phil turner Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Hi, I have had two chickens now for four weeks, called Curry and Chips, Curry Is perfect and started laying eggs after only a week and gives us one just about every day, but chips is a different story. She started off sleeping in the nesting box and did over one night lay two very poor eggs one with incomplete week shell and the other complete but very week shell, other than than that nothing. I beleive that she shouldnt be sleeping in the nesting box (Is this correct) so I placed an upturned bowl in it just before they went in the eglu for the night and took it out in the morning. I don't know if this is right but it did seem to work and she cuddled up with Curry on the rails untill last night when I left it out completly and in she went again, until I again turfed her out of it on to the rails. She seems quite heathy and I am feeding them mixed grit etc and vegitation in the later part of the day. I would be gratefull if some one could give me some guidance and reassurance, as to, am I doing the right things, what else could I be doing, and will it all work out in the end. Another thing I've noticed its that I'm filling the feeding pots up with layers pellets as provided and they have never finished them all up. Do they get stale and have to be thown away after a time then refilling with fresh or will they eventually finish them off guidance would be appreceated at this stage please. PS they are not allowed out yet to free range so eggs are not being hidden anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordmum Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Hi Phil, What fantastic names! Apparently, this is normal procedure while they "settle in". Don't worry too much. "Softees" can happen too, they're not unusual either. So long as they have access to all of the things mentioned, you are doing the right thing. As far as I'm aware, layers pellets don't go "stale". I have a large 3 kg feeder and top it up every w/e. The usual questions would be to ask if they've been wormed recently - with Flubenvet? Am sure there will be someone more experienced along shortly to advise you. Until then, don't panic - seems to me you're doing just fine with keeping an eye on matters! Kind rgds, Pat & Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil turner Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Hi Stafford mum, Thanks for your reply, glad you like the names we did struggle at first trying to find appropriate ones. We havent wormed them yet because we have only had the whole set up for four weeks from Omlet and didnt think we would need to do that yet, are we right. Also am I correct in trying to keep Chips from sleeping in the nesting box. Hi Phil, What fantastic names! Apparently, this is normal procedure while they "settle in". Don't worry too much. "Softees" can happen too, they're not unusual either. So long as they have access to all of the things mentioned, you are doing the right thing. As far as I'm aware, layers pellets don't go "stale". I have a large 3 kg feeder and top it up every w/e. The usual questions would be to ask if they've been wormed recently - with Flubenvet? Am sure there will be someone more experienced along shortly to advise you. Until then, don't panic - seems to me you're doing just fine with keeping an eye on matters! Kind rgds, Pat & Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Welcome to the forum Phil. The only problem with them sleeping in the nest box is the amount f droppings you find in the morning A plant pot in there will work, as you have done, but one of mine insists on sleeping in there every night. if you use an absorbent bedding like AUBIOSE, then it is easy to scoop the soiled stuff out in the morning. Good luck with your new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil turner Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thanks Christian, the bedding I use is just shredded paper, not only do I recycle kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s to my chicks but also all the junk mail I get (good eh) (the Omlet guy said that would be fine) so it wouldnt be so much of a problem replacing it each day if I had to, Welcome to the forum Phil. The only problem with them sleeping in the nest box is the amount f droppings you find in the morning A plant pot in there will work, as you have done, but one of mine insists on sleeping in there every night. if you use an absorbent bedding like AUBIOSE, then it is easy to scoop the soiled stuff out in the morning. Good luck with your new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 We have a nest box sleeper and change the nesting material in our case wood shaving most days. It is normal for hens to start laying at different stages and some take longer to get their laying gear sorted than others. I had one that laid quite a few softies and double yolkers for the first month or so then she laid a perfect egg every day for pretty much 18 months without a break so she will sort herself out fairly soon I would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil turner Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thanks for the reasurance guys, I will keep you all posted when the eggs start flowing (so to speak). that every ting is going fine We have a nest box sleeper and change the nesting material in our case wood shaving most days. It is normal for hens to start laying at different stages and some take longer to get their laying gear sorted than others. I had one that laid quite a few softies and double yolkers for the first month or so then she laid a perfect egg every day for pretty much 18 months without a break so she will sort herself out fairly soon I would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 We havent wormed them yet because we have only had the whole set up for four weeks from Omlet and didnt think we would need to do that yet, are we right. Hi We had to worm our Omlet chickens not long after we got them - and the evidence in the poo showed that we were correct to do so! Flubenvet is not a preventative, so the poor chook may have picked up something since getting to your garden. Good luck - and I agree - Great Names!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turner Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 What would be the evidence? We havent wormed them yet because we have only had the whole set up for four weeks from Omlet and didnt think we would need to do that yet, are we right. Hi We had to worm our Omlet chickens not long after we got them - and the evidence in the poo showed that we were correct to do so! Flubenvet is not a preventative, so the poor chook may have picked up something since getting to your garden. Good luck - and I agree - Great Names!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordmum Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Good mornign Phil, This link is rather "graphic" http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0 Hope it helps ... Rgds, Pat & Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hi, As per the photo - white spaghetti in the poo is the only way I can describe it!! My chook conveniently left them on the seat of the wooden bench she was standing on at the time... Could not mistake it!! Lovely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thank you for the pictures of the poo. will keep this weblink handy and refer to it if I get any concerns over our girls deposits.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil turner Posted September 3, 2009 Author Share Posted September 3, 2009 Thank you for the pictures of the poo. will keep this weblink handy and refer to it if I get any concerns over our girls deposits.. Hi Guys, back again, thanks for the pictures, interesting reference for the future, I'm pleased to say that both Curry and Chips are now laying eggs and we get one from each of them most days now. Also putting a pot into the nesting box for a few evenings before they settled down for the night and then removing it once they had gone in for the night has stopped Chips from sleeping there. She now goes in each night and sits on the rails snuggling up too Curry, (bless). Many thanks for all the advise you guys gave me, it was really useful to know someone was out there to put our minds a rest during what could have been a stressful period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Thanks Christian, the bedding I use is just shredded paper My girls will not sleep anywhere except the nest box - putting a barrier up caused more noise to come from them than firework night, a 21 gun salute and the Edinburgh miliary tattoo all at once. So I let them get on with it. I line the nest box with newspaper (not just the bottom - going up the sides too) and add a dollop of shreaded paper (with some Diatom from time to time). It takes me all of 2 mins to wrap it up and replace each morning. There are slight signs they might be thinking about using the coop - little bum marks in the red mite powder on the perches. I am hopping their 1st ever 2 nights home alone this weekend means they look at their untidy, pooey nest on the 2nd night and decide to kip where they are meant to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
