What did you do with your flock today?

[Smokerbill]

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.

Yeah, they are still pretty young, just a little over 20 weeks old. I'll give them the powdered oyster shell mash in the morning for another 5 days (7 days total). That should replenish any deficient calcium levels, and after that the layer feed should keep things working.

I guess I should still have oyster shell available, even when feeding layer feed, right?

The label on the Nutrena Naturewise Layer feed mentions one ingredient that makes the yolks darker orange. Even with all the foraging mine did, the egg yolks didn't seem much different than commercial eggs, colorwise.

 

[Maddcatter]

Well, went out this evening to collect eggs, and Ginger is squawking at me on the nesting box. Miss Broodypants was promptly removed to the broody jail, where she will remain until Saturday evening. I'll fill her feed and water tomorrow morning. I won't ever let her set any eggs, because Welsummers are notoriously bad moms.

Is that a joke?

A welsummer is how I got my duck eggs hatched.
... The ducklings were bullies when they joined the flock, but they're calming down.
Their mom was pretty great though.

 

[kurby22]

Yeah, they are still pretty young, just a little over 20 weeks old. I'll give them the powdered oyster shell mash in the morning for another 5 days (7 days total). That should replenish any deficient calcium levels, and after that the layer feed should keep things working.

I guess I should still have oyster shell available, even when feeding layer feed, right?

The label on the Nutrena Naturewise Layer feed mentions one ingredient that makes the yolks darker orange. Even with all the foraging mine did, the egg yolks didn't seem much different than commercial eggs, colorwise.

It sounds like you are making some good adjustments! They will hopefully soak up that calcium and start laying more normal!

Yeah, the really dark orange color comes from specific carotenoids, like carrots, dark, leafy greens etc. The foraging available may not be heavy in those things around your place! You can feed them marigolds, carrots, kale, spinach, melons, papayas, and other orange and dark green veggies to help with that, or supplements that have it! Mine get organic leafy greens once every two weeks since they are in a run and don't free range, so they get a nice dark yellow. I might have to add in some orange stuff and get them a bit orangey too! It's so pretty and satisfying when they look rich in color like that

 

[Nomadicus]

Yeah, they are still pretty young, just a little over 20 weeks old. I'll give them the powdered oyster shell mash in the morning for another 5 days (7 days total). That should replenish any deficient calcium levels, and after that the layer feed should keep things working.

I guess I should still have oyster shell available, even when feeding layer feed, right?

The label on the Nutrena Naturewise Layer feed mentions one ingredient that makes the yolks darker orange. Even with all the foraging mine did, the egg yolks didn't seem much different than commercial eggs, colorwise.

I keep oyster shell available all the time free choice near but not on top of their feed. As for feed mine get a commercial feed from our Alabama Farmers Co-op. They have grown well and laid well on it. With the number of hens I have I did the real math and I save $5,000+ a year over what Tractor Supply was costing me. I'm not paying for big company advertising and profits now. My chickens are happy and I'm happy. I will be growing marigolds for them so they get them fresh. I'm tilling up last years garden spot and planting broad cast mustard and turnips for fall and winter greens for them.

 

[kurby22]

Is that a joke?

A welsummer is how I got my duck eggs hatched.
... The ducklings were bullies when they joined the flock, but they're calming down.
Their mom was pretty great though.
View attachment 3605072

My Welsummer was already momming at 6 weeks old with the bantam cochin babies I had. It was the sweetest thing ever, they followed her everywhere and she took care of them until they were full grown and they just adored her. She was one of my sweetest chickens.

I think Welsummers are likely a hit or miss type of mom--some lines are probably fantastic and some are likely terrible. Hatchery stock seems to create that dichotomy more often than not! @PopoMyers must know the not so good Momma line of Welsummers!

 

[ChicksnMore]

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!!!

What a relief! Definitely the best news to hear Now you just have to worry how he'll manage to get by and rebuild his life. Daunting task. I don't know much about social media but keep hearing about go fund me stuff. Would something like that help or is he in ok shape for all that's ahead?

 

[Smokerbill]

It sounds like you are making some good adjustments! They will hopefully soak up that calcium and start laying more normal!

Yeah, the really dark orange color comes from specific carotenoids, like carrots, dark, leafy greens etc. The foraging available may not be heavy in those things around your place! You can feed them marigolds, carrots, kale, spinach, melons, papayas, and other orange and dark green veggies to help with that, or supplements that have it! Mine get organic leafy greens once every two weeks since they are in a run and don't free range, so they get a nice dark yellow. I might have to add in some orange stuff and get them a bit orangey too! It's so pretty and satisfying when they look rich in color like that

I just checked again and two are in the nest boxes, and another is clucking and pacing around like she's ready to lay too. And still no defective eggs on the wood chip floor!

I have 18 red Russian kale seedlings and a dozen Brussels sprout plants that will produce greens for the chickens through the winter. The red kale is very cold hardy. I was able to pick and eat leaves from a plant last winter even after temps down into the teens.

I have several marigolds blooming. Will the chickens just eat petals from the flowers? Or should I chop and mix with their mash?

 

[Nomadicus]

I just checked again and two are in the nest boxes, and another is clucking and pacing around like she's ready to lay too. And still no defective eggs on the wood chip floor!

I have 18 red Russian kale seedlings and a dozen Brussels sprout plants that will produce greens for the chickens through the winter. The red kale is very cold hardy. I was able to pick and eat leaves from a plant last winter even after temps down into the teens.

I have several marigolds blooming. Will the chickens just eat petals from the flowers? Or should I chop and mix with their mash?

I don't know until I see how they react to them. I've read that some chickens want touch them and then you have to mix with their feed. It's all new to be but I've read that it is good for them to eat them.

 

[Smokerbill]

I keep oyster shell available all the time free choice near but not on top of their feed. As for feed mine get a commercial feed from our Alabama Farmers Co-op. They have grown well and laid well on it. With the number of hens I have I did the real math and I save $5,000+ a year over what Tractor Supply was costing me. I'm not paying for big company advertising and profits now. My chickens are happy and I'm happy. I will be growing marigolds for them so they get them fresh. I'm tilling up last years garden spot and planting broad cast mustard and turnips for fall and winter greens for them.

I have a separate little feeder box for the oyster shells, next to a box of grit, so I'll keep it in place.

I was buying feed locally and was happy with it. Excel grower/starter feed was crumbles. I switched to CHS all flock 19% pellets next.

But because of the laying problems I decided to spend more for a bag and got the Nutrena Naturewise layer pellets at TSC. It was $5 more per bag than the feeds I got locally, $25 vs $20 per 50# bag. I just felt better spending more for a big-name brand feed this time around. I'll probably switch back to CHS layer pellets after the Naturewise is eaten up and see how it does.

Actually, buying feed locally saves me more than $5. It takes $10 worth of gas to make a trip to TSC.

 

[Smokerbill]

I don't know until I see how they react to them. I've read that some chickens want touch them and then you have to mix with their feed. It's all new to be but I've read that it is good for them to eat them.

I'll experiment today and see if they'll eat a flower out of my hand. When I offer things by hand, they seem to eat it most of the time. If I throw the same thing on the floor, they often ignore it.