Washingtonians

[Kaneke]

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The egg shells are hard, but my SLW stands straight up like a penguin when she drops her egg, and it does fall! She looks funny when she does it, but is in and out of the nesting box quicker than any of the other hens by far. Pretty much hops up to the highest nest box, stands like a penguin then starts compacting herself still in that upright position, and then clunk, there's the egg! She does not make a peep when she does it either, and rarely does the egg song.

sounds like you need to get some of that Temperfoam ("memory" foam) to line the very bottom of the nest box -- or coir (coconut fiber usually sold for lining hanging flower baskets) so the egg has some cushiony stuff to land on -- both are washable -- just don't get anything white, as I have found that my girls peck and chew at anything white, or red or orange or yellow

even cushioned linoleum would probably work to give a softer landing spot

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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one of the hens seems to drop them pointy side down and they will sometimes even have a little hole in the top like what you see on a blown egg. The membranes don't break, but if one of my roos finds the damaged eggs before I do, he eats them!

I was using Scotts feed (20%) and mixing in eggshell and they have oystershell at will (some eat it like mad, and others never touch it). A week or so ago I switched back to Layena inside the coop to try and cut down on all the dust. Outside still gets the food from Patriot. Chickens like the Patriot feed better. They also free-range from sun-up to sun-down.

Ian stepped on Sylvia's most recent egg, broke it, and danced around it hysterically as if it were a manifestation of pure evil, definitely not interested in eating it. I may have the only picky-eater rooster on the planet. On the other hand, he REALLY ENJOYED leftover Mexican food, beans, rice, shredded lettuce (which he normally views as nearly as dangerous as Big Slugs) and random Chimichanga bits.

 

[HoneysuckleHills]

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I, too, wanted to be able to sweep out the shavings in the nest boxes and still have a lip. What I did was add a little spacer so that my 2x4 (actually, mine is a 1x3) is about a half inch out. This left a narrow opening between the floor of the nest box and the lip - big enough to sweep the shavings into the coop when I was cleaning yet not so big that an egg could roll out. This design has worked beautifully for me. I use vinyl squares on the floor of the nest boxes topped with shavings.

I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well so I'll add a photo. This is taken from the outside door of the nest boxes. I think you can see the narrow opening between the nest floor and the lip. Good luck.

 

[T Hi]

Night crew is here to make a quick stop! Gonna try to get to bed before the sun rises!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Nice party tonight, I think; good to talk to people and also may have shed my last excess cockerel to my first-cousin-once-removed Zaza.

On the other had: I may not want to talk to anyone again for a couple of weeks.

 

[Ogress]

I sent DH to the store for me - I picked up DS's backpack to load it with all his new school supplies and it weighed a ton! He still had everything in there from JUNE (minus the colored pencils and a few things I asked for). Most disgustingly, it still held his re-usable sandwich wrap and tupperware (both dirty). I'm not even going to attempt to clean those! Luckily, we only pack plain water in his drink bottle. In it, he also had his collection of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books which he had accused his sister of stealing.

I've got a bad case of hiccups.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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There is no adequate expression to describe the horror of school backpacks, in my all too sufficient experience.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Forgot to say: I'm beginning to suspect that SSH's may be one of the things that run in the Smith family, along with Type 2 Diabetes (early onset lean body), ADHD, and gardening. I was showing Uncle Mervie my chicken photos and he remembered keeping Hamburgs at some point- that they flew really well, and were all in all very like pheasants. (Uncle Mervie is Dad's youngest brother, and still works as a general contractor and has a two-acre vegetable garden at the age of 75).

Of course my three have layed a dozen eggs since Thursday, which is also nice.

 

[chickens4gramma]

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I've been using shredded paper in the nest boxes

since we shred all the "stuff with identification" on it anyway, we had lots available -- it's fluffy but won't stick to the feathers, the hens do eat an occasional bit of it but that doesn't seem to impact their digestion (most inks these days are soy based), and for some reason they don't poo in it

it doesn't smell and it won't get moldy either

so my eggs are neat and clean, I never have to wash or scrub them (occasionally pull off some slightly sticky strands, that had the envelope mucilage on them, but they peel off just like posta-notes), and there's enough padding and 'give', that even with three hens in the nest box at once, nothing gets cracked

if I had to change it, it would be easy -- maybe use a dustpan, or just grab it out, since the strands are longer than chip type bedding but don't stick to things or clump up

I think I got the shredded paper idea from you Kaneke. I love it! Much cleaner and fluffier. Although my pullet that started laying just lays in the corner of the coop most of the time on the floor. If anything gets soiled I just grab the whole bunch and it sticks together for the most part. And with my thin shelled egg problem, if one gets broken the paper is actually more absorbent so egg stuff doesn't soak all the way to the bottom. I also cut out 15x15 squares of the type of floor mat that is made of coconut husk. I forgot what it's called.

Shredded paper is a great idea! My hubby broke my shredder, so he owes me a new one. Poor guy, this project just keeps costing him money!

 

[chickens4gramma]

Quote:
I, too, wanted to be able to sweep out the shavings in the nest boxes and still have a lip. What I did was add a little spacer so that my 2x4 (actually, mine is a 1x3) is about a half inch out. This left a narrow opening between the floor of the nest box and the lip - big enough to sweep the shavings into the coop when I was cleaning yet not so big that an egg could roll out. This design has worked beautifully for me. I use vinyl squares on the floor of the nest boxes topped with shavings.

I don't know if I'm explaining myself very well so I'll add a photo. This is taken from the outside door of the nest boxes. I think you can see the narrow opening between the nest floor and the lip. Good luck.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62344_016.jpg

Vinyl squares! Another great idea! As is the space, but I think it's too late for that. Have to ask hubby. Thanks so much for all the ideas! You all are the best!