What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Forest did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Spoiler: Shop rat

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Slippah is a size 9. And no, not bigger than Koke'e rats. They were bigger and fatter.

Best forest find ever!!!!!View attachment 3604120
And he did not bring it in the house!! Smartest forest find ever...♡

He looks so proud of himself...and rightly so!

 

[Shetland lover]

Sounds like a good plan to me . I can't help but wonder if part of the problem is related to production breeds. You've gotten a lot of double yolkers too, and like @Shetland lover was saying about time spent in the reproductive tract...think there might be a relationship there. I have no idea what I'm talking about on this...just thinking out loud...but I'm wondering if the high protein, production breed combo plays a role. Not sure how you'd phrase the question to see if Google has an answer for you...but maybe worth checking to see if high protein plays a role.

Double yolks are a by-product of rapid ovulation. Basically, two yolks are released into the oviduct too closely together and travel through the reproductive tract together so end up in the same shell. It happens usually in response to hormonal changes, which is why they're most common in pullets and older hens.
It's not actually good for hens to consistently lay multiple yolk eggs as it often indicates there's something amiss with the reproductive tract and these hens are at higher risk of reproductive cancers, salpingitis, EYP etc.
High production breeds are very much at greater risk of reproductive issues due to the constant selective breeding for higher production and bigger eggs. And statistically they do lay many more double yolks. I'd say you're right, there's definitely a connection.

 

[Shetland lover]

I just pulverized some oyster shells in my utility coffee grinder. I'll mix a spoonful into the pullets' mash tomorrow morning. Should work as well as calcium supplement tablets.

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It certainly will!

 

[Shetland lover]

My kids house. Gone. Been trying to find him all day. Lahaina Maui is where I grew up so this is hard all the way around.View attachment 3604565
Found out at MIL funeral services today.... not hanging with dhs family, just hanging by phone, looking for ways to track him down and get him on a plane to me.

Oh my! I hope he is ok. All my thoughts and prayers are with you all

 

[Shetland lover]

My son is ok!!!!! Just got out with change of clothes, phone and pack b4 his house went up. Scary stuff but he is ok ♡♡♡ thank you all for your good thoughts!!!

Oh! I'm so relieved and happy for you! So glad he is alive and safe. That's all that matters. ❤❤❤

 

[Nomadicus]

My son is ok!!!!! Just got out with change of clothes, phone and pack b4 his house went up. Scary stuff but he is ok ♡♡♡ thank you all for your good thoughts!!!

The most important thread I'll read today. I'm so glad. Having kids living in similar type places I so understand.

 

[Smokerbill]

My son is ok!!!!! Just got out with change of clothes, phone and pack b4 his house went up. Scary stuff but he is ok ♡♡♡ thank you all for your good thoughts!!!

I'm happy he made it out safe!

 

[Smokerbill]

I went out to the run earlier than normal (6:45) to check on the pullets. Yesterday morning there were 3 or 4 soft shell eggs that had been dropped on the floor beneath the roost. Today, there were no soft shells!

But there was one pile of poop that looked like it was covered with quite a bit of liquid egg white. So maybe poop and a shell less egg came out at the same time? Or one right after the other?

There was also a good, solid egg in a nest box. Judging by it's temperature, it was probably laid around 6AM, it was just barely warm. I've never seen a "good" egg laid that early in the morning.

Plus, all the poops looked good to my eye. Solid with normal shape and color, with the white coating on the top. And a couple of cecal poops were there, too.

I'm kind of wondering if being separated from the cockerel makes the pullets more relaxed? They're set up in a "see but no touch" situation now.

I mixed up a ramekin of mash, about one cup of dry pellets, a heaping teaspoon of powdered oyster shell and water. I'm hoping they are truly on the mend and their reproductive tracts start normalizing.

 

[kurby22]

My son is ok!!!!! Just got out with change of clothes, phone and pack b4 his house went up. Scary stuff but he is ok ♡♡♡ thank you all for your good thoughts!!!

Oh I’m SOOOOO relieved!! Yay!! How scary, where will he stay for now?

 

[Nomadicus]

I went out to the run earlier than normal (6:45) to check on the pullets. Yesterday morning there were 3 or 4 soft shell eggs that had been dropped on the floor beneath the roost. Today, there were no soft shells!

But there was one pile of poop that looked like it was covered with quite a bit of liquid egg white. So maybe poop and a shell less egg came out at the same time? Or one right after the other?

There was also a good, solid egg in a nest box. Judging by it's temperature, it was probably laid around 6AM, it was just barely warm. I've never seen a "good" egg laid that early in the morning.

Plus, all the poops looked good to my eye. Solid with normal shape and color, with the white coating on the top. And a couple of cecal poops were there, too.

I'm kind of wondering if being separated from the cockerel makes the pullets more relaxed? They're set up in a "see but no touch" situation now.

I mixed up a ramekin of mash, about one cup of dry pellets, a heaping teaspoon of powdered oyster shell and water. I'm hoping they are truly on the mend and their reproductive tracts start normalizing.

I've had RIR pullets lay by 4 a.m. They lay much earlier than the Delaware coop next to them. The Delawares also lay a lot more eggs late in the day. Some as late as 5pm. Age should help with the soft and no shell eggs along with the calcium.