She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WVduckchick]

I heard Oyster shells. I've found 2 eggs in the last month that the top was missing and the majority of shell had been removed from the membrane and of course empty. I had a feeling it was one of the silkies that I got from my sister. Well the other day I actually caught her standing there pecking the egg. It had been moved to the same spot the last one I found was (not where they choose to lay) and I am pretty sure it's her. I don't have a problem getting rid of her if I need to, but I thought if there was a suitable way to stop it I would give that a try first. When I took them I noticed some irregularities in the shell quality of hers versus mine, and I wondered if they had been lacking something in their diet that might be making her do that.

Thanks. I'll have to get some this week and try it.

Good luck! I have a small feeder of oyster shells in my run, because I don't really know how old my silkies are, but I think they are getting close to 20 weeks. The comets will peck at it some, but I do see the silkies eating it more than all the others. So either they know that they need it, or they just like the taste better than the others! lol

 

[WVduckchick]

I just had a guy drive up and ask if we had chicks for sale. I don't advertise them, as I only hatched 50 or so EE crosses, and I completely forgot about the bantams. I went down to the coop to see what I could find, came back up with three little bantams, and pocketed $15 in just a couple of minutes.

To see the joy on the faces of three little girls AND their dad was priceless!

Awww that is so sweet!

 

[lazy gardener]

I forgot about that question. DH made a horizontal nipple waterer from pvc pipe (maybe 4"?) and attached a few nipples along the bottom of it. Found that the length didn't hold enough water, so we put a 90-deg elbow on the end and ran it upward, the another 90, and more pipe to hold more water. The chicks use it pretty well, but I still have a regular gallon waterer in there too, and they use it too. I'm scared to take the regular one out, because I don't know if they "all" use the nipples.

You can see it in this pic. The nipples hang down for the lowest horizontal section. I can fill it from outside the run. Its needs a view window though! I just keep it full, because once it gets below the fill point, I can't tell how low it really is! lol

Handy to have a potty outside, so close to the action. I can't tell you how often I get outside, and loose all track of time... only to realize... that I REALLY GOTTA GO!!!

Ok, I have a question. Egg eating hens.....is there a way to break them? Do they need something added to their diet? Or do you just get rid of them?

My girls were doing that a bit, but only when the shells were not up to par. I upped their protein, and started tossing oyster shell on the ground, and it stopped right away. i have one gal who needs to be culled, lays weak or shell-less eggs sometimes. When you get one of those eggs, all bets are off.

 

[rossfam06]

The brooder box? I was checking out the en suite bathroom

That is awesome!!! I did not notice it the first time!!!

I see that. Very good to know. Looks easy enough to make. And I really like your set up but I have to ask...did you train the chickens to use the toilet???? That's what I want to know how to do!!!!

Right!!!!

Thanks! It is a great box for the babies. I think it came from Rural King, but TSC has similar. Not great quality for full-time use, but awesome for the little ones.


Can't believe no one noticed that before! But I'm not surprised you did!!

That was a flower-planter when we moved into our house, left by the previous owners. But you know what? It has turned into an awesome dust bath!!

The girls just love it! Bowl and tank too!!

So next time you find an old toilet, take it home to the girls....

That actually sounds like a great idea!

Get him girl!!

I just had a guy drive up and ask if we had chicks for sale. I don't advertise them, as I only hatched 50 or so EE crosses, and I completely forgot about the bantams. I went down to the coop to see what I could find, came back up with three little bantams, and pocketed $15 in just a couple of minutes.

To see the joy on the faces of three little girls AND their dad was priceless!

That is always a nice thing to see.

Handy to have a potty outside, so close to the action. I can't tell you how often I get outside, and loose all track of time... only to realize... that I REALLY GOTTA GO!!!

My girls were doing that a bit, but only when the shells were not up to par. I upped their protein, and started tossing oyster shell on the ground, and it stopped right away. i have one gal who needs to be culled, lays weak or shell-less eggs sometimes. When you get one of those eggs, all bets are off.

LoL!!!!! Tell why you want to cull the weak shell hens? My RIR is like that. They are very fragile shells even with extra oyster shells to eat.

 

[scflock]

I just had a guy drive up and ask if we had chicks for sale.  I don't advertise them, as I only hatched 50 or so EE crosses, and I completely forgot about the bantams.  I went down to the coop to see what I could find, came back up with three little bantams, and pocketed $15 in just a couple of minutes.

To see the joy on the faces of three little girls AND their dad was priceless!

I knew you would have a better answer for the egg eaters than me. Love the mustard egg
I have a lot of incidental sales, especially silkies. People come to buy a laying breed, and the wives and kids always head straight to the silkie pen. Those stupid little birds sure are adorable

 

[rossfam06]

So the chicks that I rescued, are out of quarantine!!!! They look all wet because I just gave them a bath. They were filthy from their quarantine pen I had to something.
Clean Chickies!!!

Here is Vulture Face. Poor girl has a terrible name.







Has anyone ever had a rooster nesting????? Zax certainly was today.

Getting his nest ready.

Nice and Comfortable.

Oh crap you caught me!!! LoL!!!!

 

[scflock]

So the chicks that I rescued, are out of quarantine!!!! They look all wet because I just gave them a bath. They were filthy from their quarantine pen I had to something. Clean Chickies!!! Here is Vulture Face. Poor girl has a terrible name. Has anyone ever had a rooster nesting????? Zax certainly was today. Getting his nest ready. Nice and Comfortable. Oh crap you caught me!!! LoL!!!!

I love the look on the hens face in the last pic

 

[WalnutHill]

So the chicks that I rescued, are out of quarantine!!!! They look all wet because I just gave them a bath. They were filthy from their quarantine pen I had to something.
Clean Chickies!!!

Here is Vulture Face. Poor girl has a terrible name.







Has anyone ever had a rooster nesting????? Zax certainly was today.

Getting his nest ready.

Nice and Comfortable.

Oh crap you caught me!!! LoL!!!!

They look SO much better than when you brought them home! But the prior neglect shows on their frames.

I'd certainly keep vulture head out of a breeding program! But the improvement is astounding, congratulations!

 

[WVduckchick]

That is awesome!!! I did not notice it the first time!!!

Right!!!!

That actually sounds like a great idea!

Get him girl!!

That is always a nice thing to see.

LoL!!!!! Tell why you want to cull the weak shell hens? My RIR is like that. They are very fragile shells even with extra oyster shells to eat.

It really is a great dust bath.... until it rains. Now I just need to find a way to flush it! LMAO! Hey, SC, you're the construction guy, do you do plumbing too?

I'm also curious about the soft egg layers....

I knew you would have a better answer for the egg eaters than me. Love the mustard egg

I have a lot of incidental sales, especially silkies. People come to buy a laying breed, and the wives and kids always head straight to the silkie pen. Those stupid little birds sure are adorable

And you probably have them up front and center, just so everyone can see them, huh?

So the chicks that I rescued, are out of quarantine!!!! They look all wet because I just gave them a bath. They were filthy from their quarantine pen I had to something.
Clean Chickies!!!

Here is Vulture Face. Poor girl has a terrible name.







Has anyone ever had a rooster nesting????? Zax certainly was today.

Getting his nest ready.

Nice and Comfortable.

Oh crap you caught me!!! LoL!!!!

Wow, they really look great! You've done a great job with them. You get the gold star!!
Zax is too funny. He sure is a "pretty" one anyway! heehee

 

[WalnutHill]

It really is a great dust bath.... until it rains. Now I just need to find a way to flush it! LMAO! Hey, SC, you're the construction guy, do you do plumbing too?

Put a toilet seat lid on and lower it when it's going to rain.