totally normal. It can get really loud around here sometimes between the hens and the egg song, the roosters joining in, and sometimes it gets the ducks carrying on
Hi Angela,Well, I guess the little boogers go hungry enough. I went in to check on them after working on my mealworm boxes and they were eating!They are going after it pretty well. I had taken the top off their feeder to see if that would encourage them to try it. I have one of the round feeders with the lid that has the holes in it. It is an older metal one but Tractor Supply didn't have the plastic ones so I'm going to have to order some online, I guess. I put the lid back on about 30 minutes ago and they are continuing to eat. Good idea about the coffee lid! I had not even considered the pecking sound they get when they peck at dry feed.
So, now everyone inside is switched to FF. The bigger project will be switching all the outside birds to it. I'm still working on figuring that one out.... I'm going to have to do the 2, 5 gallon buckets with holes in the bottom of the top one. I think I will keep it at the back door so I can carry it out in the mornings and put their feed out. Not sure what on earth I am going to feed them in. Right now, they have a hanging feeder that keeps feed available for them 24/7. I will have have 3 of whatever I feed them from - one for the guineas (15), one for the roosters (6) and one for the hens (21). Speaking of guineas, can they eat the FF as well???
I'm interested to hear what types of feeding containers you all use......
Angela
I've seen this between Johnny and Phoebe too but I have a different take on it. Johnny is inexperienced even though he is two years old. He prefers Phoebe and mates with her often. He also will not get off her until sometimes he has had four and five goes at a time! She does the squat and spit but all of her eggs are still fertile. I think it is a reflex on the hens part. Not a thought process. Chickens are birds of instinct and reflexes. I don't believe they think like people.I witnessed that first hand the other day. My rooster was courting my BR hen and she wasn't squatting for him. So a few minutes later he called them over for a treat he found, and used that to grab her and force the deed. After she got up and shook off, she goes a squats and I heard and saw her expel it. I verbally said, "rejected".
Great! Thank you so much for these pics. That helps a lot. Someone also mentioned dog bowls. I have some flat round feeders that we use for feeding the horses sometimes so they would probably work. I'm glad you mentioned putting out more than one feeding station. I've got a couple bossy hens who try to run the show and will boss the younger hens around. They would definitely hog the food so I will make sure to put extra feeders out.
Feeder types..
FF can't be fed in metal
If there is grass, I dump mine on the grass for the chickens. I also have several flat stones I use.
For the ducks, I use a wood feeder.
Yes, FF is great for Guineas, dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses, and humans!!
Oh my goodness! I had no idea such things could occur. Thanks for this info! OK. I will check some of the other hen's eggs, for sure. Hopefully, having them all on the FF feed will improve the health of all the birds and maybe the fertility in the males. I have not had any health issues with the chickens, thank goodness. They have nice, shiny feathers and look to be in good weight. I just really like the idea of less poop and less smelly poop with the babies!
That is hard to do when you do it for others for a living. I looked at your website..very nicely done. You are pretty creative in every thing you do.My day is packed full of bookkeeping for last year's chicken expenses/income. I should have kept track of it all along.
I witnessed that first hand the other day. My rooster was courting my BR hen and she wasn't squatting for him. So a few minutes later he called them over for a treat he found, and used that to grab her and force the deed. After she got up and shook off, she goes a squats and I heard and saw her expel it. I verbally said, "rejected".
