MKK Farms. Updates, pics, and stories!

[Mr MKK FARMS]

maybe, though they seem more interested in scratching through the straw.
hopefully when they start their laying cycle they will adopt the box as a nest

Yeah!

 

[TeaChick]

Yeah. Still waiting for mine to start too.

This is the problem with buying and hatching chicks...we sit around waiting for them to start laying...so we hatch more while we're waiting...and then we have to wait for those to start laying too...so we buy some more b/c we don't want to sit around waiting for eggs to hatch...and then........you get the picture.

can't win for waiting.....

same here, they are 18 weeks and one is 19 weeks, but not much pre-lay behavior. their combs are starting to redden slightly.

actually, they have a problem with the nesting box in the coop. they kick out all the bedding in it, and when I add more it doesn't last even a couple hours. im thinking of screening it off with chicken wire with a couple fake eggs/golf balls so they get used to it a little.
any other thoughts?

What are you using for nesting material? If it's the same as what you use for bedding (on the bottom of the coop) they might think it belongs there.

When I used pine shavings as both DL and nesting, my girls did the same thing. When I started using broad leaves for bedding and pine straw for nesting, they started making a nest in the pine straw.
Just an idea.

maybe, though they seem more interested in scratching through the straw.
hopefully when they start their laying cycle they will adopt the box as a nest

If they don't have a choice, then they probably will. I've had hens lay from the roost before though, just b/c she didn't like the nesting corner I had set up (all nice and semi-dark and secluded...although, that was after the two gray rat snakes tried to eat eggs and we pulled them out and disposed of them....who says chickens don't learn

Now some of them lay in a five gallon bucket (originally with potting soil in it, now with pine shavings over the soil) and the other half are laying in a Tysons chicken nugget box behind the newly rebuilt original coop.
Technically, I also have at least two that might not even be laying in either of those locations, but I can't keep straight who's laying where and when and whether and....sorry

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

...

Yeah. Still waiting for mine to start too.

This is the problem with buying and hatching chicks...we sit around waiting for them to start laying...so we hatch more while we're waiting...and then we have to wait for those to start laying too...so we buy some more b/c we don't want to sit around waiting for eggs to hatch...and then........you get the picture.
can't win for waiting.....



Hehe, You nailed it. Eventually we will all go broke. lol

 

[TeaChick]

This is the problem with buying and hatching chicks...we sit around waiting for them to start laying...so we hatch more while we're waiting...and then we have to wait for those to start laying too...so we buy some more b/c we don't want to sit around waiting for eggs to hatch...and then........you get the picture.

can't win for waiting.....



Hehe, You nailed it. Eventually we will all go broke. lol

No, no, we save loads of money on eggs....and either freezing or selling extra males.....and....on free ranging so we don't have to buy as much feed......
and, most of all, b/c all us chicken ppl are in this chicken thing together and we share!!!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

This is the problem with buying and hatching chicks...we sit around waiting for them to start laying...so we hatch more while we're waiting...and then we have to wait for those to start laying too...so we buy some more b/c we don't want to sit around waiting for eggs to hatch...and then........you get the picture.
can't win for waiting.....




Hehe, You nailed it. Eventually we will all go broke. lol

No, no, we save loads of money on eggs....and either freezing or selling extra males.....and....on free ranging so we don't have to buy as much feed......
and, most of all, b/c all us chicken ppl are in this chicken thing together and we share!!!

Ah okay.


Just got two totes of sawdust in for the chickens. Lots of shovelling ahead.

 

[TeaChick]

Ah okay.

Just got two totes of sawdust in for the chickens. Lots of shovelling ahead.

Yup!!! I need to find a way to get free sawdust; can't afford to buy the pine shavings that 25 chickens need, especially when I'm having to buy eggs.....too many free loaders. lol

 

[Y N dottes]

Quote:
Well I have sand at the bottom of the coop and straw in the nesting box. I do put straw in their run and they love scratching through that.

I think my 19 week Ancona is getting ready to lay any day now and I think she would see the box as a good nest, but the younger pullets keep ruining it. hopefully they'll follow by example

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Ah okay.



Just got two totes of sawdust in for the chickens. Lots of shovelling ahead.

Yup!!!  I need to find a way to get free sawdust; can't afford to buy the pine shavings that 25 chickens need, especially when I'm having to buy eggs.....too many free loaders. lol

Yup.

 

[TeaChick]

Well I have sand at the bottom of the coop and straw in the nesting box. I do put straw in their run and they love scratching through that.

I think my 19 week Ancona is getting ready to lay any day now and I think she would see the box as a good nest, but the younger pullets keep ruining it. hopefully they'll follow by example

Yeah, it sounds like they've trained you; straw is for scratching. lol Personally, I would put something else in the nesting box if you can. If it comes to it, you could put shredded paper in there; I don't like it b/c it sticks to the eggs, but it works otherwise and it's great for keeping the kids busy; I have one who likes to "make little ones out of big ones".

Yup.

I was going to get rid of one of the extra males I have, but I don't have peace about it yet. I think it's what's best, but I don't get that that's the case.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

 

Well I have sand at the bottom of the coop and straw in the nesting box. I do put straw in their run and they love scratching through that.

I think my 19 week Ancona is getting ready to lay any day now and I think she would see the box as a good nest, but the younger pullets keep ruining it. hopefully they'll follow by example

Yeah, it sounds like they've trained you; straw is for scratching. lol  Personally, I would put something else in the nesting box if you can.  If it comes to it, you could put shredded paper in there; I don't like it b/c it sticks to the eggs, but it works otherwise and it's great for keeping the kids busy; I have one who likes to "make little ones out of big ones".

Yup.

Ah okay.

I was going to get rid of one of the extra males I have, but I don't have peace about it yet.  I think it's what's best, but I don't get that that's the case.