PineRidge
Super Member
dooleysm said:
My neighbor down the road said his egg production fell way off as soon as he let his chickens free range. Said they were hiding the eggs also.
Chickens, and things related
- Thread starter Tororider
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My neighbor down the road said his egg production fell way off as soon as he let his chickens free range. Said they were hiding the eggs also.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
I'm hoping that now that I've mowed the hen won't find that area an attractive place to lay eggs. She hadn't been doing it all the time, because I was finding 4-5 eggs/week from her in the nest boxes.
The biggest of my roosters has apparently hit puberty now. I saw him mount one of my hens twice yesterday. He's been working on his crowing for the past couple of weeks. It started out sounding really sickly, but is getting more and more rooster-like every day. He's still pretty intimidated by the duck though.
One final thought...I recently switched feed from the Rural King 40 lb bags for $8.99 to the local mill's 50 lb bag for $10. An extra $1 buys me 10 more pounds of feed. The stuff from the mill seems to last alot longer too. I don't know if it's higher quality feed or if the chickens are getting better at foraging, but either way, my wallet is happy!
The biggest of my roosters has apparently hit puberty now. I saw him mount one of my hens twice yesterday. He's been working on his crowing for the past couple of weeks. It started out sounding really sickly, but is getting more and more rooster-like every day. He's still pretty intimidated by the duck though.
One final thought...I recently switched feed from the Rural King 40 lb bags for $8.99 to the local mill's 50 lb bag for $10. An extra $1 buys me 10 more pounds of feed. The stuff from the mill seems to last alot longer too. I don't know if it's higher quality feed or if the chickens are getting better at foraging, but either way, my wallet is happy!
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Well I have 9 chicks hatched in the basement, an assortment of salmon faverolle, RIR, Buff Orps, and Aracuanas. One more still in the incubator, but I don't think he is going to make it out. I left the other 6 eggs in hoping that when I come home from my long weekend I will be suprised with a couple more chicks. All the 9 have been moved to the brooder and should be just fine for a few days, plenty of food, water, and heat.
My neighbor will check on the 4 four week olds in the garage, but they should be fine too, as should the big girls in back.
I went out to check for eggs before I left and was happily suprised to find an egg in the next box. I have had 2-3 broken and only been able to eat one, so hopefully they are getting the idea and will keep laying in the next box. I moved it from one side of the coop to the other, which may or may not have helped, but I guess it was a good thing I haven't fastened anything down yet so I can figure out what will work best.
I felt pretty silly being so excited about finding an egg actually in the next box. With the 9 now in the basement, and about 20 eggs due to hatch in another two weeks, I think it is safe to say I am hooked. I am only 13 over what I am allowed to have now, although long run I will only have the 3 I am allowed here and the rest will go to my b-i-l's where we plan to have a lot of chickens. Fun times.
My neighbor will check on the 4 four week olds in the garage, but they should be fine too, as should the big girls in back.
I went out to check for eggs before I left and was happily suprised to find an egg in the next box. I have had 2-3 broken and only been able to eat one, so hopefully they are getting the idea and will keep laying in the next box. I moved it from one side of the coop to the other, which may or may not have helped, but I guess it was a good thing I haven't fastened anything down yet so I can figure out what will work best.
I felt pretty silly being so excited about finding an egg actually in the next box. With the 9 now in the basement, and about 20 eggs due to hatch in another two weeks, I think it is safe to say I am hooked. I am only 13 over what I am allowed to have now, although long run I will only have the 3 I am allowed here and the rest will go to my b-i-l's where we plan to have a lot of chickens. Fun times.
dooleysm
Platinum Member
It's turning out to be just as much fun as I had hoped when I started. I'm butchering 4 more roosters on Saturday morning. My flock is getting smaller, just in time for the addition of 10 guinea keets that my dad is bringing out on Saturday morning when he comes to help with the butchering.
Of course now I'm wishing I had a bigger coop. 6x9 is ok for now, but I think it might get cramped in the winter when everyone is in there trying to stay warm instead of out chasing bugs in the yard.
Of course now I'm wishing I had a bigger coop. 6x9 is ok for now, but I think it might get cramped in the winter when everyone is in there trying to stay warm instead of out chasing bugs in the yard.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Well, 9 in the brooder and three left in the incubator. I had to end the one who was struggling, it was apparent he was not going to make it. Hard decision, but definitely the right one. I candled the 6 that had been left in the incubator, and three started but quit, the other three I couldn't tell so I am leaving them in. Check in with you all on Sunday or Monday.
4720 OWNER
Gold Member
Do they have the oyster shell available to them? Sometimes that will help if finding too many cracked eggs. I will go so far as to sprinkle some in their feed for grit.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Yeah, they I give them oyster shell along with putting some in their food, and give them curshed egg shells. Shell strength is not the problem I think it was mostly them laying in the wrong spot and walking on them.
When I got home from my long weekend I found two eggs in the nest box and another on top of the feeder next to a brick I have on top of the frisbee I have on top of the feeder. This leads me to believe that another chicken has started laying and has not yet learned what the nest box is for. But I should have plenty of eggs from now on.
Fun Times.
When I got home from my long weekend I found two eggs in the nest box and another on top of the feeder next to a brick I have on top of the frisbee I have on top of the feeder. This leads me to believe that another chicken has started laying and has not yet learned what the nest box is for. But I should have plenty of eggs from now on.
Fun Times.
tony123
Platinum Member
That's exciting Toro! I'm ready for our girls to start producing. The novelty of having chickens has worn off unless we start getting something out of it. 
dooleysm
Platinum Member
We butchered and ate 2 more of our roosters this past weekend. That at least gives me something to do while waiting for the girls to start laying. The 10 guinea keets we got on Saturday gives us another thing to look forward to. I can't wait until they start eating ticks.
OP
Tororider
Veteran Member
Shawn,
Haven't your chickens been eating the ticks? From everything I have read, I understand that they will eat all bugs too.
Haven't your chickens been eating the ticks? From everything I have read, I understand that they will eat all bugs too.
