[Ag-eq] my chickens

Susan Roe dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
Mon Jul 5 00:52:29 UTC 2010 

Nella,

Yes, the laying food is only bad for them if you give it to them too early. 
The calcium in it may also build in their bodies because their body doesn't 
have anywhere for it to go if they are not laying or nearly laying yet.  I 
also never gave them crushed oyster shells until they started laying.  We 
also, once they had started laying, added about 3 tablespoons of white 
vinegar to their water everytime we filled their waterers.  This helps the 
hens to metabolize the calcium into their system.  This was very important 
if you noticed thin egg shells or on rare occasions, an egg that was laid 
with no shell, just the membrane for a shell.  That would feel so weird in 
your hands, almost like a thin reptile egg.  Just so you'll know, your egg 
shells will be thinner than store baught eggs.  It took me a bit to get use 
to that without cracking them too hard.

Susan
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 11:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens


> Susan:
>
> I've been feeding them pieces of fruits and vegetables.  They really seem 
> to like that.  They also find bugs and such when I let them into the yard.
>
> I was told that the laying hen food is very rich and can be hard on them; 
> is this true.
>
> Nella
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>
>
>> Not yet, I'd wait til August if they're telling you they will lay towards 
>> the end of August.
>>
>> Go ahead and feed them soft or squishy fruit and vegetables like 
>> tomatoes, squash, and even a piece of cabbage will also keep them 
>> occupied to peck on.
>>
>> Susan
>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:14 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>
>>
>>> Susan:
>>>
>>> I met to say the chickens might start laying near the end of August.  I 
>>> believe they hatched on March 30 and I was told they could start laying 
>>> at 18 weeks.  From everything I've read these breeds are known for 
>>> laying early.
>>>
>>> I just started feeding them the chicken scratch; I was feeding them the 
>>> stuff for chicks.  Do you think I should feed the food for laying hens?
>>>
>>> Nella
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
>>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 4:53 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>>
>>>
>>>> Nella,
>>>>
>>>> How old are your hens.  I usually got mine in April or May at about 4 
>>>> to 8 weeks old and then they would start laying by October.  I fed them 
>>>> the baby crumble up til they were about 12 weeks and then switched to 
>>>> adult laying mash.  You don't want to give them the adult stuff too 
>>>> early because they can't handle the extra calcium until they are a bit 
>>>> older.
>>>>
>>>> Susan
>>>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>>>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 8:54 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Susan:
>>>>>
>>>>> Yesterday it got up to 115!  I was so worried about the chickens, but 
>>>>> they were o.k.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thursday evening I let the girls out to run around and eat bugs and 
>>>>> such. I went back out about 8:30 to shut their gate; I could only feel 
>>>>> 3 chickens in the coop, but thought the other was up on the top roost, 
>>>>> which I can't reach.  Friday morning when I went out to feed here 
>>>>> comes one of my chickens.  She was all upset since she was out of the 
>>>>> run and the rest were inside.  I was able to catch her and put her 
>>>>> back in. I've been trying to handle them a lot so they will be easier 
>>>>> to catch, I guess it's paying off!
>>>>>
>>>>> They are really growing and filling out.  My neighbor said that their 
>>>>> feathers look healthier than when I first got them.  They should start 
>>>>> laying near the end of July, but I suspect they may wait due to the 
>>>>> heat.
>>>>>
>>>>> How is everything going there?
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope you are having a great 4th of July weekend.
>>>>>
>>>>> Nella
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
>>>>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 8:56 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Nella,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When I can get my hands on them, I can tell the Buff Orphingtons 
>>>>>> because they don't have much of a tail so to speak.  LOL
>>>>>> I don't know exactly how long chickens can live.  I'm sure there are 
>>>>>> a lot of factors to consider, however, right now my oldest ones are 
>>>>>> about 5 years old and though they have slowed down a bit, they are 
>>>>>> still laying good size eggs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That is not a problem with letting your hens out like you are doing 
>>>>>> and putting them up at night.  I can't do that here, too many roaming 
>>>>>> hunting dogs, farrel cats and loads of active wildlife.  We have 12 
>>>>>> foot square enclosed yards for each coop.  They get plenty of sun, 
>>>>>> wind, rain, bugs and mice, grass clippings, leaf rakings and whatever 
>>>>>> vegetable/fruit we have of our own, local farmers market and things 
>>>>>> we find really cheep on sale.  They love it all.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Susan
>>>>>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>
>
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