The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[COChix]

Hello alll,

I have question that I have been trying to research why some of our egg yolks break easily, like when they hit the frying pan and others don't. Some of the suggestions have been pointed to a protein deficiency, the hen might be molting, they aren't getting enough variety in diet,etc.

I want to ask here hoping someone can help me with this question. Our girls are 9 months old and we have a mixed flock as far as breeds go. Thanks!

 

[Lacy Blues]

The only time I notice yolk breakage is when the eggs are getting old. You're probably talking about fresh from the nest though? If so, I have no idea. Sorry.

 

[COChix]

The only time I notice yolk breakage is when the eggs are getting old.  You're probably talking about fresh from the nest though?  If so, I have no idea.  Sorry.

Thanks and I am talking about fresh within a couple of weeks.

 

[lazy gardener]

I wonder if it's related to cold weather. I have a bunch of eggs that I'm trying to use up from the fridge. I notice that the yolk membranes are weak, the whites are on the runny side, and when I crack the eggs, the white often sticks to the membrane inside the shell. So, to clean out the fridge, I'm cooking a lot of eggs, and the girls are getting warm eggs for breakfast!

 

[ronott1]

Hello alll,

I have question that I have been trying to research why some of our egg yolks break easily, like when they hit the frying pan and others don't. Some of the suggestions have been pointed to a protein deficiency, the hen might be molting, they aren't getting enough variety in diet,etc.

I want to ask here hoping someone can help me with this question. Our girls are 9 months old and we have a mixed flock as far as breeds go. Thanks!

Did anyone point you towards genetics? Are the eggs that break from the same hen or hens?

The thing to do is to make sure the pullets are healthy without parasites and that the get a balanced diet.

I would try adding some powdered sea kelp: 1/3 cup per 5 pounds of feed. It has a lot of micro nutrients in it. I can get organic here from a truck delivery place called Azure Standard.

 

[COChix]

Did anyone point you towards genetics? Are the eggs that break from the same hen or hens?

The thing to do is to make sure the pullets are healthy without parasites and that the get a balanced diet.

I would try adding some powdered sea kelp: 1/3 cup per 5 pounds of feed. It has a lot of micro nutrients in it. I can get organic here from a truck delivery place called Azure Standard.

Yes there were some indications that it could be related to a specific breed, well we have seven different breeds, 23 hens. So to answer your questions, I have no idea if it is from the same hen or not. A balanced diet is definitely more of a struggle than during the summer when they are getting a lot of produce and greens. I am feeding just a local layer feed, some boss, and usually some greens (kale,cabbage,spinach) daily. I will look at the sea kelp. I eventually want to buy whole gains and stuff like sea kelp,molasses from Azure and mix my own feed as I believe I can do it cheaper that way.

Would you be willing to share your feeding regimen? I alway learn something from people with more experience from me based on what they feed. Thanks!

 

[COChix]

I wonder if it's related to cold weather.  I have a bunch of eggs that I'm trying to use up from the fridge.  I notice that the yolk membranes are weak, the whites are on the runny side, and when I crack the eggs, the white often sticks to the membrane inside the shell.  So, to clean out the fridge, I'm cooking a lot of eggs, and the girls are getting warm eggs for breakfast!

Maybe?! I will have to see if that changes when it gets warm out.

 

[ronott1]

Yes there were some indications that it could be related to a specific breed, well we have seven different breeds, 23 hens. So to answer your questions, I have no idea if it is from the same hen or not. A balanced diet is definitely more of a struggle than during the summer when they are getting a lot of produce and greens. I am feeding just a local layer feed, some boss, and usually some greens (kale,cabbage,spinach) daily. I will look at the sea kelp. I eventually want to buy whole gains and stuff like sea kelp,molasses from Azure and mix my own feed as I believe I can do it cheaper that way.

Would you be willing to share your feeding regimen? I alway learn something from people with more experience from me based on what they feed. Thanks!

Cool that you can get azure!

I do pretty much the same as you. Mine get a bird seed mix with nature domain cat food and timothy pellets as scratch in the evening. along with the layer feed free choice in feeders. I add sea weed to the layer and sometimes some food grade DE if the shells are getting week.

@Flowers of Abba has a mix of grains, peas and etc. that she mixes and ferments. She then gives them layer pellets that are not fermented to come up with about a 50% ratio of the two. The fermented ingredients come from Azure.

Maybe she will come on and share the ratios with us.

 

[COChix]

Cool that you can get azure!

I do pretty much the same as you. Mine get a bird seed mix with nature domain cat food and timothy pellets as scratch in the evening. along with the layer feed free choice in feeders. I add sea weed to the layer and sometimes some food grade DE if the shells are getting week.

@Flowers of Abba
has a mix of grains, peas and etc. that she mixes and ferments. She then gives them layer pellets that are not fermented to come up with about a 50% ratio of the two. The fermented ingredients come from Azure.

Maybe she will come on and share the ratios with us.

Ok great and thanks. I do ferment their feed during the warm months as I have no where indoors to ferment in the cold. I really miss fermenting just for what it does to feed costs, how it improves their coats and even their demenor changes. They don't seemso ravenous all the time when they are getting fermented feed. It makes me wonder about what they are lacking as far as micro-nutrients or other essentials when we are not fermenting.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Cool that you can get azure!

I do pretty much the same as you. Mine get a bird seed mix with nature domain cat food and timothy pellets as scratch in the evening. along with the layer feed free choice in feeders. I add sea weed to the layer and sometimes some food grade DE if the shells are getting week.

@Flowers of Abba has a mix of grains, peas and etc. that she mixes and ferments. She then gives them layer pellets that are not fermented to come up with about a 50% ratio of the two. The fermented ingredients come from Azure.

Maybe she will come on and share the ratios with us.

Ron, where do you get the timothy pellets? Are they small (rabbit size) or large (for horses)?