Washingtonians

[Nikki99]

I know this isn't wht you want to hear, but can you find or buy a couple of those covered cat littr boxes? Mine loved those at first, now they will lay in almost anything. Just place them on the floor. Just an idea.

I am sorry you are having this problem.

That's a great idea! I'll see about giving it a whirl, DH is thinking he wants to build better boxes then we had last time and see if they'll go for that but he might like this idea better, who knows.
Thanks for the hug and the help.

Mine now just lay on the floor making nests with the straw. One flock I had used the nest boxes but when next one didn't I got tired of trying to change training when I got the straw I figured NP as they make a round nest so easy to grab eggs right on top of straw.

If you can't change their habit might consider straw as mine made nests with eggs on top.

One of the problems I have with them laying on the floor is that they bury their eggs after the lay them, then I have no idea where they are b/c they don't pick one convenient spot and stick with it, they lay in ridiculous spots, I don't find them until who knows how many days later. By that point I'm not even sure if the egg is still good or not. Maybe they would stick to one or two spots if I tried the straw idea that you have. Maybe I should just put a pile of it in acceptable places instead of all over? I'll try that and see what they think. Man, I have some high maintenance girls. Lol

Just a thought based on what I've seen from my girls... are they laying beneath the roost bars? If so, could they be laying early before the sun comes up and dropping them where they might fall into the shavings?

Both Drama and Caunnie have laid before it was light out. Drama's back to sleeping on the floor again, so her laying in the middle of the coop was no big deal. Caunnie laid one from the roost, and it either got smashed when she jumped down, or it broke when it fell.

The most common spot we're finding the eggs is inside the chicken house, right around their food container, it's like they are to busy eating to stop and go lay.
Drama sleeps on the floor?? Wow, I didn't know chickens would be comfortable sleeping right on the ground like that. BTW, I know I've said this before but I love her name!! So cute!

My kids bummed me out this evening. I wanted to dress them up as fart eggs for Halloween, and they wanted nothing to do with that idea at all.

Instead they insisted on boring costumes. My boys are both going to be Ninjas (yawn!) and my daughter is going to be a black cat. She says she's planning to chase my chicken costume. At least she has some sense of humor.

Hehehehe, that's funny!!

I'm sorry that you lost one of your babies.

X's 3.

There was no birthday present for me in the incubator this morning. Ah, well. At 5 am we were woken up by very loud peeping and got up all excited, but it was just the one egg and the chick was still stuck. I went ahead and took it out and peeled the shell and dried membrane off to free it, then put it back in the incubator. At 8 am the chick is still alive, but no other eggs have pipped.

I'm thinking of getting a little box and putting it in the incubator for the chick. It's having trouble walking on the screen, and bumping the eggs. Does this sound okay?

I'll go by Monroe F&F this morning and pick up a few of their youngest chicks. If this one makes it it'll need some buddies more its age, and if it doesn't I'd like more than one or two hens.

Jennifer

Congrats for the one that you have so far! I'm sorry you haven't had a better outcome yet but I did see your more recent post about seeing the moving beak inside another egg. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good news about the rest of your babies!

 

[FirewifeJess]

I'm so excited! I think Willow is finally going to lay soon! I found a shell-less egg on the poop shelf under her spot! It had weird coloring too, like the pigment came off on the membrane; it was a weird color green. Hoping that means she'll lay today or tomorrow!

 

[Nikki99]

I'm so excited! I think Willow is finally going to lay soon! I found a shell-less egg on the poop shelf under her spot! It had weird coloring too, like the pigment came off on the membrane; it was a weird color green. Hoping that means she'll lay today or tomorrow!

That's exciting Jess! Hopefully you'll have eggs from her in no time!

 

[itsren]

Itsren, when are your eggs due? I filled my incubator last week 42+ eggs and if all goes well, will have extras 2 wks from Saturday.

Mine are due the weekend of the 13th or 14th. Are yours due the week later? Would that work to put mix them if they are 1 week apart?

 

[CarolynF]

I'm so excited! I think Willow is finally going to lay soon! I found a shell-less egg on the poop shelf under her spot! It had weird coloring too, like the pigment came off on the membrane; it was a weird color green. Hoping that means she'll lay today or tomorrow!

Congrats! That's a very good indicator! It's so exciting to get the first egg!

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Yes! It won't be her first egg, but our first egg from her...when it finally comes

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Quote:
I just checked the calendar and they are due on the 17th, so that would be plenty close enough.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Does anyone else use alfalfa pellets? I bought some at Reber sunday and the chickens don't really like them at all unless i mix them in with oatmeal. I guess it would be a nice morning treat each day in the cold winter months if I do this though. How do y'all soak yours? It takes forever for the pellets to break down in the water

 

[FirewifeJess]

For a flock of 12 layers, how much is too much? I know a lot of people who offer plenty of healthy treats and their birds lay fine, but I'm paranoid they'll slow down their laying if I give them oatmeal and alfalfa every day. I cooked up 1/2 cup of oatmeal (when cooked, it's about a cup) and a handful of alfalfa pellets. I also added flax seed meal, sesame seeds (1/8c each), and probiotics. WDYT? Is that too much? Really it's just the middle of a large plate full for all 12 girls.

 

[itsren]

Does anyone in Seattle area have composting red worms to give away/sell cheap/trade for something? I thought I'd ask before ordering some.

I might have a bunch, at least I used to. I haven't looked in a long while since the compost bin has so much chicken poop in it.

One of the things on my to-do list was to screen compost and get the good compost out of there, because I'm out of compost/poop storage space. Maybe I can do that soon and let you know. So, if I do pull out a bunch of worms - how do I store them? And, by the way - I'd give them to you. Would you be willing to meet me in Southcenter somewhere?