 for one. Still, it is a pretty bird.

I will check them out, thanks

I'm going to FowlFest and I will be bring my Salmon Faverolles I'm not sure of any other shows in Michigan and this will be my first time going to FowlFest a friend of mine told me about it and i figured why not I'm hoping it will be fun.

I will be there, how will I know yours?

Well that is odd then... Has he necrospied any of them?

No he hasn't, who does that? The vet, we use Dr. Pol

have you taken a stool sample to a vet? could be some kind of parasite, very strange to be only affecting 1 breed
some times you have to go and look, or ask for some one that knows chickens. I called 4 different stores last yr looking for a med. they all told me they didn't have it. went and looked and sure enough right on the shelf

No we havn't since they are fine then one day they are dead. He give his Barred Rocks to someone. So now no bossy roo in the coop

 

[taprock]

Found my soggy chicken this morning. She was only about 10 foot from the coop in the tall grass on the lee side of a gas cylinder. Goofy bird. Off to my coffee now.