Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[jvls1942]

What time does everyone set they're timer to run the supplemental light in winter to help egg production?

I do mine all wrong according to some people.. I leave the light on 24 hours per daylkj

If you are going to just have the light on to extend the day, then you will have to readjust it as the days get shorter..

I would just figure out what time the shortest day gets dark.. then set the timer to go on a half hour before dark for that day.. that should cover all the days you need extra light ..
I think it is best to add the light at the end of the day instead of at the beginning ..
the main reason would be that the light will invite the chickens into the coop when it starts to get dark outside ..

..........jiminwisc.......

 

[dustergrl]

@chickendreams24 I have talked about this before- look up ascites. Does that sound like it could be it? Poor lady.

We are now up to 7-9 eggs/day. We will see what this freeze advisory will bring too. Currently getting a fish fry to go (a weekly day with hubby) so we can go home and do winterizing chores- main one being draining hoses. The chickens literally run to greet the car in the driveway when we park now.

SC- amazing job. I wouldn't be able to do it!

 

[Celtic Chick]

@celticchick
Thanks for your reply, but I'm still worried. I swear she has fluid buildup in her body cavity. She's acting very good. But should she really have spent over an hour in the nest box yesterday without laying and then she switched nest boxes. Still no egg. I wouldn't be so worried if it wasn't for what I believe is the fluid buildup. That and the fact that idk the last time we got more than three of the medium brown Isa Brown eggs. But if you really think there's nothing to worry about I'll hold off. I did find yolky remnants on shavings in the nest box last night. I think it was a shell less egg someone ate, I'm hoping that was Lily's problem, but it also could have been a new layer.

If she is acting good, has good color and is eating & drinking, I agree with Jim and say leave her alone. I once had the same jitters you are now experiencing and I can honestly say to relax. She is in & out of the nest box because of habit. She may also feel a new egg developing but it is too soon for it. It happens to expectant moms, right?

She is very young & new to this whole egg-laying thing; give her body some time to adjust. Soon she will be an old pro at it.

Are you feeding the same feed as you usually do, or have you switched recently? Yolky remnants can be a result of soft shells, which may be due to improper nutrition (feed) or not enough calcium intake. I had an issue with not enough nutrition in a brand of feed & had to mix the calcium directly in with the feed to solve it. That will also solve the issue if they are not eating enough calcium, which can happen with newly laying pullets. This egg-laying is all new to them & they need time to learn the ropes.

I really think you should hold off on any treatment for now & just observe your hen(s) for a while. Patience and observation are your friends in the chicken world.

 

[Celtic Chick]

What time does everyone set they're timer to run the supplemental light in winter to help egg production?

I do not use supplemental light for egg production. I am one of those reckless rebels who uses a heat lamp or 2 (gasp!) in their coop 24/7 in the winter. I haven't noticed any increase in production over the dozen or so years, nor have I burned down the coop. But I'm just a crazy Celt.

Sorry I am not much help to your question.

 

[chickendreams24]

@celticchick
OK thanks I'll try to be patient and I know she's still relatively young but she layed her first egg at like 15 weeks so I guess it just makes me nervous thinking something is off. But I do plan to keep a close eye on that area that feels like fluid no I'm not squeezing it just gently touching it but I want to know if its getting larger.
No we haven't changed food and they also have free choice oyster shell. My guess is a new layer probably one of the EE but who knows. There was another no shell egg in the coop tonight possibly two but one for sure. Last night one of the EE layed a soft-shell while roosting.

 

[chickendreams24]

On a lighter note I got my first egg from one of the first pullets I ever hatched today. My guess is the bantam barred Cochin instead of the silkies or self blue oegb.

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

I don't know what's going on in the nest. 1 broken egg yesterday and 2 today! Not eaten, just broken. Clumsy chickens?

Night All.

 

[jvls1942]

good afternoon,
all I go accomplished today was to go to Home Depot and get 4 LED 60W light bulbs.
2 for $4.97.. the sale will go until the end of October... Identical individual bulbs on the shelf nearby were about $10.oo/each.
I put one of them into the chicken coop..
this morning I started them on the laying crumbles.. they don't know what to do with it..
they are used to the ground oats and corn,, I gave them a whole scoop of it and most of it is still in the pan..

I just have to mention that the couple of people that I talked to were much more pleasant than the people at Menard's.. just a note to myself.

..........jiminwisc.......

 

[jvls1942]

Hi All!

I don't know what's going on in the nest. 1 broken egg yesterday and 2 today! Not eaten, just broken. Clumsy chickens?

Night All.

maybe too many chickens in the nest at one time ?
IDK why, but they seem to pick out one certain nest and then they all want to use it..
I have 10 nests all at the same level and built identical..
One day I found 4 hens in one nest and nine nests not being used .. chickens !!

 

[fishcrazy06]

Thanks all for the welcome. I plan on following these plans for my coop and run: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/small-coop-tutorial

I plan on doing the DLM and possibly doing the poop board on top of that as well. Then I need to figure out the feeder which I am leaning towards doing a PVC feeder. The only thing I am not exactly sure about the water and how to go about that one.

Once I figure that all out then I need to figure out the food and so forth from there for them. Last but not least I need to figure out what breed chickens we want and then need to find out if I buy baby chicks or actually hatch them for the kids to see the whole process from beginning to end.

Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.