fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[farmerjan]

Do you offer oyster shells to them? I am NOT a fan of grinding egg shells to feed back to chickens. If they are pulverized....maybe... Use them in the compost and use oyster shells for the extra calcium. They shouldn't need the extra protein... but there might be something else in the feed they are craving...

Many many years ago they used to make a "whey block" for poultry...looked like a 50 lb salt block size.... it helped relieve boredom and gave them extra protein... I noticed one day that TSC has a block for chickens... didn't pay much attention to what was in it... looked like some grains maybe molasses as a binder???
There is also a poultry "can't pick" thing that goes in their nostrils, is red and helps to deter them from seeing and pecking eggs and also helps to stop feather picking, and cannibalism of other birds . Looks like a pair of red granny glasses that stick in the nostrils...

I'd cage the females separate in a crate of sorts, figure out who it is...

 

[fuzzi]

I had an egg eater earlier this year. I couldn't nail down who it was. I added calcium (crushed and processed egg shells) - DS and DDIL gave me a kitchen composter that I toss scraps and egg shells into - supposed to turn it into dirt - but looks more like a dry food meal. That's what I've tossed into the chickens. Gave them a bunch of stuff to hop on, play with --- based on what I've seen in your coops) and deep deep bedded the nest boxes with shavings. So far so good.

I found a can of salmon in the cupboards that was about to expire, so I mashed it with the liquid a bit, took it out to the flocks, and it was GREATLY APPRECIATED!

I gave a little to the feral cats.

Each flock has access to a cup of flaked oyster shells, and I feed them their own shells, once dried and crushed.

 

[fuzzi]

Do you offer oyster shells to them? I am NOT a fan of grinding egg shells to feed back to chickens. If they are pulverized....maybe... Use them in the compost and use oyster shells for the extra calcium. They shouldn't need the extra protein... but there might be something else in the feed they are craving...

Many many years ago they used to make a "whey block" for poultry...looked like a 50 lb salt block size.... it helped relieve boredom and gave them extra protein... I noticed one day that TSC has a block for chickens... didn't pay much attention to what was in it... looked like some grains maybe molasses as a binder???
There is also a poultry "can't pick" thing that goes in their nostrils, is red and helps to deter them from seeing and pecking eggs and also helps to stop feather picking, and cannibalism of other birds . Looks like a pair of red granny glasses that stick in the nostrils...

I'd cage the females separate in a crate of sorts, figure out who it is...

See my previous post, but yes.

I give them items of interest, like weeds I've pulled with roots and dirt still attached, partial melons or squash, a handful of BOSS (Black oil sunflower seeds), or a handful of dry cat food, even old decaying tree stumps. I toss food stuff in the deep litter, so they can scratch and search for it.

I actually think it might be the broody hen herself. No proof, just a hunch. She acts ravenous when I offer her something besides her feed.

 

[farmerjan]

You definitely do more, nicer, considerate things for your chickens than most do... so boredom should not be a thing with them... and sounds like they get access to most anything they need. If it's the broody hen, then break her up or put her in a pen by herself if she is sitting and not touching her own eggs.
Egg eaters have never had a very long "shelf life" in my coops.

 

[rachels.haven]

rat?

 

[fuzzi]

rat?

Not likely. I walk around the coop regularly, looking for any holes, evidence of intruders.

 

[fuzzi]

You definitely do more, nicer, considerate things for your chickens than most do... so boredom should not be a thing with them... and sounds like they get access to most anything they need. If it's the broody hen, then break her up or put her in a pen by herself if she is sitting and not touching her own eggs.
Egg eaters have never had a very long "shelf life" in my coops.

I thought about putting her in my dog crate brooder, but I'm going on vacation next Saturday. I'd rather not break her up, I've been wanting to hatch for the last couple months.

I appreciate your input. At this point I'm going to wait, and see.

 

[Mini Horses]

I give my birds -- who are free range -- clabbered milk, with the whey every week or so. They love it! Of course that's easy for me, plenty of raw milk. I toss a pan of oyster shells now & then, maybe ev 3 mos. Yes, dry/ crushed egg shells when I hard boil, etc. Sometimes an occasional hen starts eating eggs. It's a habit & those girls are "retired". Try hand feeding the broody a can of special feed, while you keep watch this week. Maybe she's having hormonal cravings.

 

[fuzzi]

I give my birds -- who are free range -- clabbered milk, with the whey every week or so. They love it! Of course that's easy for me, plenty of raw milk. I toss a pan of oyster shells now & then, maybe ev 3 mos. Yes, dry/ crushed egg shells when I hard boil, etc. Sometimes an occasional hen starts eating eggs. It's a habit & those girls are "retired". Try hand feeding the broody a can of special feed, while you keep watch this week. Maybe she's having hormonal cravings.

I offered her some salmon, she gobbled it.

 

[canesisters]

I've never tried it myself - but I've heard of folks blowing an egg & filling it with something staining (mustard dyed blue and such) to find out who's eating eggs.