What did you do with your flock today?

[PopoMyers]

One of my cockerels tried to kill the other yesterday, so it moved on to be with a more experienced chicken keeper. So far, the single little rooster with the eight hens seems to be a happy little flock.

I guess the stress from the fighting yesterday evening, and the constant crowing made three of the hens so anxious that they layed eggs without shells this morning. But I also got 4 good eggs, so 7 out of 8 laid today. Might have to start selling eggs when the start coming out full size.

Soft shelled eggs can be common when their factories just start up for the first time, and last a little while until their bodies get the hang of the egg cycle. Maybe a few weeks or so of the occasional soft shelled.

 

[PopoMyers]

K. I've been getting rained out for the last 2 hours. Putting a small damper on my list of things to do but man it is nice!View attachment 3593192View attachment 3593193
Want is my list? Finish picking up piles of green waste, cut more bags and ride motorcycle down the mountain to do more chores
Cabin roof leaks right on my cutting table.... yes, I moved it.View attachment 3593194
Recognize the bags @ChicksnMore ?!!! Small delay ♡

Oh, look at all the heavenly ginger blooming!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Funerals are always sad.
If it makes you feel better, hubby and I both love our in-laws but find each other's a little stressful when visiting. Even perfect visits feel a little stressful . Easier when they live near by and no disruption of the normal flow of life's involved .
Hope all goes smooth and easy!

DHs mom passed about 6 weeks ago. It is ok, as it was her time... I mean, we all understand and are relieved she is no longer in pain ♡
Yeah, it is just so much of his family all the time, to be topped off with more of his family...
So, looking forward to getting back to all about me and my cats and chickens asap
Only BYCers understand

 

[TropicalBabies]

Soft shelled eggs can be common when their factories just start up for the first time, and last a little while until their bodies get the hang of the egg cycle. Maybe a few weeks or so of the occasional soft shelled.

I never had softshelled eggs from my new pullets. I've had super hard to break open eggs from those young healthy things ♡ I have been wondering about the calcium content in beach sand. We know it is bits of shell and coral and what not. If my chooks are picking my sandy loam soil for grit, I think it must give them added calcium.
Was thinking about going and picking up some shelley sand from the beach instead of buying grit... and then also oystershell. Make sense to anyone besides me?

 

[Smokerbill]

Very nice! I had a pullet or two do that, eventually the doubles stopped.

Yeah, when I had barred rocks 20 years ago, a few of them layed doubles for a while too. Maybe it's more common with the barred plymouths, you think?

And I got a couple soft shell eggs back then too when they were starting. But it seems like more than a coincidence that there were three soft shells the day after some extremely stressful happenings with the flock.

 

[Smokerbill]

Glad he found a new flock. I had to put one of mine in rooster jail because he wasn’t behaving. It worked for him. I haven’t done that yet with my babies but one for sure is about to head that way. Hoping to find them new homes soon.

I was hoping for the best adding two roosters to eight hens. One is plenty, and I'm glad the other still has a life to lead.

 

[Smokerbill]

I never had softshelled eggs from my new pullets. I've had super hard to break open eggs from those young healthy things ♡ I have been wondering about the calcium content in beach sand. We know it is bits of shell and coral and what not. If my chooks are picking my sandy loam soil for grit, I think it must give them added calcium.
Was thinking about going and picking up some shelley sand from the beach instead of buying grit... and then also oystershell. Make sense to anyone besides me?

My opinion (guess) is I'd just give them the shelly sand for their calcium. But the grains might not be big enough to act as good grit for their gizzards. Maybe the sand has little rocks in it that are bigger than sand grains???

Just had a crazy thought, but I wonder how much of that microplastics stuff is in the beach sand now. Would it be an issue?

 

[ChicksnMore]

If we are going to get chores done before dark we have to start and is still feeling like 103° in the shade!

I know the feeling! I just finished raking out a chicken run...lates the only good time to do that stuff here. By the time I finished, the chickens were all sleeping and it's pitch dark out. And still 100°

 

[ChicksnMore]

K. I've been getting rained out for the last 2 hours. Putting a small damper on my list of things to do but man it is nice!View attachment 3593192View attachment 3593193
What is my list? Finish picking up piles of green waste, cut more bags and ride motorcycle down the mountain to do more chores
Cabin roof leaks right on my cutting table.... yes, I moved it.View attachment 3593194
Recognize the bags @ChicksnMore ?!!! Small delay ♡

Think I'll look at your pictures before bed and see if I can dream myself there for the night

 

[ChicksnMore]

I never had softshelled eggs from my new pullets. I've had super hard to break open eggs from those young healthy things ♡ I have been wondering about the calcium content in beach sand. We know it is bits of shell and coral and what not. If my chooks are picking my sandy loam soil for grit, I think it must give them added calcium.
Was thinking about going and picking up some shelley sand from the beach instead of buying grit... and then also oystershell. Make sense to anyone besides me?

Makes perfect sense. When we go to Rocky Point here I can see the sand is very much pulverized sea shells. What a great resource!