The Middle Tennessee Thread

[pickledchicken]

I have a neighbor that will give me all the wood shavings I want for FREE. I used them and I had some GNH die, I don't know if they eat it or what was in it, but I will not use them again. They are VERY small pieces not like the pine flakes you usually get. If there is anything toxic in them and they eat them....

I guess i'll stick with pine shavings thanks for the heads up ! How are the EO's you got from me coming along ? I really need to get down that way one day it sounds like you have nice setup.

 

[Cinny]

So what do y'all put in your nest boxes? I tried straw, but they just kicked it out. I've heard of scrap carpet.... Taking a survey...

Mine kicked out the straw but seem to like the shavings......they also like to sleep in it...
Hey, got a larger run for the girls and put it out this morning connected to the smaller one and they are in bug heaven.....hope this will keep them from flying out (which 3 of them did in the smaller run) I'm kind of afraid to clip their wings.....kind of like I was afraid to clip the dogs toenails, I'd rather pay someone that knows what they are doing.....LOL

 

[Cinny]

Thank You all for the compliments on Ole Blue. I noticed the discussion about nesting box material I have just put some pine shavings in mine still no eggs yet but they gotta be close. I was wondering about other options for nesting material I have heard not to use ceder shavings. There is a dairy farm close by that will sell me a whole tractor scoop of wood shavings for 20 bucks. I think most of it is of various hardwoods I don't know if that would be ok or not but I might try it. I guess it all comes down to cost and availability I just can't wait for my first egg I'm ready to go squeeze my hens

Ole Blue is one good looking fella....I think he knows it too...LOL
I have been told not to use any shavings except pine, some shavings give off a dust that hurts their respiratory systems and they can have trouble breathing.

 

[BKPUCKETT]

That sure a fine Blue Rooster I had bantams 30 yr ago and I used hay in my nest

 

[ChickenQueen12]

Yolkless egg off a new lay whats up with this.

 

[Cinny]

My coop has a door in front, window in back, coop door for hens, and 2 feet of wire under the roosts covering the back portion of the floor....I can put plexiglass in the door, close the window and coop door.... but when do I need to cover the wire under the roosts.....or does it get cold enough to do that. There would be no ventilation if I do and I worry about that. All my hens are considered cold hardy but due to pecking order they do not cuddle close on the roosts, there is always one sleeping in one of the nesting boxes and one sleeping on the floor on the wire.

 

[DMRippy]

Yolkless egg off a new lay whats up with this.

She is a new Layer that is what.... LOL. There is a yolk it is just small. Most small first eggs don't really have much of a yolk... totally normal. I have cracked open eggs the size of small grapes and they had a TINNY TINNY yolk.

 

[DMRippy]

My coop has a door in front, window in back, coop door for hens, and 2 feet of wire under the roosts covering the back portion of the floor....I can put plexiglass in the door, close the window and coop door.... but when do I need to cover the wire under the roosts.....or does it get cold enough to do that. There would be no ventilation if I do and I worry about that. All my hens are considered cold hardy but due to pecking order they do not cuddle close on the roosts, there is always one sleeping in one of the nesting boxes and one sleeping on the floor on the wire.

NOT having good ventilation is the WORST thing you can do. That is how they get frost bite... and that does happen here. You need to make sure there is NO draft, but ventilation. My rafters are OPEN to vent, just covered with hardware cloth. In the winter we can wrap 3 walls with plastic feed bags. That will keep the draft way down. They will cuddle when it get cold enough.

 

[ChickenQueen12]

She is a new Layer that is what.... LOL. There is a yolk it is just small. Most small first eggs don't really have much of a yolk... totally normal. I have cracked open eggs the size of small grapes and they had a TINNY TINNY yolk.

i thought that this might be the reason but i always want to make sure just in case. Thanks

 

[DMRippy]

Really SNOW in East TN this week???????