The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[FridayYet]

preparation H

Thanks! Slathered the prolapse with preparation H and gently pushed it back in. Seems to be staying in place so far. She's really perked up and is pacing to get back in with the others, but I'll wait until tonight and put her on the roost if everything looks OK.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I'm going to have to beam you over to Indiana so you can make me some of those!

Quote: Here's a nice little article that talks about the "bullseye"...And I first heard how to tell here on this thread I believe

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: That IS a good sign.

Prolapse and a broken egg inside is very serious as infection can set in very quickly and if that happens they often don't recover.


http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...ystem/prolapse_of_the_oviduct_in_poultry.html

 

[fosterson]

Grrr.

I hate to say this, but I cannot WAIT until my younger pullets start laying again. Because my five older birds are about to get an invitation to dinner. Here I was thinking they were just taking time off for the winter and I caught them eating eggs. They're eating between 4 and 6 a day by my estimation! I might as well eat THEM since I'm not getting those eggs anyway. Does anyone know if there's a sort of 'egg drop' cage that would channel the egg away from the hens so I can at least put eggs aside to hatch? This is driving me up the wall.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Grrr.

I hate to say this, but I cannot WAIT until my younger pullets start laying again. Because my five older birds are about to get an invitation to dinner. Here I was thinking they were just taking time off for the winter and I caught them eating eggs. They're eating between 4 and 6 a day by my estimation! I might as well eat THEM since I'm not getting those eggs anyway. Does anyone know if there's a sort of 'egg drop' cage that would channel the egg away from the hens so I can at least put eggs aside to hatch? This is driving me up the wall.

There IS a roll-away nest that does just that. I'll look for a link and post here shortly. Lots of people make them home-made too.

Those older girls may just need some animal protein. Might try giving them some ground meat broken into pieces the size of bugs that they can eat for awhile. And it's much less expensive than buying mealworms if you consider the price per lb.

 

[fosterson]

There IS a roll-away nest that does just that. I'll look for a link and post here shortly. Lots of people make them home-made too.

Those older girls may just need some animal protein. Might try giving them some ground meat broken into pieces the size of bugs that they can eat for awhile. And it's much less expensive than buying mealworms if you consider the price per lb.

I just got some meal worms for them last night. I can certainly give them some more animal protein too. I'm just so frustrated right now I feel the urge to get out my big ole tamale pot and at least make the difference up by making and selling tamales for the neighbors.

If you can find the link I'd really appreciate it! These girls lay HUGE nice brown eggs and that's partially why I'm so frustrated! I could be swimming in eggs right now.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

Grrr.

I hate to say this, but I cannot WAIT until my younger pullets start laying again. Because my five older birds are about to get an invitation to dinner. Here I was thinking they were just taking time off for the winter and I caught them eating eggs. They're eating between 4 and 6 a day by my estimation! I might as well eat THEM since I'm not getting those eggs anyway. Does anyone know if there's a sort of 'egg drop' cage that would channel the egg away from the hens so I can at least put eggs aside to hatch? This is driving me up the wall.

Are your nesting boxes covered with material? Mine aren't....but I have heard that covered boxes help a lot with discouraging "egg eating"... also can you figure out exactly who is the culprit? I have also read that seperating them may help....otherwise...sometimes the habit cannot be broken.... good luck!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here's a link for an inexpensive home-made one:

Quote:
And another:

Quote:

Google: Roll away chicken nest box for lots of videos and plans for others. You can buy them ready-made too.

 

[fosterson]

Are your nesting boxes covered with material? Mine aren't....but I have heard that covered boxes help a lot with discouraging "egg eating"... also can you figure out exactly who is the culprit? I have also read that seperating them may help....otherwise...sometimes the habit cannot be broken.... good luck!

It wasn't one hen, it was 4 of the 5 eldest hens. Fortunately the younger ones didn't seem to be participating. I glanced when I went to add more water to their bucket, saw 4 eggs in the 'preferred next box' (a corner of the coop...they won't lay in the boxes for whatever reason), put the bucket up, turned around to Eggmageddon.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Grrr.

I hate to say this, but I cannot WAIT until my younger pullets start laying again. Because my five older birds are about to get an invitation to dinner. Here I was thinking they were just taking time off for the winter and I caught them eating eggs. They're eating between 4 and 6 a day by my estimation! I might as well eat THEM since I'm not getting those eggs anyway. Does anyone know if there's a sort of 'egg drop' cage that would channel the egg away from the hens so I can at least put eggs aside to hatch? This is driving me up the wall.

If you can make a homemade nesting box that this fits, it should save you money. I would try to find a cover so the hens could not get to the egg once it rolls into the egg catcher.

http://meyerhatchery.com/productinf...ROB&grd_prodone_filter=PRODUCT_ID = '410BROB'



Editing to say I saw tiny sprouts in my seed jar. 2-3 more days maybe. My tray of seeds is not doing as well. I'm thinking of starting the tray over.