When to open up the neat boxes?

[aart]

We have 3 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Buff Orpingtons approx 20 weeks old. I've been closing nesting boxes at night and opening them in morning. Much to our amazement one of the reds finally layed a nice brown egg a couple of days ago! I believe they are all on the verge of laying they are getting more cackle and their bottoms are huge! Today we got a second egg not sure which one layed it though but it was a nice medium brown egg. Just this evening we were out at the coop watching them out in the run and all of a sudden one of the reds I believe the one that layed the first egg, was acting weird and I thought that she was going to lay another egg? So I wondered why she didn't go in the nesting box? just then she layed an egg with absolutely no shell at all it was slimy at first then the yolk came out and of course the other girls gobbled it up right away? Is this something to be concerned about or will it correct itself? she seemed fine afterwards.

Not too unusual for a new layer...I'm always happy when the soft or no shells are NOT laid in the nests.

 

[nursesoc]

Awesome will keep an eye on them.
Thank you!

 

[Rozzychick]

I'm a new chicken mom, I've got 4 20 week olds and 3, 14 weeks. I opened the boxes and put a couple fake eggs in and now one week later- 2 eggs so far! I have a couple of questions-
How do you deal with the grower and layer foods with these age groups?
The girl I think is doing the laying is the red sex link, I thought it would be the RIRed with her big red bright comb,but the sex link was witnessed leaving the box with the second egg. Two different boxes were used? I thought they picked a favorite? Will they lay everyday now?
Lastly, the same sex link seems to always have a really full crop. Even looks full in the morning. It's not hard and kind of massages away when I hold her, but then is visible when she walking. How do you know when this is a problem?
Thank you for any and all insight!

 

[azygous]

I'm a new chicken mom, I've got 4 20 week olds and 3, 14 weeks. I opened the boxes and put a couple fake eggs in and now one week later- 2 eggs so far! I have a couple of questions-
How do you deal with the grower and layer foods with these age groups?
The girl I think is doing the laying is the red sex link, I thought it would be the RIRed with her big red bright comb,but the sex link was witnessed leaving the box with the second egg. Two different boxes were used? I thought they picked a favorite? Will they lay everyday now?
Lastly, the same sex link seems to always have a really full crop. Even looks full in the morning. It's not hard and kind of massages away when I hold her, but then is visible when she walking. How do you know when this is a problem?
Thank you for any and all insight!

For flocks with pre-layers, most of us withold layer feed and feed only grower until all have begin to lay.

Your girl with the "full" crop may have a condition called "pendulous crop". This is caused by the crop being situated too low to properly empty. It can be helped by installing a "crop bra". This will support the pendulous crop, raising it so it can properly empty. I wouldn't be surprised that you might be able to find one at "My Pet Chicken". They seem to carry all sorts of chicken accessories. Or go here to get one. http://crazykfarm.mybigcommerce.com/birdy-bra-crop-supporter-chest-protector/

 

[aart]

I'm a new chicken mom, I've got 4 20 week olds and 3, 14 weeks. I opened the boxes and put a couple fake eggs in and now one week later- 2 eggs so far! I have a couple of questions-
How do you deal with the grower and layer foods with these age groups?
The girl I think is doing the laying is the red sex link, I thought it would be the RIRed with her big red bright comb,but the sex link was witnessed leaving the box with the second egg. Two different boxes were used? I thought they picked a favorite? Will they lay everyday now?
Lastly, the same sex link seems to always have a really full crop. Even looks full in the morning. It's not hard and kind of massages away when I hold her, but then is visible when she walking. How do you know when this is a problem?
Thank you for any and all insight!

They may not lay every day...or they might, especially the sexlink as they are high production hybrids bred to lay a lot.
It can take up to a months or so for things to smooth out to 'normal, but then that can change too...lol!

They might pick a favorite nest eventually, but they can mix it up too.
I've played with switching around the fake eggs and they almost always lay in the nest with the fake egg, despite yesterdays 'favorite' nest.

As for the feed, I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[Wrelwood]

Great information, thank you! I'm in the same boat. Lots of pooping in the nests but no eggs. I will try blocking them off and putting fake eggs in there.

 

[aart]

Great information, thank you! I'm in the same boat. Lots of pooping in the nests but no eggs. I will try blocking them off and putting fake eggs in there.

Pooping in nests mean they are probably sleeping in nests instead of on roosts.
Do not let them sleep in nests.
Roosts are best about 1 foot higher than nests, they like to sleep as high as possible.
Block off nests an hour so before roost time so they are forced to sleep on roosts,
unblock nests well after dark and make sure all birds are on a roost.

 

[Wrelwood]

Thank you, I will give it a try.

 

[ChickenS41T]

When do you start offering oyster shells! Girls here are 17 weeks. No eggs yet but wattles getting redder.

 

[Stephine]

I started offering oyster shells about a week ago. We got our first egg three days ago - it's perfect! Nice solid shell, beautiful shape and color. I think I was a bit late with the oyster shell, but guess they got plenty of calcium from all the greens I give them plus the milk/yoghurt treats...