Seems like it took FOREVER!!

[k5crew]

I was worried about the calcium for the boys too and asked a breeder. She told me that they will be fine. She has been breeding for 20+ years without an issue.

 

[WVduckchick]

I was worried about the calcium for the boys too and asked a breeder. She told me that they will be fine. She has been breeding for 20+ years without an issue.

I was thinking most folks said it was ok. Of course, many don't care about roosters anyway. Its all about the hens! lol

 

[pinkmartin73]

You REALLY want to know don't you?  Good thing I have a trail camera so I don't have to do that!    Ha ha. And keep us posted.

Lmao yes! I REALLY want to know. I didn't get that done in time. Todays soft egg was in a nest box. It was actually very thin shelled. The shell just barely had crunch to it. It was broken and the egg partially eaten. I hope they don't figure out that they can break open normal eggs. So far they haven't. Also got a weird shaped hard egg today. Since the soft egg had a thin layer of hard shell I hope the whole issue just needs time.

 

[pinkmartin73]

Pink - I'm getting soft and shell-less from a Buff right now. Ugh!! She is my favorite too.

On a good note - 8 eggs yesterday!!! So many of the younger birds are starting up now. It is the best. I also picked up a two chickswho are about 3 wks old. My hubby was like

. Me

!!! I'll get pics soon they are staying with a friend who has a brooder going.

Hope your egg problem works itself out too. Wow. 8 eggs! I keep waiting for that day. I have 9 girls so its possible. What breed are the newbs?

 

[pinkmartin73]

So far, mine haven't had any issues with shell quality, but I only have 3 laying (1 has been laying for almost 2 weeks, the other 2 just started this past Monday)  I don't have any roosters in with my older ones yet, so I give them layer feed.  But I do have 3 roosters in my group of 10 lavender orps -- they are only 14 weeks.  When I let everyone out in the yard (evenings, while I'm home), the younger ones do go into the older ones pen and eat the layer feed.  Including the roosters.  Its not going to hurt the boys, is it?  The big girls still also go into the smaller pen and eat the starter crumble... I also have a small feeder with oyster shell in it, and I notice several of the girls eating it, but I've never noticed any of the boys touching it.  Its been pretty hot here too, so maybe that is what is delaying some of my girls, but I think they will catch up any day now.

Pink -- I'd love to see a picture of your banty partridge Wyandotte!  Please, please?  lol   I hope you figure out your soft shell maker.

I have read that too much calcium will eventually kill a rooster. I don't know how long this takes. I did read on here somewhere that someome culls roosters every 2 years and has never had a problem with calcium. Ours is for show tho and can possibly be shown for several years. I guess since he enjoys treats even more than the girls maybe he won't eat enough layer feed to hurt. I feed fermented flock raiser. Maybe i could mix layer and flock raiser 50/50 and ferment it? It would boost their calcium but not as much as plain layer?

I wish I could post pics. Getting the avatar on here was a fluke. I only have internet on my phone. I can never get pics to work.

I want lav. Orps so bad! I'm seriously looking so forward to them being a recognized breed so my boy can show them. They are gorgeous!

 

[pinkmartin73]

I was worried about the calcium for the boys too and asked a breeder. She told me that they will be fine. She has been breeding for 20+ years without an issue.

I'm considering adding layer feed. Its funny that the 2 causing the problem are a pair. My only 2 banties. And it just figures they are the only ones we have suitable to show in the fancy class.

 

[pinkmartin73]

I was thinking most folks said it was ok.  Of course, many don't care about roosters anyway.  Its all about the hens!  lol 

If it wasn't for having him to show, I wouldn't care so much either. Roos are a dime a dozen. But we need him and he is pretty good as far as roosters go. He is still young, but he knows his place. He will not challenge a human. He is almost friendly. I like that. He's protective of the girls.

 

[WVduckchick]

I wish I could post pics. Getting the avatar on here was a fluke. I only have internet on my phone. I can never get pics to work.

I can't load pics from the mobile site either, but on my phone, if I switch to "desktop" mode (button at the bottom of any page), it works just like if you were on a desktop. I can insert pics that way, then switch back to Mobile. Its a pain on a small screen, but its the best route I've found. Try it!

 

[WVduckchick]

I got my same 3 shades of brown today, but the lightest colored one is considerably bigger than the last 4 days. Probably not the silkie that I suspected. Hmmmmm

 

[k5crew]

New chicks are a cream Legbar and cuckoo Maran!!! Blue and chocolate eggs coming my way - in 4 months.

. Breeder also has olive effects and I will get a few of those in fall or spring. I need to figure out 4-H first.