So sad and frustrated--any advice welcome :(

[dandydoodle]

I was at the feed store the other day and noticed some oyster shells for chickens to eat. I asked the guy what that was about and he sad if you chickens ever have soft eggs giving them this will harden them up in no time. I don't know about color but, I would ask at your local feed store about the oyster shells or something like it. Good luck. I would also ask them about the coloring of your yolk and all they might be able to point you in the direction of something to help. I think what I was told chickens eat rocks and stuff and for some reason this helps to make the eggs hard. There gizzard needs some to work properly, if they have been stuck inside all this time they probably haven't been able to peck around to find what they need. I would definitely check on the oyster shells.

 

[jjthink]

If you're able, it would be nice if these hens get a chance to thrive in your caring environment (it takes time for their bodies to recover from prior substandard conditions...). Or at least if they can go to another very caring person who is happy to have them as pets and doesn't really care about the eggs......
Thanks for what sounds like it may well have been a rescue operation!
JJ

 

[poseygrace]

I agree with the other posters. Give them time, a little TLC, and make sure you eat the eggs fresh. Also, it can take many weeks, even months, for chickens that have been moved to adjust and start laying properly. I would wait at least a few months before ditching them. If you really are in it only for the eggs, though, I agree with the posters that said to start fresh. That's more of a sure thing. Best of luck!

 

[mom22alcorns]

Thanks for all the input

I really love them already, and even though DH would like some return on the investment, I just can't ditch them yet. I will give it the rest of summer and see what I can do to improve them and then go from there. Expect lots of possibly dumb questions from me...haha I trust BYC's input and armed with more knowl;wdge than I had this morning, I have some hope for them. Thanks again!

 

[Ginger57]

Oyster shells add calcium to strengthen weak shells. Grit goes in the gizzard to help grind up and 'chew' food. Higher protein, more greens, fruits and vegetables will help. I don't buy my girls greens, I pull weeds daily. They eat some of the grass, the rest ends up drying and becoming bedding. They are excited every time I bring them an armload of weeds.
They can eat leftovers you don't eat. Nothing rotten, though. I've given them lettuce that bolted, watermelon rind is popular. Mealworms. They'd probably eat crickets, but I hear crickets can lead to tape worms. They are 8 weeks now, the fence isn't completely dog proof yet, so they are still confined, on wire under the deep litter. I got a saucer for under a pot, filled it with dirt/sand/silt, they love scratching in it, taking dust baths, they curl up together and sleep in it. They are too young to lay yet, I got them as chicks, they are so sweet.

 

[pinkwindsong]

I know what you mean about getting attached.. broiler chickens are one thing.. NO Names,,, but the egg girls, yea, they all have names and I love their personalities.. so I can see why you don't want to get rid of them.. that and I wonder.. I may be opening a whole ugly box.. so If I do, not trying to start arguments but.. if you resell them or let put it this way If I resell birds that I know are not going to produce proper eggs.. the people I sell them to arn't going to remember that I got them that way, their gonna remember that they, got them that way and who was the last person to sell... seems that would be pretty bad on a persons reputation.. just like the original battery seller .. you would never buy from again.. Just a concern that I would have..

One thing you could do is. while they are recuperating from their last , " thank god their out of ...Lives.." you could be raising up chicks.. that way you could at least be getting some eggs while you raise the replacements.. then when they are up and producing.." bite lip" you could process your older girls for the freezer... by which time, you know that they are healthy and safe for your family to consume.. if you choose this way, you would all have to start distancing yourselves from them, and see them as broilers.. feed the best , treat them the best, but create that distance from them for later.. and get attached to the new girls..

your in a hard place. especially with 10, It's like I sometimes have to remind my kids. we are a farm and they are animals. we have a job and they have a job.... " oh that sounds so cold.."

Good luck with your flock, no matter what happens in the end.

)O(
Pink

 

[MuskokaChick]

I noticed a lot of people suggesting the oyster shells, but I just wanted to point out in the original post, they ARE getting oyster shells.

I have to agree with some of the posters, saying they are rescued old chickens

Before I got mine, I looked around at some of these, but for our family the main reason was to get healthy free ranged eggs for us and to sell a few. That way the eggs are paying for their feed etc...and a bit left over.

I got mine at 15 weeks and getting ready to lay...so I didn't have to wait so long with the chicks. These girls started laying at 16.5 weeks and over time their eggs got healthier and healthier...they are super yummy and beautiful.

Now I also have Silkies...not for eggs really but for ornament/pets etc...and now I am incubating their eggs in hopes of chicks to sell.

I think you just have to remember why the reason you got them in the first place. If it was me and I was all about the eggs, I would start fresh...but you have to do what feels good and if giving these girls a chance feels good then do it. Maybe get 6 or 12 birds from a hatchery (ready to lay) and you will be getting your 6 to 12 eggs/day. All beautiful and fresh.

Good luck