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Barnyard Buddies:  Chickens  |
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MTFarmLPN
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
52 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 20 2013 : 07:00:40 AM
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I have 8 wonderful chickens, but sometimes they are eating their eggs before we can get out there to collect them. I have 4 wooden eggs out there, but nothing seems to help. Any idea's?
Thanks Christa |
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princesspatches
True Blue Farmgirl
431 Posts
arttie
iron mountain
michigan
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2013 : 07:14:28 AM
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We went through this over the summer. I don't know why they do this. Boredom, maybe. We made them a bigger run area and added more protein to their scraps. It seems to have helped.
We also would grab the eggs several times a day, so nothing was sitting in the nesting box.
Good luck.
Arttie |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9269 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9269 Posts |
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Madinet85
True Blue Farmgirl
94 Posts
Elizabeth
Indiana
USA
94 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2013 : 09:14:31 AM
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Definitely make sure they are getting what they need in their diets. Laying eggs takes a lot of calcium from the chicken, so make sure they are getting a good laying feed, and possibly supplement extra calcium for a while.
Otherwise they might be bored. Make sure they have lots of space to run around and chase bugs, or give them a little treat each day. I alternate giving my chickens frozen watermelon, cracked corn, or other produce each day. I buy the watermelon when its on sale at the grocery store, cut it up and store it in bags in the freezer. I give them about an 1/8th of it each time, and they go crazy seeing me bring it to the run!
Farmgirl Sister #4915 |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2013 : 10:18:11 AM
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Mine are wild about hamburger and anything with seeds like pumpkins and melons...make sure that you give them a varied but balanced diet...I've heard that hanging a head of cabbage or apples from a bit of twine where they have to peck at it as it moves engages them and keeps them happy...They need a lot of calcium to produce eggs and may institutionally feel the need for it. If you are feeding them a commercial feed then you will need to make sure that they have extra calcium. Mind you I don't know if what I'm feeding mine is good for them but they do seem healthy and happy. I know mine are much happier when they have something to keep them from being bored. I'm not an expert, but this is my advice.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Annika
Farmgirl & Sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
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MTFarmLPN
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
52 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2013 : 05:28:30 AM
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| Thanks everyone for the help... I appreciate it... Christa |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chickens |
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Chickens
