The Old Folks Home

[Wickedchicken6]

And it was just a dish I had just bought. It wasn't cold but it just cracked it right across. I thought it'd crack open so they could eat it. Not going to do THAT anymore.

I missed the blue egg layer thing. I, um...use pig feeders.

They work. So far. I have a tall shelf that I got for free from someone who was throwing it out. (the bottom was damaged) Going to mount the shelves permanently, fasten a 1X2 in front to hold the dishpans in and I'm using the dishpans (dollarama) for the nests. That should double my nest capacity to 12. It's a start...until I figure up more nests.

I don't think DH would want to build a nest box like that one.

It is beautiful.

 

[Cynthia12]

One of them lays an egg up to 95G! It is too big to fit into my egg cartons.

Sadly, Whole Foods in Davis was closed this week. They have good fertile eggs too.

I am going to try again. Will have my son go to a different store up north. Some time when he is going to be out that way himself. Then down here.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Crystals! That's where I was. I've been lost for a couple days on here...lol. Too much going on.

That's awesome info to know! I've never heard of that Kusanar...but you can be sure I will keep this in mind. Thank you for that info! I don't have vertigo per say...unless I get really tired. I get wicked bad frontal allergy headaches in the summer that make me physically ill and sound and light sensitive. I did however have an "a ha" moment driving back from buying my new chicken box. My ear kinda popped and all of a sudden everything was so clear. I didn't realize my ear/ears were plugged That's what I was thinking of when I mentioned the meds.

For those suffering...if the crystals are the cause I sure hope that things can be improved for you.

Ok...the blue laying chickens...got it.

And I understand the nest boxes now...lol.

My nest boxes.

They were supposed to be for sheep mineral but never got there. I've also got one hang-on-the-wall horse feeder and a very heavily disinfected, almost brand new covered cat litter box. They love that thing. I took in a cat for a couple...and they didn't want the litter box back. I don't have indoor cats. It's a win-win....

I've had good luck keeping eggs clean by keeping it freshly bedded in front with course shavings.

We farm, yet I use shavings.

I have better luck with shavings in keeping the eggs and the coop clean. The straw...not so much.

(And the straw is free!)

That's as dirty as my eggs get. Anything dirtier and the dog or chickens get them...actually the outside blue egg at 2 o'clock was chucked to the chickens.
It's dirty on the side. (yes...ok..I "may" be a little OCD)

 

[microchick]

Pretty eggs, @Wickedchicken6 Only color you are missing is Welsummer cafe au'lait with chocolate speckles!

I tried hanging curtains on my nesting box openings after reading an article stressing the importance of giving your hens a private dark place to lay their eggs. The two little hens poked their heads inside and went in and came back out. The beg hens looked the curtains over from the outside and decided to lay their eggs on the coop floor that morning. That afternoon, I took the curtains down.

I truly doubt if my hens would go for one of the roll out nesting boxes. The little pampered snots have to have fresh orchard grass in their boxes.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Lol..thanks! Hard to believe I didn't know chickens laid colored eggs 1.5 years ago. Oh yeah...I was shocked when I got that first blue egg...lol.

I looked up Welsummer eggs.

are those ever dark! I'm trying to stay away from the dark eggs...olive is maybe too dark for me. I already have a hard time candling the green and darker ones. I like the eggs in my pic...mint green, aqua, blue, cream. Right now I'm getting darker green eggs from the pullets, only a few blue and mint green as the older girls are just starting.

Is that grass that you pick for their nests?

 

[pennyJo1960]

I use shaving's also deep litter method my girls use them to make dust bath's
when it is rain to hard to leave the coop .... I have like 3 places for them to roost
the many one is a table made of 2 pallets long end to end one spot is the top of 2 nest boxes
there is the treat garbage tub with wood cut round with a handle for a top

 

[pennyJo1960]

Pretty eggs, @Wickedchicken6 Only color you are missing is Welsummer cafe au'lait with chocolate speckles!

I tried hanging curtains on my nesting box openings after reading an article stressing the importance of giving your hens a private dark place to lay their eggs. The two little hens poked their heads inside and went in and came back out. The beg hens looked the curtains over from the outside and decided to lay their eggs on the coop floor that morning. That afternoon, I took the curtains down.

I truly doubt if my hens would go for one of the roll out nesting boxes. The little pampered snots have to have fresh orchard grass in their boxes.

really wow I buy white savings at Dels here

 

[microchick]

I've got to start cleaning out my coop. I use deep litter also and the deep litter is starting to get more aromatic than I like. I keep telling them to go outside in the fresh air and poop but they won't listen to me. It gets to the point where no matter how many fresh chips you put down, it just doesn't help any longer. It was up near 70 here today, maybe a little higher so I finally opened a window for them. I keep waiting for the boot to drop along with the temperature. Today I dragged the brooder in from the barn and scrubbed it with bleach water so it would have a chance to neutralize the clorine before the eggs in my incubator hopefully hatch in a week and a half. I think every stupid barn sparrow in a 5 mile radius used it for target practice since I last brooded chicks.

@Wickedchicken6 those eggs are dark and you are right, candling is a real challenge. The breeder I bought my Welsummers from told me that the best way to candle them was in a dark closet with a strong LED flashlight. I have to admit, I tried it.....couldn't see Jack, LOL!

I usually get a bale of orchard grass hay every year in payment from one of our Amish neighbors who mows and bales our pastures for hay for his livestock. We give him the hay if he leaves us one big round bale. Last year they didn't mow as there was an overabundance of hay so that means I have to go out and cut my own hay for the nesting boxes. Not bad when it's a nice dry winter day. A little tricky when there is snow.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Mine gets to a certain smell that I get rid of all of it clean it all out
start over I joke that is when I have shavings attacks

 

[drumstick diva]