johnandkymberley Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I have got a bit of an egg eating problem but managed to solve it with the small set of roosting bars that come with the eglu, the eggs roll underneath it and the hens cant get them! genius! but the softies obv dont, i have one grub full of grit and the rest are pellets, but my hens dont eat grit, they hate it, they free range as much as possible but do spend at least 4 hours in the run, do they need to spend more time in the run or is there anything i can mix into the grit so they are attracted to it? like corn or something but i dont want to give them treats in the morning if i can help it, also will ACV and some poulty tonic help? thanks xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I think its a bit like the saying, "you can lead a horse to water".... I leave grit out for mine but they dont appear to eat it! Yours may have a nibble when you are not looking, also if they fr they may be picking up bits of grit from your garden. I wouldnt worry too much! Sorry forgot to say i would put some acv in their water i think its quite useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 If they are free ranging they will be picking up grit naturally. There will be degree of grit added to pellets and mash also. I don't give mine any additional grit. Remember that there are 2 types of grit. Soluble that will help with calcium intake and insoluble that helps grind food up in the crop. I would leave grit available in the run and you could also scatter a little in the borders where they free range and no doubt they will pick some up when free ranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I also leave grit out, which is completely ignored, yet I have seen them try to eat the pebbles in their run (which are about 1p sized in diameter) I would switch to a tonic if they're not using the grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 hmmm, good ideas there, i use the oyster shell grit? whichever that is? we have 3 grubs, but as the grit always fell to the bottom of the grub i decided to have 2 pure pellets and 1 just grit, but maybe i should switch back and then scatter around the garden, the hens would like that i think! Also how much tonic and ACV to put into each superglug, i have the johnsons one and usually put a capful in (around 10ml) is that enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey200 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I mix some oyster shell in with the girls pellets, its not their favourite snack but they do eat it- even if there is always a lot left at the bottom. I also cook the egg shells they produce and grind some up into a fine powder and some into flakes and mix that in with their corn snacks and their pellets, to hedge my bets...trickery seems to work for me they're so greedy whatever gets in the way of their food they will eat as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I also cook the egg shells they produce Newbie question - how do you 'cook' shells ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
52fish Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Worth trying smaller grit - Omlet's is smaller than some brands I've come across. This minor change helped ours eat more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I also cook the egg shells they produce Newbie question - how do you 'cook' shells ?? Nuke em !!!! Anywhere between two and four minutes (depending on how many shells you put in) in the microwave is enough, or just put them in the oven when it is on for other things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 LOL - how do you know they're 'done' - do they change colour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey200 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 hehe! I just whack them in the oven when its on. I don't think you can burn them...you can tell they're done because they disintegrate when you try and crunch them up- or anything left in the shell goes brown. I think it's just to make them clean and easier to smash up. Another tip from granny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 ahh yes, good ol' granny ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 hehe! I just whack them in the oven when its on. I don't think you can burn them...you can tell they're done because they disintegrate when you try and crunch them up- or anything left in the shell goes brown. I think it's just to make them clean and easier to smash up. Another tip from granny! Oooooooh, you can burn them!!! It does take some doing though! I managed to burn some last week, left them in the micro for ten minutes instead of two, the kitchen still smells like a barbeque, but no harm done!!! Other than avoiding burning them, Im sure timing isnt crucial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 If they are free ranging, and on a good quality brand of layers pellets, they should get all they need in terms of grit and calcium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
