The Old Folks Home

[LindaB220]

If the boy had a breakdown it was because he was on the edge of it anyways. Mental health is a dangerous seesaw at any time. Don't blame the Salvation Army for a hasty decision. I'm thrilled that the family is getting help.

 

[LindaB220]

rant time -

Grrrrrrr... Not sure which one, but at least one and possibly as many as three of my buff orps think they are sea turtles... they INSIST on burying their eggs in the coop litter instead of using the nest boxes I so graciously provided them. Could it be because I'm using deep litter and it's "warmer" than the straw in the nest boxes? I'm almost afraid of what's going to happen once the runs are finished and they can go outside and up under the coop... I am NOT looking forward to trying to retrieve eggs from under there as it's 6 feet wide by 10 feet deep and has buried hardware cloth around the 3 sides not open to the run...

It seems they also like to eat the straw from the nest boxes... when I check them in the evenings they have full/hard crops and the straw from the nest boxes slowly gets "chewed up" and disappears... It seems my white wyandottes like to eat the nest box straw as well. They all chow down in the am when I bring them their FF, eat all of it over the course of the day and none of them seem ill or worse off from their dietary supplement, but it concerns me a bit.

Any ideas how to get the girls to use the nest boxes (more regularly)? Thoughts/comments on potential dietary issues that might be causing the silly things to be eating the straw? OK, nuff about chickens, back to the normal ebb and flow in TOFH

Why not put a bale of hay in there for them to munch on? Can't hurt.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks CC. I've never done the sprouting/fodder thing but will give that a try here shortly. Where do you/I get the seed to sprout, and the trays to do the sprouting in? And I guess I'll have to search for "how to" threads here to learn how it's done. They are eating straw... not hay. A neighbor lady has brought them over hay/alfalfa mix before (she has 3 horses) and they ate that as well. Maybe I'll ask her for some more of that to throw in the coops with them.

The coops are set up with the front windows (2) in each coop facing directly east and a 3rd window facing south. I can't really add any more windows for light... I have an extension cord laying on the ground out to them right now to provide power to the water heaters (4), but don't really feel safe adding any additional load to that circuit with/for lights...

Thanks for the fake egg link. I think I'll buy a dozen or so then put a couple in each nest box (16 total).

Do you add whole grains to your ff? I usually add 1/4 of my feed with crimped oats. And some BOSS. That along with a little Alfalfa pellets and my grower and I'm set. Handful of azomite. I ferment by making it with 1/2 c AEM-1 and 1/2 c Molasses. With the backslop it's ready overnight. Healthy, healthy.

 

[LindaB220]

Latestarter I found some good trays for sprouting at the dollar store.

Photo please

 

[Amberjem]

I've seen mine munching the pine shavings

 

[Alaskan]

rant time -

Grrrrrrr... Not sure which one, but at least one and possibly as many as three of my buff orps think they are sea turtles... they INSIST on burying their eggs in the coop litter instead of using the nest boxes I so graciously provided them. Could it be because I'm using deep litter and it's "warmer" than the straw in the nest boxes? I'm almost afraid of what's going to happen once the runs are finished and they can go outside and up under the coop... I am NOT looking forward to trying to retrieve eggs from under there as it's 6 feet wide by 10 feet deep and has buried hardware cloth around the 3 sides not open to the run...

It seems they also like to eat the straw from the nest boxes... when I check them in the evenings they have full/hard crops and the straw from the nest boxes slowly gets "chewed up" and disappears... It seems my white wyandottes like to eat the nest box straw as well. They all chow down in the am when I bring them their FF, eat all of it over the course of the day and none of them seem ill or worse off from their dietary supplement, but it concerns me a bit.

Any ideas how to get the girls to use the nest boxes (more regularly)? Thoughts/comments on potential dietary issues that might be causing the silly things to be eating the straw? OK, nuff about chickens, back to the normal ebb and flow in TOFH

I think that only my 'starting to lay' girls do that. A fake egg in a couple of nest boxes helps.

I think dimly lit nest boxes are best.

Thanks Deb... I have one more bale of straw to use up, then I think I'll give the shaving a try in the nest boxes. If it doesn't work, I can just take them out and add them to the coop litter. Maybe I'll put one of those plastic/foam pads in the bottom of the nest boxes... Has anyone tried that or is anyone doing that? If so, how's it working?

I am not sure what kind of foam stuff you are talking about, but wouldn't they eat that?

 

[Latestarter]

Why not put a bale of hay in there for them to munch on? Can't hurt.

There really isn't room inside the coop for a bale of hay.... I can take a "chunk" (arm load?) of hay and throw it in there for them to munch on and whatever is left will become part of the litter..

Quote:

I think that only my 'starting to lay' girls do that. A fake egg in a couple of nest boxes helps.

I think dimly lit nest boxes are best.

I am not sure what kind of foam stuff you are talking about, but wouldn't they eat that?

At first, since they are all pullets from late May of this year, I thought maybe they were "whoops!" eggs that came as a surprise as a first or 2nd egg. But it's been happening on a more or less consistent basis, so I don't think that's the case for most of them... I'm ordering some ceramic eggs to put in there. As to the foam... I'm sure it isn't actual foam, but I saw a picture somewhere of what looked like a foam mat in the bottom of a nest box. The person who posted the pic said it was slip resistant and easy to clean with none of the mess associated with straw or other types of bedding commonly used. Can't remember where I saw it though.

 

[LindaB220]

At first, since they are all pullets from late May of this year, I thought maybe they were "whoops!" eggs that came as a surprise as a first or 2nd egg. But it's been happening on a more or less consistent basis, so I don't think that's the case for most of them... I'm ordering some ceramic eggs to put in there. As to the foam... I'm sure it isn't actual foam, but I saw a picture somewhere of what looked like a foam mat in the bottom of a nest box. The person who posted the pic said it was slip resistant and easy to clean with none of the mess associated with straw or other types of bedding commonly used. Can't remember where I saw it though.

My FF consists of a mix of flock raiser crumbles, broiler finisher crumbles, millet, oats, barley, scratch grains & BOSS. Quite the concoction, but they like it and I have it figured out to about 14-17% protein when all is said and done. Don't ask me for specific measures, as it's a bit different every time I mix it

A 5 gallon bucket lasts 2 days and I back slop overnight

Yeah, you don't need any help with your choice. Great ration. I've heard that 3 selemium tablets mixed in with 100lb feed really beefs up the hatchability and mortality of babies. So I'd thinking maybe 1/2 tablet for 12 lbs which I put in my 5 gallon bucket. would work good for the girls.

 

[Amberjem]

ok I keep seeing ppl say BOSS what is it?

 

[ronott1]

ok I keep seeing ppl say BOSS what is it?

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds