NY chicken lover!!!!

[ke5hde]

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

 

[Lynzi777]

I had heard a long time ago that if there are changes going on that can be enough to have them stop laying...so keeping things consistent is important.

I read that too but this has been going on for weeks-almost a month now. And longer than a month with the silkies. Nothing has really changed other than this new roo a few days ago. The problem arose long before he was here.

 

[ke5hde]

I had heard a long time ago that if there are changes going on that can be enough to have them stop laying...so keeping things consistent is important.

X2. They're creatures of habit. I've had it happen just moving them from one coop to the other.

Chris

 

[ke5hde]

I had heard a long time ago that if there are changes going on that can be enough to have them stop laying...so keeping things consistent is important.

I read that too but this has been going on for weeks-almost a month now. And longer than a month with the silkies. Nothing has really changed other than this new roo a few days ago. The problem arose long before he was here.

I wonder if it was actually bred out of them. I know silkies aren't the best layers, but if the lines you have were bred more for show than laying, it could be part of the problem.

Chris

 

[Lynzi777]

I wonder if it was actually bred out of them. I know silkies aren't the best layers, but if the lines you have were bred more for show than laying, it could be part of the problem.

Chris

I didn't think of that... Well I can see this project heading down the pipes! Lol figures the silkies I had that were better layers than my Orps are the ones I decided to part with! :-/

Now that I think about it, I'm trying to remember if my orps layed all winter long, which I think they did. I don't ever remember being without eggs in winter especially because they had just started laying last August. So they've been laying a year straight up until the end of June, beginning of July. So maybe thats why this break from laying has occurred? If thats the case, how long do they usually "take a break" for?

 

[Tough Old Bird]

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

Was just thinking about that today. There is an awful lot of powder left after the bigger crumbles are eaten. Maybe mixing them with a little water or fruit juice to make a pasty treat once in a while? Not sure..................


TOB

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Update already. I think I know who the egg eater is. I was out there and one was inside the nest box. I went inside and made another box hopeing it was just crowding. when I went back out no egg in the box the chicken was in. as i'm working one comes into the coop gets in the box and starts digging around. I added more hay and though maybe she's looking for something in it. well I get the other nest box installed put hay in it put her in it and she pecks at the back. I sit there for a bit then she gets in the other nest box where they been laying and starts pokeing around in back of box where they eggs are then starts poking the plastic egg so I marked her with blue kote. Now to find out how to break a chicken from eating eggs.

So far from googleing I've seen golf balls left in box. collect eggs all day. Use a tac to break an egg hole, empty the egg, then fill with mustard. One said line bottom of box with plastic looks like they used astro turf or something.

really don't want to cull one of my reds already when they are just starting to lay.

jlaw

If you have a dog crate, put her in it in the coop for a couple of days. IF you KNOW she's laying and there are no eggs in the crate.......................you've got the right girl. This is what I did, and actually watched her lay the egg, then turn around & eat it before it even dried off. Can you say SOUP !!

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

I mix it with water & add yogurt. The girls LOVE it !!

 

[rancher hicks]

Ok is there anything you can do about egg eaters? I already have one I think. I went to check eggs and found another broken one this one was in the nest box and shell was softer but not totally soft. It was coverd in egg and looked like one spot was poked. When I went out there, there was a red sitting on edge of nest box faceing in then went in and turned around and came out. I think I caught it in the act but I couldn't find egg on any of the hens faces as I let them past me. My only idea is to rotate one red every other day in with my light Sussex and see who starts eating her eggs. She is still locked up letting her leg heal up more before moveing and she lays just about every day now. So if I find her egg broken or an eaten brown egg I found my eating red. But is there anything I can do about her besides cull her?

thanks

jlaw

Haven't read previous postings , but here is my response.

You could try putting wooden eggs in the nest boxes. Chickens can be taught and aren't always as stupid as they'd have us believe. A few pecks at a wooden egg and they might decide these these things aren't edible.

Also you might want to up the oyster shell grit. I like to dump a bit in their layer feed as it doesn't have enough, though we are told it should. Ranged birds of course wouldn't get enough IMO anyhow, so tossing some oyster grit and dust in the feed will help. Point being broken eggs lead to temptation.

Hope thing improve,

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

If you are using mash or crumbles you could mix it with some milk or other liquid to make a mush which would reduce the dust and waste. I've done this and they've cleaned the pan. Just be sure to keep it clean and not allow it to attract flies. I measure their feed when I do so they don't have any left over at the end of the day.

 

[Metella]

I mix my left over dusty stuff with yogurt - they love it.

Pyxis told me once to hollow out an egg and put dish washing soap in it - that is pretty cheap - and even if it eats its own egg right away - it will also prob try to eat the soap egg too.

I've got to do 2 weeks worth of work in the next few days - now that I can stand to be outside without getting sick from the heat