setting eggs tonight!! anyone else?

[LaynaDon95]

I'm having to resist the urge to go buy chicks at TSC at the moment. I slacked off on the Cocci preventatives because they were getting older and doing really well. Mistake. Now a full 2 days after I did that I noticed blood in someones poop. I'm full scale back on them, with a more powerful dose than before. If it doesn't improve within a few days I'm getting medicated chick starter. Next time I'll know not to be a slacker, I guess. TSC has buff orpingtons and cochins!!! Not fair!

I'm so mad!

If they still have any when I come back home on Sunday, I'm getting some. (Probably) I'll have (hopefully) some of my grandmothers heat lamps when I get back, so I can make a separate brooder if I need to. I reeeeaaaalllly want some BO's.

The other thing is I have to leave tomorrow... until Sunday. My mom will be in charge of taking care of the chickens. chicks, pregnant cat, and incubating eggs.

I'm a little bit nervous about that... My leghorn hen is sick, my chicks seem to have cocci, the eggs are on day 13 and my cat looks like she's about to pop! What if everything goes wrong while I'm away and all my animals die!? (Ok, my mom isn't that inexperienced, but I'm still really nervous...) I'm going to be calling home, like every hour. "Mom, is everything ok? How are the chicks' poop looking? How is the leghorn? Have you put the meds in her water? You remember the amount, right? Has she been laying? Her comb is still bright, isn't it? How is Jack? Any signs of labor? How much is she eating? You are keeping food down right? Have you- What? I'm offending you? How? Right, sorry.

"

My mom's sitting the the other end of the line going "Yes, Honey it's fine. I'm giving them everything you said. No, none of them have died. The leghorn is fine. No jack is- -_- Honey, Hon- HONEY!"

I think I'm a bit too obsessive over my animals...


Oh!! And 1 more thing! My bantam hen laid her first egg today!!
.

 

[CALI CHICK]

I'm sure everything will be OK Layna. I'll be crossing my fingers for your little farm of animals. BTW-You are such an animal addict-like me-so, I'm not judging! Hope you have a nice time away and everyone is good when you return home.

We've had some issues with our grown chickens. My Barred Rock had diarrhea and I had to give her a bubble bath! She seems OK now but YUK!

She is back to a nice big fluffy butt! Then someone laid 2 very soft shelled eggs? (Pic below because they are kind of cool looking-sorry you have to see the poop tray. That's where they were laid-right on the roosts) Neither the Buff Orpington nor the Barred Rock has laid eggs for 4 days. Only our RIR (Rhodie) is faithfully giving us an egg every day...which is weird considering they are given the same food, have the same free-range priveleges and same treats?

Do you have any BO's now. We love our Buffy. My son carries her around like a puppy sometimes. She is so soft.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I'm sure everything will be OK Layna. I'll be crossing my fingers for your little farm of animals. BTW-You are such an animal addict-like me-so, I'm not judging! Hope you have a nice time away and everyone is good when you return home.

We've had some issues with our grown chickens. My Barred Rock had diarrhea and I had to give her a bubble bath! She seems OK now but YUK!

She is back to a nice big fluffy butt! Then someone laid 2 very soft shelled eggs? (Pic below because they are kind of cool looking-sorry you have to see the poop tray. That's where they were laid-right on the roosts) Neither the Buff Orpington nor the Barred Rock has laid eggs for 4 days. Only our RIR (Rhodie) is faithfully giving us an egg every day...which is weird considering they are given the same food, have the same free-range priveleges and same treats?

Do you have any BO's now. We love our Buffy. My son carries her around like a puppy sometimes. She is so soft.

I'm sure everything will be ok, but I'm still kinda antsy. I have faith in my mom. I know she'll call if anything goes wrong or whatever. She'll take good care of them. I have just put so much time and energy into these creatures that if anything goes wrong I'm gonna die. X-P

I found a couple of soft shelled eggs in the tractor a few days ago... They were half eaten.

That's just gross. Hens should not eat eggs. I have no idea who laid them. Probably the leghorn because of how she's acting.

I don't have any BO's but I want them sooooo bad. They are so pretty and fuzzy looking (I think I have a thing for fuzzies... I never noticed this before. =P) I've heard/read they are really good chickens. I keep looking into the brooder and saying "If your good little chickies and get all better I'll buy you some friends..."

 

[cowchick11]

With those soft shelled eggs looks like you need to add oyster shell to your mash or crumble. Most feed places carry 5# 25# and 40 or 50# bags. We usually buy a large bag and put it in one of our bins to use out of. Our girls get about 2 cups in their feeders a week (as needed), one cup in each feeder and they eat it somewhat free choice with their feed. LaynaDon I bet your mom does a fabulous job!

My mom and brother don't always but they sure try and you can't fault that!

 

[CALI CHICK]

With those soft shelled eggs looks like you need to add oyster shell to your mash or crumble. Most feed places carry 5# 25# and 40 or 50# bags. We usually buy a large bag and put it in one of our bins to use out of. Our girls get about 2 cups in their feeders a week (as needed), one cup in each feeder and they eat it somewhat free choice with their feed. LaynaDon I bet your mom does a fabulous job!

My mom and brother don't always but they sure try and you can't fault that!

Cowchick, I actually crush and re-feed their eggshells to them (as well as give them Layer feed, organic kefir, salmon, spinach, broccoli, etc). I'm pretty sure it wasn't a lack of calcium, since their eggs have been perfect from the first egg. My guess is that a "natural concoction" I made (I read about in a Chicken magazine) consisting of olive oil and garlic caused the eggs to SLIDE right out before they could go through the natural steps of getting the shell! Notice how one of the eggshells is transparent and the other at least has a paper-thin shell. I believe these 2 eggs slid right out of the same hen (before all the proper egg making process was completed) as she was sitting on the roost. Rocky did lay a very light colored (almost white) egg today after taking a two day break. Rocky is a bit of a pig with food, so she probably ate enough for all 3 chickens.
I've actually inquired about the oyster shell, but have been advised NOT to give it because too much calcium can actually be harmful to your chickens too. I think Rocky's eggs will be back to their normal color and hardness within a couple days.

 

[cowchick11]

Cowchick, I actually crush and re-feed their eggshells to them (as well as give them Layer feed, organic kefir, salmon, spinach, broccoli, etc). I'm pretty sure it wasn't a lack of calcium, since their eggs have been perfect from the first egg. My guess is that a "natural concoction" I made (I read about in a Chicken magazine) consisting of olive oil and garlic caused the eggs to SLIDE right out before they could go through the natural steps of getting the shell! Notice how one of the eggshells is transparent and the other at least has a paper-thin shell. I believe these 2 eggs slid right out of the same hen (before all the proper egg making process was completed) as she was sitting on the roost. Rocky did lay a very light colored (almost white) egg today after taking a two day break. Rocky is a bit of a pig with food, so she probably ate enough for all 3 chickens.
I've actually inquired about the oyster shell, but have been advised NOT to give it because too much calcium can actually be harmful to your chickens too. I think Rocky's eggs will be back to their normal color and hardness within a couple days.

Cali chick, that is good to know about the olive oil and garlic. What was the concoction used for in the magazine?

And how much of each component were used? Do you know if that can be used as a help for egg bound hens? What is kefir, sounds familiar but it is not coming to me? We don't worry about over eating of the oyster shells as our chickens really don't seam to like it much.

That is why we put it in their food. When offered as free choice only they weren't eating it we had lots of soft shells even with the hardy greens they were getting.

 

[CALI CHICK]

Hi Cowchick, I was trying to figure out why Rocky (our Plymouth Barred Rock) had poop on her tail feathers. I was fearful it was from parasites, worms, possibly impacted crop or even egg bound OR maybe she just didn't "squat right?". I didn't know what could have caused it or if it was continuing or was a 1 time thing. I figured a "natural remedy" couldn't hurt! The garlic recipe was supposed to help with low level parasite/worm infestation using: 2 cloves garlic (I used 2 TBS minced garlic), 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 cups layer feed and 1 cup scratch. I also added oatmeal, kefir (liquid yogurt w/o lactose), salsa and cyenne pepper. I served this for two days in the morning. Rocky probably hogged the majority of it and got what she deserved, so to speak!
I'm not giving any more olive oil for awhile but I still give them garlic and a mixture of other healthy things. I also put apple cider vinegar and/or garlic in their drinking water.
Since I only have 3 hens, it's easy to know 'who' is doing 'what' and 'who' layed 'what'! I can't imagine how time consuming having a dozen or more chickens would be.

Cali chick, that is good to know about the olive oil and garlic. What was the concoction used for in the magazine?

And how much of each component were used? Do you know if that can be used as a help for egg bound hens? What is kefir, sounds familiar but it is not coming to me? We don't worry about over eating of the oyster shells as our chickens really don't seam to like it much.

That is why we put it in their food. When offered as free choice only they weren't eating it we had lots of soft shells even with the hardy greens they were getting.

 

[cowchick11]

Cali Chick - thanks for the recipe. It is always interesting at our house and all of our neighbors have animals as well so it is never borring something can always be found in our area on the hill.

Just wanted to let you all know that I signed up for the Easter Hatch today right after I sent in my payment for 8+ Lav. orp eggs to arrive the 15 or 16 of this month.

I will also try to acquire 8 + BBS Orp eggs at the spring show I am attending that weekend of the 16 and 17!

Now I have to clean the bator out and make sure it is ready to go!!!

 

[CALI CHICK]

I went to the feed store to pick up a few things..............Well, we thought we'd just look in the "chick room" at what varieties of chickens they might have gotten in........

.......Yep, they have black silkies................and my son convinced me to buy a couple!

The two babies are 1/2 the size of my 2 week olds so we were going to set up a different brooder. First we popped them in with the older silkies to see what would happen. I couldn't believe it..........everyone gets along just perfectly!

Other than the babies sleeping more than the others (and being substantially smaller), you'd think they were hatchmates!
Here is a picture of our 4 blue silkies and the 2 new black silkies! Yes, they are the ones IN the food dish!

Their names are Shadow and Storm.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I had a long comment last night... I don't know if it's gone now or if my computer is glitching and I can't see it. Either way I don't have time to investigate.

I just logged on real quick to say.... *drum roll*

We have our first pip!!!!

How are your eggs, Corg? (if she ever gets on again...?)

We've had peeping and rocking a lot this morning and just a few minutes ago I saw our first pip! I'll keep everyone updated.