With a mentally challenged chicken I wonder if that is where the phrase-Bird Brain- came from. Glad to hear that she may finally figured it out. Good thinking on the shredded paper.
Hi Jane, well Jerry mentioned several solutions,..and i used one and it worked,..when i had hens one hen did stand and drop her egg on to other eggs either breaking or cracking them in the process,..some of my hens shared a nest even though there were plenty of nests for all,..i just made the nest box roof lower,..well inserted a frame and as she had to sit all was well. Oh i sent the video below to Carolyn some time ago,..you will like it. Video===The Happy Egg Company. ( photo / image / picture from Philip Nulty's Garden )
Oh Philip, you made my day! First that wonderful video, and then the brilliant suggestion of lowering the roof on the nest boxes. This afternoon I'll be installing temporary ceilings in the four next boxes the ladies use (yes, there are more hens than nest boxes, but they double up or take turns). I had some 1/8" plywood and attached L brackets, so the temporary ceilings can be adjusted if necessary. So far the shredded paper has worked, but I'm taking no chances! Thank you! I've said it before and undoubtedly will say it again, but this forum is absolutely great!
Hi Cheryl, hens are cute,..and fun to watch as well,..but the bonus is the eggs,..freerange. ================================================== Hi Jane, its a cute little video,..always makes me smile hearing the crowd cheer at the end,..and of course the "Chariots of Fire Music",..glad you liked it,..and i hope the broken egg problem will be solved.
Philip... I was just talking to my brother "the dragon" today about getting some laying hens. And then my cousin the veggie gardener partner showed up in mid conversation and said "oh yeah! y'all need to get some chickens!" (and that was a direct quote). So, a plan has been set into motion.
Hi Cheryl, oh ho,.. a plan in motion,..lovely to have a project in the making,..what type of hens to get,..and maybe a Rooster to protect them,..AND wake you up EARLY in the mornings,..plus he will father some more chicks,..will they be free range,..thinking of the garden flowers,..build a pen,..a hen house,..nests,..a roost,..oh and chicken feed,..i would love to be starting again,..i just had to go look at my old flock. ( photo / image / picture from Philip Nulty's Garden )
Cheryl, you too are going to be a chicken mama! Whoopee! Please feel free to ask any questions you want of this fellow Texan who started her flock three years ago and never looked back. Philip, that's a lovely flock you had. Geese and ducks, too? Did you clip their wings so they didn't fly over the stone walls?
Hi Jane, yes clip those wings indeed,..i presumed the paddock i had them in would interest them enough not to fly over the wall,..not so,..once one of the hens went over they all started,..every hen that went over was captured and wings clipped,..of the ducks it was only the Moscovy Ducks who really took flight but they came back only to be clipped. There was a Duck House,..a Hen sleeping house and a general egg laying house,..all the nests were built in Victorian times,..consisting of little red brick alcove/nests,..Ducks on the bottom and two levels of twelve for the Hens,..with ramps,..though it worked 95 percent of the time Hens did lay on the bottom Duck area,.. and did lay out,..as did the Ducks,..the latter i propped wooden pallets against the paddock wall,..problem solved. I ended up with 24 hens and 24 Ducks,..plus some banthams to sit on eggs for hatching,..i did sell all the eggs,..there was a great demand,..plus i had the organic veg for sale,..and greens for the fowl,..i would do it all again,..but the property is 12 mile from where i live now,..not ideal where there are fowl.
