Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[mortie]

I just had the most hellish round of errands ever. My kids acted like total hellions in every store we went to. I wanted to wring their necks. Mommy needs a xanax.

 

[JW12]

I just had the most hellish round of errands ever.  My kids acted like total hellions in every store we went to.  I wanted to wring their necks.  Mommy needs a xanax.

Lol

 

[JW12]

Well it's 530, and I have had a day at work that was like Morties day...hellish! So I'm calling it and taking a nap before I explode.

10 from the reds

0 from the silkies

0 from the ducks

The 4 pekins I have that are fast tracking there way to freezer camp, those things are like 50 bucks frozen at the grocery store! I had no idea that duck cost that much to buy at the store.

 

[mortie]

So far ONE. Wilson wasted hers by dropping it off the roost soft shelled last night. I've seen maggie in the nest box today but I don't know that she'll manage to lay one before bed. She'll probably lay me another rubber egg. I feel like they've gotten the idea that rubber eggs are what I want.

Thank goodness for Penny.

 

[valjean]

I know first eggs can be funky...but do they get some extra calcium, like oyster shell? I can't use layer feed yet since they aren't all laying, but I throw some oyster shell in their feed and I've seen Lucy pick it out. Just a thought - I'm sure eggs can be rubbery at first even with enough calcium!

Thank goodness for Lucy...but I'm tired of just one egg a day.

 

[mortie]

Yes, they have oyster shell and I have given them fairly finely ground egg shells. I'm not concerned about it, just annoyed because I want the eggs.

I think the whole calcium deficiency thing is more a problem for chronically deficient hens who have been laying a while. I'm sure a chicken has plenty of calcium reserves to make hard shelled eggs for at least a while without supplementation before it becomes a problem. Even with today's birds that have been bred to far outlay their wild counterparts (who do not get oyster shell flung at them) I'm certain a bird who has never seen a calcium supplement in its life could lay for at least a few weeks before having an issue. Even if they didn't have it available, I'm sure Wil who has laid...3 good eggs could find it in herself to make a hard shelled egg. I think she just likes to mess with me. I'm going to throw the next one at Stephen next time I see him fly over.

I could be wrong, it's been known to happen. Bottom line though is she's not suffering from a lack of calcium. The timing of them indicates that she's just cutting loose too soon. Like yesterday she laid an egg at like 8 am and then she dropped a softie sometime after 8 pm. Too short a time for her to really have coated that sucker though.

Hershy where are ya. I want to hear about your egg!

 

[TNchickmom]

I know first eggs can be funky...but do they get some extra calcium, like oyster shell? I can't use layer feed yet since they aren't all laying, but I throw some oyster shell in their feed and I've seen Lucy pick it out. Just a thought - I'm sure eggs can be rubbery at first even with enough calcium!

Can you not feed them all layer? I have some younger ones and they all eat the layer. Oops
Thank goodness for Lucy...but I'm tired of just one egg a day.

 

[Phionex Man]

No egg yet... Im expecting An EARLY ONE tomorrow

...

 

[mortie]

If I had layer, I wouldn't worry about feeding it to all my girls. At their age it wouldn't hurt them. How old are yours, TN?

 

[Hershy]

I have checked 3 times today and nuthin! Zip, zero!! She was just seeing how crazy she could make me look, lol! It's been a rough week, so an egg would be more than welcome. (Hint, hint) I will check probably 2 more times tonight, lol.
Hubby's uncle passed on Monday - although this was expected, I had to be the wrench in the gears and develop a DVT, so I can't help clear out the apartment or anything.