Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[chickenlindz]

Welcome CP!!!! Yes this is a great forum and a ton of information!!!!

 

[cheeka]

I feel so at home in this forum lol, thought I had too many birds and can't figure out why only half my birds are laying. Now i am not so worried

and to the thread! what breed(s) do you have? this is my absolute favorite thread!

 

[chickenlindz]

Ugh so I went to the coop this morning at 8 am and there were 4 soft shelled eggs...plus a regular one.

Now all the EE are either new layers or haven't started yet so there is a chance it's nothing abnormal for the youngsters.

BUT part of me thinks they might be free ranging a bit much.

They have free choice oyster shell so there is no excuse but I did throw out some layer feed so hopefully that'll help too!

 

[mortie]

No eggs today....

 

[mortie]

If you guys want, you can see up close and personal pics of all my chickens here

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Umm we have snow on the ground!!!!

I know.

Sorry.

But it's Spring Snow!!!!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I feel so at home in this forum lol, thought I had too many birds and can't figure out why only half my birds are laying. Now i am not so worried

Could half of them be males?!

Just kidding.

Drop in any time. We'd love to hear about your flock.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Ugh so I went to the coop this morning at 8 am and there were 4 soft shelled eggs...plus a regular one.

Now all the EE are either new layers or haven't started yet so there is a chance it's nothing abnormal for the youngsters.

BUT part of me thinks they might be free ranging a bit much.

They have free choice oyster shell so there is no excuse but I did throw out some layer feed so hopefully that'll help too!

Hmmmm... 4 soft shelled eggs? A coincidence? I almost never see soft shells, except from one particular hen. If yours are still growing, it makes sense that they need layer feed, but they should be eating that in conjunction with free ranging.

Our farm chickens free ranged for the majority of their diet and I don't remember any shell problems. They didn't get layer feed either, just scratch. Mom only bought special food if a hen showed up with a bunch of chicks, and we'd corral them in a ground cage for a couple of weeks with chick starter.

Maybe try some Vit D supplements or informative's powered milk idea (which, come to think of it, probably contains D).

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I had a broody hatch 7, and my incubator hatched 14. I got chick-a-Palooza right now!

Can we have some Chick-a-Palooza pictures please?!!

You said you were selling most of the chicks you've hatched this year. I was wondering how you found buyers, and at what age did you sell them?

 

[cheeka]

from this morning - all the waterers were frozen. including the dome which normally doesn't freeze, but I have been removing some of the winter wraps...




they got drift in there. they weren't happy. but they were all fine. including Sillie, who was the one I was the most worried about. quite a bit has melted because of the bright sunshine,but the temp is only at 31°, so it's going to take a while. it's also quite breezy, I"m not sure if I want to stay outside to free range them, they'd go for it... it's me.

love the pic thread mortie, my guesses are pretty consistent with yours too... for now... it's a bit early, but fun to guess! perty birdies tho'!