Hens eating eggs

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 5:39 pm

baronrenfrew wrote:QR_BBPOST All the egg shells here get dried and crushed and fed back...they disappear fast.

Going to try that! Thanks.

GJHCornish · Post by **GJHCornish** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 10:48 am

A old friend of mine has told my to feed them Cabbage to supplement their feed. I have did this when I had Chickens eating eggs and it realy worked for me.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 4:44 pm

Good point GHCornish, all the brassicas are decent vegetable sources of calcium, and hanginga cabbage in the coop also makes a good 'boredom buster' for them.

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Sat Nov 19, 2016 8:45 pm

Jaye wrote:QR_BBPOST I give mine free-choice oyster shell and I also crush their eggshells to leave out free-choice. Some of my hens won't touch the oyster shell, but do like the crushed eggshells. Also I give them plenty of kale, Swiss chard and beet greens during the growing season - they're a good supplemental source of calcium.
I had plans for several DIY roll-away nest boxes at one time, but I'm not sure where I stored them. If I find them, I will post them.

ETA a couple of DIY links:
http://www.southernagrarian.com/buildin ... -nest-box/
http://greenmachinefarm.com/rollout-nest-boxes/

I couldn't find my favourite one of course. It was the one that suggested attaching foam pipe insulation to the back of the egg catchment area, in order to provide cushioning when the egg reaches the end of the roll.

Thanks, Jaye. We have been giving them those greens because we have lots in the garden. We still have some Swiss Chard, so they are still getting that and some rapini that had gone to flower. I'll start saving egg shells. I did have a few from the other morning, microwaved them, put them in a plastic bag, crushed them, then gave them to the chickies. They were gone in seconds.

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Sat Nov 19, 2016 8:49 pm

KimChick wrote:QR_BBPOST
WLLady wrote:QR_BBPOST It could just be the line too that needs more calcium....chickens are like people. some people are b12 deficient, some arent. some chickens are better at getting calcium from the diet, and some arent. so it might just be the line of chickens, or a couple of them....

Do you have any white golf balls? i identified 2 egg eaters by rolling a white golf ball across the floor. most of my birds were WTH is that?! but the egg eaters ran right over and pecked at it to try to break it.
you can also try just putting golf balls into the nesting boxes, sometimes if they can't break them, they'll quit trying....but in my experience they just hammer on everything until something breaks, but at least i can id the eater....
Yes, I already have golf balls in each of the nesting boxes. Our Black hens were our first pullets and they needed the guidance to lay in the nesting boxes.
I think I'll try rolling the ball in the yard and see what happens.

OK... did the rolling golf ball in the chicken yard. There were about 6 interested hens - both types. To my surprise, however, it was a particular black hen whose interest lasted even when I held it in my hand. I do know, though, that it was the red hens that started it. Hopefully it will not happen again!

KimChick · Post by **KimChick** » Sat Nov 19, 2016 9:37 pm

KimChick wrote:QR_BBPOST
Jaye wrote:QR_BBPOST I give mine free-choice oyster shell and I also crush their eggshells to leave out free-choice. Some of my hens won't touch the oyster shell, but do like the crushed eggshells. Also I give them plenty of kale, Swiss chard and beet greens during the growing season - they're a good supplemental source of calcium.
I had plans for several DIY roll-away nest boxes at one time, but I'm not sure where I stored them. If I find them, I will post them.

ETA a couple of DIY links:
http://www.southernagrarian.com/buildin ... -nest-box/
http://greenmachinefarm.com/rollout-nest-boxes/

I couldn't find my favourite one of course. It was the one that suggested attaching foam pipe insulation to the back of the egg catchment area, in order to provide cushioning when the egg reaches the end of the roll.
Thanks, Jaye. We have been giving them those greens because we have lots in the garden. We still have some Swiss Chard, so they are still getting that and some rapini that had gone to flower. I'll start saving egg shells. I did have a few from the other morning, microwaved them, put them in a plastic bag, crushed them, then gave them to the chickies. They were gone in seconds.

Next time, when I have lots of shells, I'll bake them while the oven is still on from other baking.