Wyoming Unite!!!!

[N F C]

Hi @TWINMOM9201 nice to have you here on the WY thread!

 

[CuCulain42]

I need help! I have been lurking when my schedule allows it. My girls recently started laying, I have 6 barred rocks. OK so I am not sure exactly which ones are laying. But I recently noticed that a couple of my eggs had been pecked, one of the shells was just cracked and the other actually has a little hole in it. First, what would be the best way to identify the culprit doing this? Second, how would I get her to stop?
Next, I have 1 hen especially that is stubborn about sleeping on the roost, I go in the coop everynight and take her out of the nesting box and place her on the roost, any suggestions as to how to get her to sleep on the roost? Also I have noticed that at least 1 of the other girls has decided that her nest is underneath the nesting boxes, is this normal or should I do something to change this behavior also?
I am getting more chicks this spring and don't want them to learn these bad behaviors as well.
BTW, I am in Cheyenne and decided last year to build my coop and get some chickens. I saw an ad in our Trader's for someone selling "chicks" what I found out after I got there to get them was that they were ducks. Well I fell in love with my ducks also, my 2 girls ducks are good layers already.
Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions.

Can't add anymore to what R2elk said, but wanted to say welcome. I'm also in the Cheyenne area.

 

[red horse ranch]

I wouldn't automatically assume that you have a potential egg eater. It's possible that the egg has a toenail punch instead of a peck. This can happen when the hen gets out of the nest if the shells aren't as thick as they should be. That could also explain the crack. When two or more hens want in the nest at the same time this can easily happen. Keeping plenty of bedding in the nest and making sure they have oyster shell may help if this is the problem.

 

[R2elk]

This morning's visitors.

 

[N F C]

Beautiful Bob!

Weird morning. Things started out so quiet and calm (and 38*), that I went out to clean out the coop. Half way through that job and the sky got dark, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. And it started raining.

So much for good intentions! (But I did get their coop cleaned so that's nice.)

 

[red horse ranch]

Thick fog here in Buffalo this morning. And now it's snowing too. Temps near zero all week! UGH!!!

 

[R2elk]

Beautiful Bob!

Weird morning. Things started out so quiet and calm (and 38*), that I went out to clean out the coop. Half way through that job and the sky got dark, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. And it started raining.

So much for good intentions! (But I did get their coop cleaned so that's nice.)

As usual the wind is blowing here. I had a low of 42°F at 1:00 AM. It is currently 51°F and the wind is blowing harder.

 

[N F C]

Thick fog here in Buffalo this morning. And now it's snowing too. Temps near zero all week! UGH!!!

Brr! Our forecast is snow late Tuesday/early Wednesday.

Hope you don't have to go anywhere in the fog, that stuffs scary to drive in!

 

[N F C]

Almost forgot to share this photo of the weather bureau...

That looks about right!

 

[N F C]

Where did my clear, nice morning go? Snow and fog now...