The feed store was out of my usual chicken crumbles. They did not even have pellets.
They had Chicken Scratch. But that stuff is like bird candy with only 8% protein.
They also had Gamebird Feed. But that stuff is like an avian version of jet fuel with 22% protein.
I still had some Black Oil Sunflower Seed. It is pretty good at 18% protein.
So I decided to improvise. I bought the scratch and gamebird feed.
I am trying a 1:1:1 ratio with scratch, gamebird, and BOSS. In naive terms this ought to be (8+22+18) / 3 = 16% protein. Add grit, provide oyster shell, everybody happy. Right?
I put down a cupful of the feed mix. Oh the chickeny joy! They thought it was a treat for nearly thirty seconds. And then they were through with it.
As with the cabbage, they turned their backs and walked away.
Next day they ignored it. And the day after. Even the squirrels will not touch it.
Apparently my kitchen skills apply to chicken food too.
Update: Discovered a local gas station selling M-G 20 Layer Pellets. I have been driving past their sign for 15 years, wondering where the feed store was. *sigh* At least the birds have started eating up the improvised feed, pellets and all.
Update: Lack of calcium embedded in the feed has caused one case of shell-less eggs. One hen hates oyster shell and when she does not eat enough calcium-fortified pellets she has an oopsie.
Showing posts with label oyster shell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oyster shell. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cure for thin eggshells
My hens all lay brown eggs. Well, except the non-laying one who just broke from broodiness, and the anonymous one who has started laying pale, thin-shelled, eggs. The shells are thin enough that a hen put her foot through it while on the nest.
Why do hens lay eggs with thin shells? I suppose it is due to lack of calcium since eggshell is mostly calcium carbonate. My hens have access to oyster shell, but show no enthusiasm for it. My theory is that the hen who is currently low in the pecking order is the one laying thin eggs due to limited access to layer pellets.
How to deal with this? I would feed them eggshells, but they refuse to eat eggshells. However they love scrambled eggs....
I collected up all the eggs I did not want to eat and dropped them in the blender. Put it on liquefy and then poured the frothy mess in a frying pan. I took care to stir around the egg mixture since the eggshell was a sediment on the bottom and I wanted it mixed in to every delicious morsel of scrambled egg.
I learned during my sick chicken ordeal to NEVER give them insanely delicious treats when they can trample me. So I put the plate of crunchy scrambled eggs in the chicken run before opening the coop.
They raced to the plate and attacked the eggs with gusto. Oh the chickeny joy! The smart ones grabbed big bits and ran off to dine in relative peace. The less smart ones stood on the plate and pecked at the eggs.
The rooster tried a clever trick. He took a big piece of egg away and stood over it clucking about how great it tasted. Within seconds he had two hens sharing his treat. He put on his "Hey baby" dance, but was rebuffed. *sigh*
So does feeding eggshell correct the thin shell problem? Wait and see....
Update: Feeding eggshell definitely cures the problem, if they eat it. And they sure do eat it when the eggshell is part of the scrambled egg platter! I have also starting adding dry crushed eggshell & oyster shell to all the feeders as well as placing oyster shell in the oyster shell station. If I am very careful to limit the treats, and load the treats with calcium sources & layer pellets, then the thin shell eggs and shell-less eggs disappear to be replaced by robust well-formed eggs.
Update: BYC member Imp provided a list of foods that are high in calcium:
Why do hens lay eggs with thin shells? I suppose it is due to lack of calcium since eggshell is mostly calcium carbonate. My hens have access to oyster shell, but show no enthusiasm for it. My theory is that the hen who is currently low in the pecking order is the one laying thin eggs due to limited access to layer pellets.
How to deal with this? I would feed them eggshells, but they refuse to eat eggshells. However they love scrambled eggs....
I collected up all the eggs I did not want to eat and dropped them in the blender. Put it on liquefy and then poured the frothy mess in a frying pan. I took care to stir around the egg mixture since the eggshell was a sediment on the bottom and I wanted it mixed in to every delicious morsel of scrambled egg.
I learned during my sick chicken ordeal to NEVER give them insanely delicious treats when they can trample me. So I put the plate of crunchy scrambled eggs in the chicken run before opening the coop.
They raced to the plate and attacked the eggs with gusto. Oh the chickeny joy! The smart ones grabbed big bits and ran off to dine in relative peace. The less smart ones stood on the plate and pecked at the eggs.
The rooster tried a clever trick. He took a big piece of egg away and stood over it clucking about how great it tasted. Within seconds he had two hens sharing his treat. He put on his "Hey baby" dance, but was rebuffed. *sigh*
So does feeding eggshell correct the thin shell problem? Wait and see....
Update: Feeding eggshell definitely cures the problem, if they eat it. And they sure do eat it when the eggshell is part of the scrambled egg platter! I have also starting adding dry crushed eggshell & oyster shell to all the feeders as well as placing oyster shell in the oyster shell station. If I am very careful to limit the treats, and load the treats with calcium sources & layer pellets, then the thin shell eggs and shell-less eggs disappear to be replaced by robust well-formed eggs.
Update: BYC member Imp provided a list of foods that are high in calcium:
- Spinach
- Turnip greens
- Mustard greens
- Collard greens
- Blackstrap molasses (not recommended)
- Swiss chard
- Yogurt
- Kale
- Mozzarella cheese
- Milk (goat's milk and cow's milk)
- Basil, thyme, dill seed, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves
- Romaine lettuce
- Rhubarb (not recommended)
- Broccoli
- Sesame seeds
- Fennel
- Cabbage
- Summer squash
- Green beans
- Garlic (not recommended)
- Tofu
- Brussel sprouts
- Oranges (not recommended)
- Asparagus
- Crimini mushrooms
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