Violet's only companion died today - and it's freezing

[KayTee]

Shrimp shells would be great for them - blitz them in the food processor to crush them into small enough pieces so that they can eat them easily.

They may eat the sprouts raw - my neighbour's chickens love raw cabbage. But mine won't touch raw cabbage or sprouts, they're only interested in it when it's cooked. Having said that, I've seen my flock's tastes change over time - maybe due to the influence of new additions, who are prepared to try things the old flock never showed an interest in.

How old is Violet? She may not be laying simply because of the stress of confinement in the garage, or due to the temperatures and lack of daylight (most chickens stop or slow down during the winter).

 

[deacons]

I'm probably reading this too late, but at our Agway, we get "Vermont Organics" brand Layer Pellets (they also make a soy-free option). Agway also has its own "house brand" Layer Pellets that a lot of my neighbors use.

Mine like the brussels sprouts raw.

I really feel for you on the fight with snow and bitter temps. I'm in the same situation, but we got a bit of a reprieve last week when at least it didn't snow. Still bitterly cold overnight, but with 8 hens, ours are toughing it out in the coop ok. Looks like most of the snow we'll get this week will be overnight, so everyone should be able to move around outside a bit during the day.

Since your two have another week in your garage, any way your lovely husband would be willing to just scoop all the pine shavings out of the crate so they don't have to stay in there with that? I would probably personally go back to straw and just put up with daily clean-ups for the week. Even shredded newspaper might be an option so that way, if you are able to clean everyday, you could do that and not have to ask your husband to.

Sending you lots of good thoughts from my cold little flock! Winter has to end eventually, right? (Right?!)

 

[yogamebird]

Oh JOY!! Came home from the pet shop with clean organic paper-based bedding and screw on crate dishes to find that my husband had thoroughly swept away the pine shavings! I scraped that dirty crate clean, put in the fresh bedding, changed the water, mixed up some layer feed with oyster shells and meal worms and put them in the screw-on dishes (what a GREAT idea!!) They love the dishes and of course it's impossible to fight over food since they each have their own dish! We're leaving the garage door open for a while so they can at least see the sun (if not bask in it) and get some fresh air.The girls are ecstatic and so am I! Now fingers crossed that the layer feed arrives today.

Thank you all for your wonderful recommendations - screw on dishes, paper bedding, oyster shells, not so much corn. I love this forum!!

 

[deacons]

Oh I am so happy to read this update. I checked back here a couple of times today to see how you made out yesterday with getting food and bedding. What a relief that they are now eating their own food from their own dishes.

Hang in there- spring will be here soon!

 

[yogamebird]

100 pounds of layer food arrived today! the way those girls eat we should be good till next Friday!!

 

[Acornewell]

100 pounds of layer food arrived today! the way those girls eat we should be good till next Friday!!

HA! Good thing you don't have ducks. My three ducks go through three times a bag, as my chickens go through in a three week period, and there are 22 of them!

I know you mentioned you have an egg eater. When we had that happen, we put a few golf balls, and those plastic easter eggs filled with putty in where they lay...they got tired of pecking those, thinking they were eggs and decided they no longer were interested in trying on real eggs.

 

[yogamebird]

Fake eggs! hat a great idea! And of course what better time of year to find them! Are you worried about the splintered plastic? Or should I shoot for golf balls? I don't even know if Tilly is laying or Violet is eating the eggs because when Violet eats the eggs, they are GONE! But perhaps I could kill 2 birds with one stone (what a terrible expression for chicken lovers) as I also understand that fake eggs can stimulate hens to lay.

 

[LipsChicks]

I put 100 pounds of layer pellets in a feeder I made and I only need to fill it every two weeks. I have about 50 chickens and they don't waste a drop!

 

[yogamebird]

EGG!!! We got an EGG!! And Violet didn't eat it. It was a bit wet and goopy but I hope that just rinsing it off with water will make it ok to eat. Thanks again so much for the recommendation of oyster shells. I think Violet got her fill of calcium! I think I'd better put more of that bedding stuff in the crate because I know wet is not good.

That must be one heck of a feeder LipsChicks! We have a pretty big one - too big for the dog crate, and probably too big for a mere 2 chickens, but it sure is convenient! I can't imagine what yours looks like.

 

[yogamebird]

KayTee, to answer a previous question - we have NO idea how old Violet is!! I think we may be owner #3. We inherited Henrietta and Violet from my step-daughter - they were different breeds so not littermates (Is that what they call them?) But Hen and Vi stopped laying at roughly about the same time going into fall. Last year both girls layed (laid?) almost throughout the winter.