Why aren't my hens laying eggs???

[clembone]

Sand has nothing to do with the calcium of oyster shells....
...and they also should have access to granite digestive grit.

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

I bought about a 2 gallon bag of granite grit from the local mill, they put it in their chicken scratch. Ran it thru a colander with 1/16" holes. Bagged the smaller stuff for the chicks and sprinkle some over a chunk of sod in the brooder during the second week.

I speak under correction, as always. But I think oyster shell calcium is better absorbed if there are small stones in the gizzard, such as a chicken might pick up from a sandy soil. So it seems to me that sandy soil and oyster shells is a good combo. Every free range chicken gizzard I ever cleaned had a good selection of stones, without providing any purchased rocks. I little light digging should reveal if the "sandy" soil has good grit in it.

I would take it as a kindness if I need better information than the understanding I have set out above. Thanks, everyone.

 

[kimberdougl5]

Today we put a piece of plywood across the front of the 3 nesting boxes to keep them off limits for roosting.
The 2 roosting bars are offset and have plenty of room between them. We will have to wait and see if that rooster will get his big tail up on one. It's going to be hard to get him out of the nesting box because he loves to snuggle up with his favorite hen at night. She (the other Sapphire Gem) prefers to roost, but he pushes and pulls her down so he can sleep with her!
I do use oyster shell pieces that I mix in their feeder with their feed. I switched them to layer feed at 18 weeks because that was the age on the feed bags and it was time to buy more. I can get a bag of higher protein feed to mix in.
So, if anybody has any other suggestions to help me along in this process, PLEASE give them. I'm a Newbie with chickens and I realize this is a process...

 

[kimberdougl5]

Here are a few pics...maybe my description will make more sense

 

[aart]

She (the other Sapphire Gem) prefers to roost, but he pushes and pulls her down so he can sleep with her!
I do use oyster shell pieces that I mix in their feeder with their feed.

Huh, he sounds like a bit of a jerk.
Is he mating the females?
1 cock/erel to 5 pullets might be 1 too many unless he is a 'gentleman'.
Roosts look long enough for all to roost, but might not be easy for that last bird to get up there(they need some 'wing space').

Best not to mix the OS into the feed, but offer it in a separate feeder.
I just rigged a plastic jar for OS mixed with crushed chicken egg shells.

 

[featherhead007]

If you are waiting for that cockerel to lay an egg, then....... I'm such a jerk, sorry!

 

[kimberdougl5]

I'm a Newbie....but I'm Not that NEW!!!

 

[kimberdougl5]

So...a LOT has changed in the last week!!! I went back over my calendar and discovered that my chickens are just now 20 weeks (somehow I had added an extra month to their age?!?!).
My best friend took my beautiful but ornery rooster home with her. She LOVES him, and my hens are all roosting correctly at night.
We "lost" a hen because she mistakenly flew into the dog run. My female Lab, who has treated my chickens as her own babies since the day I brought them home, tried to "rescue" the hen from my male Lab...Ugh. The outcome wasn't good.
I've discovered 2 soft shells (busted) laying in the coop. (All my hens are the same age, so I have no idea who is laying...)
Now my Sapphire Gem hen is cuddling with a fake egg in one of the nesting boxes, squats and lifts her tail when I rub her back, her vent is rapidly contracting and she's panting. I'm planning on giving her an Epsom salt bath if this continues into the evening.
So, does anyone have any suggestions on how long I should wait before taking action with my SG....or should I just wait until the morning and let her try to work out her issues? They were all switched back to the higher protein feed as soon as it was suggested before. They have free access to oyster shell, and almost no treats anymore.
And here I thought chickens would be EASY!!! TIA!

 

[kimberdougl5]

So...a LOT has changed in the last week!!! I went back over my calendar and discovered that my chickens are just now 20 weeks (somehow I had added an extra month to their age?!?!).
My best friend took my beautiful but ornery rooster home with her. She LOVES him, and my hens are all roosting correctly at night.
We "lost" a hen because she mistakenly flew into the dog run. My female Lab, who has treated my chickens as her own babies since the day I brought them home, tried to "rescue" the hen from my male Lab...Ugh. The outcome wasn't good.
I've discovered 2 soft shells (busted) laying in the coop. (All my hens are the same age, so I have no idea who is laying...)
Now my Sapphire Gem hen is cuddling with a fake egg in one of the nesting boxes, squats and lifts her tail when I rub her back, her vent is rapidly contracting and she's panting. I'm planning on giving her an Epsom salt bath if this continues into the evening.
So, does anyone have any suggestions on how long I should wait before taking action with my SG....or should I just wait until the morning and let her try to work out her issues? They were all switched back to the higher protein feed as soon as it was suggested before. They have free access to oyster shell, and almost no treats anymore.
And here I thought chickens would be EASY!!! TIA!

UPDATE:
And.....WE HAVE OUR FIRST EGG!!!! Lort! I need to just settle down!!!

 

[aart]

I need to just settle down!!!

Yeppers!!
Congrats on the egg!

 

[featherhead007]

Enjoy your breakfast!