If your hen is sitting tight on china eggs she has gone or is going broody. Boot her off the nest and she may keep on laying. Sorry, I mean lift her off the nest! Don't encourage her by leaving china eggs in the nest.
I have three hens (identical in looks & breed) bought from the same farm from the same day. There has never been any disputes that I've noticed and to be honest I couldn't even tell who's top of the pecking order.
BUT, two of them seem inseparable, they dust-bath together..even visit the nest boxes when one or the other or both lays (like ladies going to the loo ). The third one (who I feel sorry for) seems to be a loner and excluded.
I have four; Lizzie and Maggie hang about together often. Top pecker Rose doesn't mind where she is or with whom and Aggie, who's bottom, (and a bit smaller than the others) is a bit of a loner. This was a problem when they first came and had to spend a lot of time in the run but now they free range for part of every day they are much more chilled out. Aggie seems to find a spot to forage a little away from others, lays well, doesn't get picked on so seems happy as far as I can tell. Perhaps you could sneak her a couple of extra treats when the other aren't looking ;- )
I often sprout seeds to add to salads etc, any that get a little to sprouted or are just left get given to the girls who love them. I was thinking this morning, what about grass seed. this would be cheap to buy and I would think will sprout like any other seed. Would these be OK for the chicks ??, and maybe also for the guinea pigs ??.
I think grass seed sproutings would be fine as my chooks have eaten every blade of grass in the top half of the garden. I expect, like any creature, they would benefit from a change now and then. I use quick growing salad leaves at the moment buut hadn't thought about grass seed. Perhaps best if it hasn't been treated in any way - ie to deter birds!
Last year when mine were confined from the garden and all the grass had gone -I filled 10 or so seed trays with compost and grass seed, grew a tray of grass and gave them that as a treat ever few days-they loved it-not sure about feeding them grass seed- it is very fine???
My daughter keeps 4 hens and they provide her with 4 eggs each day until winter or when they lose their feathers about 2 a day from each of them.She keeps them in a big enclosure with double wiring and protective roofing to drain excess water off.She lets them out to roam free around the garden each day (she does not clip their wings but best to as they do fly over the fence).She cleans them out regularly and feeds them with pellets ,corn(treat) and a mash with grit.Her biggest problem is rats and you must ensure any food is put into a steel bin at night and any left overs(rare) removed.Foxes do come in the garden but because of her locking them in a secure compound at dusk they leave alone.(my parents kept chickens in the countryside and did not secure them at dusk and ,yes ,on more).They often suffer with mites and sometimes their crop will get blocked but this easily remedy.Chickens are fun but must be cared for .
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If your hen is sitting tight on china eggs she has gone or is going broody. Boot her off the nest and she may keep on laying. Sorry, I mean lift her off the nest! Don't encourage her by leaving china eggs in the nest.
Have done just that-she seems to be victim of bullying and the nesting area is her refuge-will keep pushing her out with the others.
I have three hens (identical in looks & breed) bought from the same farm from the same day. There has never been any disputes that I've noticed and to be honest I couldn't even tell who's top of the pecking order.
BUT, two of them seem inseparable, they dust-bath together..even visit the nest boxes when one or the other or both lays (like ladies going to the loo
). The third one (who I feel sorry for) seems to be a loner and excluded.
Anxious of Ambleside.
I have four; Lizzie and Maggie hang about together often. Top pecker Rose doesn't mind where she is or with whom and Aggie, who's bottom, (and a bit smaller than the others) is a bit of a loner. This was a problem when they first came and had to spend a lot of time in the run but now they free range for part of every day they are much more chilled out. Aggie seems to find a spot to forage a little away from others, lays well, doesn't get picked on so seems happy as far as I can tell. Perhaps you could sneak her a couple of extra treats when the other aren't looking ;- )
The latest BHWT new letter-contains lots of interesting stuff
http://www.netmailing.co.uk/ebooks/bhwt/2012/issue-2/newsletter/index.html
I often sprout seeds to add to salads etc, any that get a little to sprouted or are just left get given to the girls who love them. I was thinking this morning, what about grass seed. this would be cheap to buy and I would think will sprout like any other seed. Would these be OK for the chicks ??, and maybe also for the guinea pigs ??.
thanks
Kate
I think grass seed sproutings would be fine as my chooks have eaten every blade of grass in the top half of the garden. I expect, like any creature, they would benefit from a change now and then. I use quick growing salad leaves at the moment buut hadn't thought about grass seed. Perhaps best if it hasn't been treated in any way - ie to deter birds!
Last year when mine were confined from the garden and all the grass had gone -I filled 10 or so seed trays with compost and grass seed, grew a tray of grass and gave them that as a treat ever few days-they loved it-not sure about feeding them grass seed- it is very fine???
For those chicken keepers out there the latest BHWT newsletter- also contains some recipes and lots of other items of interest
http://www.bhwt.org.uk/newsletters/issue-3/index.html#/1/
My daughter keeps 4 hens and they provide her with 4 eggs each day until winter or when they lose their feathers about 2 a day from each of them.She keeps them in a big enclosure with double wiring and protective roofing to drain excess water off.She lets them out to roam free
around the garden each day (she does not clip their wings but best to as they do fly over the fence).She cleans them out regularly and feeds them with pellets ,corn(treat) and a mash with grit.Her biggest problem is rats and you must ensure any food is put into a steel bin at night and any left overs(rare) removed.Foxes do come in the garden but because of her locking them in a secure compound at dusk they leave alone.(my parents kept chickens in the countryside and did not secure them at dusk and ,yes ,on more).They often suffer with mites and sometimes their crop will get blocked but this easily remedy.Chickens are fun but must be cared for .