Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[vehve]

@joannefiddler Our OE just went through a spot of broodiness and a minimolt. She started laying again about a week ago, first eggs were a very pale green, then she got to her regular olive color, then one a lot darker, and today again closer to her regular color. If it's just a few eggs, I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Ben, hope you missed a few developing eggs in your previous candling. Good luck with the hatch.

 

[joannefiddler]

Hi Joanne. Flock raiser is 20% protein which is a little high for birds over 24 weeks. Ideally they should be getting somewhere between 16-18% . It's ideal for mixed flocks because it is low in calcium, 1.3%. The egg chart indicates that stress or excess calcium are usually the culprit for darker eggs, see #2. Are you offering calcium or oyster shell on the side that someone may be pigging out on ?
http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

Thanks Lisa, I do have oyster shell/crushed egg shells available to them at all times. It's quite possible that she's gone through the calcium buffet line a few too many times! I liked the Flock raiser because I "heard" it was better choice than layer crumbles if you've got a roo eating too...I'll do some more reading on that.

 

[joannefiddler]

@joannefiddler Our OE just went through a spot of broodiness and a minimolt. She started laying again about a week ago, first eggs were a very pale green, then she got to her regular olive color, then one a lot darker, and today again closer to her regular color. If it's just a few eggs, I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Thanks Felix, We'll see how long it lasts!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thanks Lisa, I do have oyster shell/crushed egg shells available to them at all times. It's quite possible that she's gone through the calcium buffet line a few too many times! I liked the Flock raiser because I "heard" it was better choice than layer crumbles if you've got a roo eating too...I'll do some more reading on that.

No worries, it's a balancing act , finding a food that is low enough in calcium to feed to Roos . I use a 22% feed , with 1.9% calcium but I break it down 50/50 with 14% mixed grain.
Diet high in protein and or calcium over a long period of time can lead to visceral gout.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Well, tonight was supposed to be Day 14, but it's only 13! I think because my training schedule was changed today it messed up my routine!

Anyway, We did the Day 14 candle tonight anyway, result so far has been.

2x Early broken eggs, fertility unknown - removed around Day 5
1x later broken egg, fertile - removed around Day 7
Candled Day 7, 7 suspect clears, two fertile remaining
Day 13 candle, confirm 7 clears, removed, 2 fertile eggs growing with movement in both visible.

I have placed an add for Dusty, see how we go.

Also found Sal (who was broody again) on the roost tonight, seems after 2 weeks she has given up, the other 3 are still hunkered down.

 

[joannefiddler]

Here's hoping that the two girls remaining make it all the way to looking you in the eye!!

 

[vehve]

Shame about the broken and clear ones, Ben. I'll join Joanne in wishing for the best with the two remaining obviously female eggs.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hey Ben, our girl has been accepted into WAPA. So don't sweat too much on this hatch. I'm sure hubby and I will be making several trips over your way. Fingers crossed for the remaining 2.

 

[vehve]

Fancy, congrats to the kid! (What exactly is WAPA?)

 

[Fancychooklady]

Fancy, congrats to the kid! (What exactly is WAPA?)

Thanks Felix, West Australian performing Arts. She's an opera singer. We are heading off to her performance this morning at UTAS, ( university Tasmania )
It's all Italian but it sounds beautiful .

It's actually WAAPA West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.