The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Binababy]

Question: what could I feed my hens to make their egg shells more smooth? Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[Leahs Mom]

Question: what could I feed my hens to make their egg shells more smooth? Any help is greatly appreciated

Are you having an issue with the egg shells? Could you describe? And what age are the chickens?

 

[NanaLynn]

@stonykill
And everyone...

I was all ready to move the 2 offenders last night and put the crate in the garage when it dawned on me that I need to have some kind of provision for a place to lay eggs. These 2 lay almost daily.

I'm trying to figure out how to make that happen while still making it predator proof. The garage eves have some gaps that I suppose it is possible a raccoon can get in. There are birds that nest up in there but I've never seen evidence of raccoon. I imagine if the raccoons could get in there the birds wouldn't still be there? But better safe than sorry. The garage is not attached - an old 1947 block building.

If anyone has any creative ideas for how to rig a nest box on such a small crate I'd love to hear them!

just stick a small cardboard box in there. Sides cut low. Or do nothing and they will lay where they make the nest

Here is my bully, Daisy our White Rock. She is in a large dog crate in our storage shed. I probably should have put a nest box in there with her, but she has been laying her eggs on the floor. I did learn that next time I have to put one of the hens in a cage I need to put a cardboard ring around the bottom of the cage since she keeps scratching the pine shavings out all over the shed.

I gave her a roost going across the bars of the cage and since she already lays her eggs on the floor, I'm not going to add a nest box now. She is in day 3 of chicken jail. She will be released on Saturday or Sunday.

My flock is much happier without her. They seem to get along great. The older 5 hens are still in charge, but there is no longer a bully abusing the 16 younger pullets. I did not realize how much the flock would unite with her gone. I wished I moved her out a lot sooner. It'll be interesting to see how she does when I put her back, if she goes back to being a bully, we'll be having chicken dinner and experiencing our first time killing a chicken. I really hope she blends back in fine since Daisy is just turning a year at the end of this month and lays some nice large eggs almost every day. Our plan was to at least give each chicken a couple of years or more if they are laying well, then process older ones and move new ones in.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks SK & Lynn

@LynnEBC
Do you know what size your crate is? I'm going to have 2 birds in my crate which is why I'm thinking laying eggs on the floor might be kind-of tight The crate I have is 3 ft. long x 22.5 high.

 

[armorfirelady]

Coconut oil is a fantastic idea! Could you give her some grit, in case its hay? From the sounds of it, it doesn't seem like they have good grit in their run? I have clay soil, so have to provide grit.

They have a bucket full of grit in the coop 24/7. So I wouldn't think grit was the problem. I will try & put a 2nd bucket of it out & see if it helps

 

[Kassaundra]

Those that are having grit problems, don't you have rocks in your dirt? I can't imagine buying rocks for the chickens.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: As of last night she was fine. I left for work early this morning so I haven't seen her yet today. When I get home I will give her some coconut oil & put some extra grit in the old run. I am going to try the oil for a few days & see if it helps. She is still acting normal except for the the extending of her neck. I didn't see her doing it last night when I was out in the yard so perhaps the oil is working. I am just going to wait and see. If she gets sicker and listless I will cull her but since she is acting normal she can continue on.

@stonykill
And everyone...

I was all ready to move the 2 offenders last night and put the crate in the garage when it dawned on me that I need to have some kind of provision for a place to lay eggs. These 2 lay almost daily.

I'm trying to figure out how to make that happen while still making it predator proof. The garage eves have some gaps that I suppose it is possible a raccoon can get in. There are birds that nest up in there but I've never seen evidence of raccoon. I imagine if the raccoons could get in there the birds wouldn't still be there? But better safe than sorry. The garage is not attached - an old 1947 block building.

If anyone has any creative ideas for how to rig a nest box on such a small crate I'd love to hear them!

small tub or empty litter box on its side. You could secure it the side by drilling a few holes & zip tying it to the side of the crate. I am hoping she passes it soon & continues on. She is the only hen that lays dark dark brown eggs. My egg customers like to see them in the cartons. Of course she is the one laying infrequently but I don't know if its defect for her or its because she is not a year old yet.

 

[Binababy]

Are you having an issue with the egg shells?  Could you describe?  And what age are the chickens?

No ma'am, no problems, they're actually really pretty, just not as smooth as some I've seen. And the lady said the smoother they are the better chance at a good hatch. Mine will be 1 year old in July I do have a pic of a first egg that was laid back in mid Febuary.

 

[Binababy]

Maybe smooth isn't the right word because they really are but shiny & slick like the others may be the best words.

 

[hellbender]

Those that are having grit problems, don't you have rocks in your dirt? I can't imagine buying rocks for the chickens.

That's funny! I have so many birds, the 'native rock'population gets a bit depleted so I buy a 50 pound bag of granite chips about every six months at a whopping cost of about $5 bucks. Cheap assurance that everyone can grab a few if and when when they want them.