What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

One of my chickens started molting last night, lots of feathers scattered around and she's looking scraggly. I gave them all some cooked pork today for extra protein.

I hope their egg quality improves soon. One or more of them keeps laying thin shell brittle eggs, which get eaten in the nest box after they break. At least they're not going to waste. They don't bother with the solid shell eggs at all, so it's ok with me that they eat the bad ones.

I've only had brittle (or even shell-less) eggs when my girls have gotten towards the end of their laying life - and then only with my hybrid, ex-battery girls. I increased their calcium intake by adding a powder or liquid calcium supplement to their food or water and increased dark, leafy greens. I also fed back ground eggshells and a can of salmon or sardines with bones. Made sure i never fed spinach or other plants high in oxalates (eg sorrel) to the affected ladies as the oxalic acid strips calcium. It helped in the short term but obviously being at the end of their laying careers, it won't help for ever. A younger bird experiencing a deficiency may respond better long term.

Mine have never eaten eggs in the nest box, thin-shelled or otherwise, but any dropped on the floor are fair game. I'm also comfortable with that. I'd rather the girls got the benefit than the egg go to waste.

 

[Shetland lover]

I put my new hatched chick downstairs with the 3-day-olds.

I looked over all my show birds.

I cleaned up a cache from snowball.

I checked on snowballs body, it has not been eaten yet.

I put a broody wyandotte in a cage.

I filled the water bucket.

I filled the silkies water.

I gave everyone scratch.

I got all eggs.

Welcome!
Sounds like a day well spent!
Which birds do you show?

 

[Noraaaaa]

Welcome!
Sounds like a day well spent!
Which birds do you show?

I do black bearded silkies and golden laced Wyandotte bantams

 

[Noraaaaa]

Welcome!
Sounds like a day well spent!
Which birds do you show?

I noticed your name was Shetland lover! Do you ride horses?

 

[Smokerbill]

I've only had brittle (or even shell-less) eggs when my girls have gotten towards the end of their laying life - and then only with my hybrid, ex-battery girls. I increased their calcium intake by adding a powder or liquid calcium supplement to their food or water and increased dark, leafy greens. I also fed back ground eggshells and a can of salmon or sardines with bones. Made sure i never fed spinach or other plants high in oxalates (eg sorrel) to the affected ladies as the oxalic acid strips calcium. It helped in the short term but obviously being at the end of their laying careers, it won't help for ever. A younger bird experiencing a deficiency may respond better long term.

Mine have never eaten eggs in the nest box, thin-shelled or otherwise, but any dropped on the floor are fair game. I'm also comfortable with that. I'd rather the girls got the benefit than the egg go to waste.

My hens will turn 2 years old in a week so they shouldn't be at the end of their laying life. I've forced them to eat extra calcium a couple times (powdered eggshells/oyster shell mixed in wetted feed) and that seems to help shell hardness, but with some of my hens going through soft molts (first molts for all of them) all winter I've been hesitant about giving all of them extra calcium above what's in their feed. I have no idea which are laying brittle eggs so dosing individual birds is impossible.

I'll accept the situation in hopes that when all five have nice new feathers the overall egg quality will improve.

 

[Shetland lover]

I do black bearded silkies and golden laced Wyandotte bantams

I've always quite fancied having a go at showing chickens. I don't have any suitable birds though.
Are silkies really as silly as people often make out? I have a Pekin (bantam Cochin) that I swear shares her one braincell with her son. His dad is super smart so I'm not sure what happened there.
The 'Shetland' is in reference to my Shetland hens, although I only have one left. They're a landrace rather than a breed which originally come from the Shetland islands. A few years back, they were very rare but are doing much better now. They are great birds - Gentle temperaments, easy to keep, hardy and decent layers of blue/green medium eggs.
I used to ride horses until I broke my spine several years ago. Things didn't heal up properly so I have back pain daily. I still absolutely adore horses though. Do you ride?

 

[Noraaaaa]

I've always quite fancied having a go at showing chickens. I don't have any suitable birds though.

It’s amazing! If you look under my article tab on my profile I have an article about it!

Are silkies really as silly as people often make out?

They are! Not that soft (some Norma breeds are softer) but they are super silky!!!

I have a Pekin (bantam Cochin) that I swear shares her one braincell with her son. His dad is super smart so I'm not sure what happened there.

That’s hilarious! Cochins are super cute!

The 'Shetland' is in reference to my Shetland hens, although I only have one left. They're a landrace rather than a breed which originally come from the Shetland islands. A few years back, they were very rare but are doing much better now. They are great birds - Gentle temperaments, easy to keep, hardy and decent layers of blue/green medium eggs.

I have never heard of them! I googled a picture and they are simply adorable!

I used to ride horses

That’s amazing! English or western?

until I broke my spine several years ago.

Omg! I’m so sorry! That must have been horrible!

Things didn't heal up properly so I have back pain daily.

I’m sorry

I still absolutely adore horses though. Do you ride?

Yes! I lease a 13.2 halflinger mare named JuneBug and have ridden for 5 years!

 

[Shetland lover]

It’s amazing! If you look under my article tab on my profile I have an article about it!

They are! Not that soft (some Norma breeds are softer) but they are super silky!!!View attachment 4073247

That’s hilarious! Cochins are super cute!

I have never heard of them! I googled a picture and they are simply adorable!

That’s amazing! English or western?

Omg! I’m so sorry! That must have been horrible!

I’m sorry

Yes! I lease a 13.2 halflinger mare named JuneBug and have ridden for 5 years! View attachment 4073248

I'll give your article a read once I have a bit more time. My grandad occasionally showed chickens and I remember attending a show or two when I was a very young child. I mainly remember him keeping silver Sebrights. Gorgeous little birds. The roos are convinced they are the size of a brahma and full of confidence.

Is that one of your silkies? It's a stunning bird.

I never planned on getting bantam cochins (I started out keeping rescue ex-battery hens and the Shetlands) but I fell in love with an 8wk old pullet when I went to buy a Swedish Flower hen. I bought it and you can imagine my shock when the Cochin 'pullet' crowed 2 weeks later! By then it was too late - I was smitten - so I got him two bantam Cochin ladies:

We lost Sylvester just before his first birthday but not before he fathered two chicks, one of which was Ferdy, my super bright chicken:

and here's Ferdy's son with half a braincell, Stanley:

This is Gladys, my last Shetland (the black girl) and her late sister, Alice:

I used to ride English. I showed Welsh cobs, Welsh A ponies and an Arabian colt for my friend's grandparents. I also used to novice event. I've never tried western but I have wondered if it might be gentler on my back with the deeper seat and higher pommel and cantle? I hate not being able to ride anymore.

Your mare is super cute! I'm very fond of Nordic breeds. You are so lucky to have your own set of hooves. I was never fortunate to have my own, just borrowed from friends.

Don't be sorry about my back, it's just one of those things. It wasn't even a bad break, it's the way it healed that has caused the problems. I now have a spur of bone which presses on my spinal cord. Wasn't even an 'exciting' accident - I slipped on some ice. Doh!

 

[PopoMyers]

Ginger passed away today. I found her in the coop under the roost when I checked eggs this afternoon. She was 5 years old, the last of 4 Welsummers. R.I.P., sweet girl.

 

[Shetland lover]

Ginger passed away today. I found her in the coop under the roost when I checked eggs this afternoon. She was 5 years old, the last of 4 Welsummers. R.I.P., sweet girl.

I'm so sorry. Hugs (lost my emojis again).