These pullets are maturing so much faster than i had planned for. So yesterday, i fashioned this free choice egg shell feeder out of an oatmeal container.
Then this morning, EVA says her pullet laid an EGG already! Hers are the same age as mine, and some of mine have really been looking ready, so i kind of panicked. We don't have any nest boxes yet! James is planning to build them very quickly, but i was thinking we had another month or so.
SO, i got a (clean) covered cat litter box out of the attic, filled it partially with pine shavings to make it nice and soft, and put it in the coop with three porcelain eggs i got from one of the feed stores in town....cost me $3.25.
Tomorrow, i'm planning to be away, and so i am also going to leave the chickens in the coop so i can know for sure whether anyone is laying eggs. I really don't want to lose all those wonderful eggs to hidden forest nests. I'm hoping they're smart and will get the idea very quickly about where they're supposed to leave those eggs for me.
And here's a few more pics of the gang with their big ol' grown-up girl wattles and combs. I'm so proud.
I can never get them all standing still at the same time.
Aren't they wonderful. Sometimes i just have to go outside and get me some chicken love, and it makes my day go so much better - and more smiley too. =D
OMG you are so smart! Those egg shells do not look like the egg shells you ground into powder dust...did you already use those up?
ReplyDeleteBeth that was so smart using the cat litter box.... so resourceful..
I hope you two have a great day and I hope you come home to more eggs!
no, i was admonished that the powder isn't very easy for them to pick up in their beaks. so i will have to find a different way to use that.
ReplyDeleteGARDEN..... tomatoes need eggshells too
ReplyDeleteor add it to their occasional scrambled eggs or oatmeal... or yogurt..
ReplyDeletethen the girls could actually use the egg shells you so kindly ground for them.