Washingtonians

[JennS]

Where near Seattle are you located? If you want to come see the setup we have any time you are welcome! I love company and serve good coffee

I'm in Covington.

I'm in Lynnwood. I'm afraid I don't usually get that far south, although on Thursdays we go to Redmond for soccer in the mornings. Maybe we could stop by after class someday? Hmm, lately though, I've been driving back into Seattle to have lunch with my husband and visit the farmer's market in SLU. My life was much easier to schedule before I had a kid!

Now I can't live without my phone's calendar.

Jennifer

 

[Hinotori]

I don't know that it's a common problem, egg eating. I think the worst you'd come home to is a nest box with quite a few eggs in it...maybe some squashed? It is my understanding that there might be a dietary deficiency for a hen to start eating eggs, but who knows? I think once a day is great though! If you want, I'm happy to go over there once or twice to check on them as well, just let me know!

I can toss a soft shell egg out on the grass for the dogs right in front of mine and they won't touch it. They are sophisticated and only eat their eggs cooked. Preferably hard boiled, scrambled is only second best. I've tested that.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Tell me about it! I have 3! They are 2, 4(next week!), and 6. Eesh...they took my brain with them when they were born too, I can't remember anything anymore! Oh well, maybe I'll get it back when they move out! Perhaps it's a rental type thing

Well maybe we can still meet someday at one of our group's chicken meetups

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Good to know! I had heard as much, but don't know that I'll be as bold as you and test the theory; don't want to take chances having to cull a bird because I "accidentally" trained one to eat eggs!

 

[itsren]

Right now, I *think* we're going through about 4lbs/day for my 12 girls, which is completely normal from what I have read. A grown chicken eats about 2lbs/week, putting us at 24lbs/wk, or with math, 104lbs/mo. Renee, if you have a scale, when you get back from Yellowstone if you have too much left over just figure out how much it is and I'll pay you for the rest of it. We'll get through it so much faster, plus I have to stick with the starter/grower for a lot longer because I have all those younger girls. I think medicated is OK even if some are laying??? If I'm wrong and Amprolium in the feed is bad for egg eating, I may have to rescind my offer to buy your feed

Sounds good! If they are not through it by the time we get back, I'll just give it to you. I want them switched over at 18 weeks.

So... mine, when they are grown, should be eating 6 lbs/week? Of course, that would be if I'm not free-ranging them, right? Or, is that with free-ranging? My girls eat a bunch of my plants when they're out free-ranging (my poor asparagus and loves lies bleeding beds!). I don't think they feel like eating feed because they snack off the land too much.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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Not entirely sure. I've read it here before on BYC, but it's also on the Scratch & Peck website...and possibly even on the bag of Purina??? Dont' quote me on that. I haven't been letting mine out as much, but when they were going out all day every day they were eating much less. I kinda prefer feeding them more right now, to having poop all over the yard we're trying to use in this gorgeous weather.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Since we still have a bunch of starter/grower left, I just put out oyster shell for the first time today. A couple of them really chowed down. I hope they're close to laying, I don't want their own stupidity to cause them internal damage!

 

[JennS]

Tell me about it! I have 3! They are 2, 4(next week!), and 6. Eesh...they took my brain with them when they were born too, I can't remember anything anymore! Oh well, maybe I'll get it back when they move out! Perhaps it's a rental type thing

Well maybe we can still meet someday at one of our group's chicken meetups

Mine just turned 2. One kid is plenty - I don't know how you do it with three!!

I saw the posts about the meat bird processing. That sounded interesting, but Enumclaw is pretty far from me and my husband is not an enthusiastic babysitter. Is there a regular meeting, or something more informal? I would love to come, if I can fit it in my schedule. This kid has a bigger social life than I ever did!

Jennifer

 

[itsren]

Since we still have a bunch of starter/grower left, I just put out oyster shell for the first time today. A couple of them really chowed down. I hope they're close to laying, I don't want their own stupidity to cause them internal damage!

Is the not feeding calcium thing for small chicks? Or is it for older birds, too? I sprinkled oyster shell on the floor of the run when mine were about 14 weeks old. There's grit on the run, too. It seems they pick and choose grit.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
If you want, you can join a Meetup group that Teresa just started here: http://www.meetup.com/South-Sound-Backyard-Chickens-Meetup/
Then you'll know where we will be (I think it's the Auburn Coastal Farm Supply on August 19th in the afternoon, first one! It's a great feed store too!