So we have been getting about a dozen eggs a day which means have the girls aren't laying yet. Does it sometimes take them awhile to all lay? These were adult birds so it may be possible that some of them stopped although I have no way to tell who's laying or not. Any ideas?
Also, can anyone recommend a good source for egg supplies? I need cartons and the cheapest I found when I googled was McMurray.
Does it hurt to feed the chickens the grass we weed from our beds? We grow organically
We had to clip their wings so they wouldn't fly. How often do we need to do this? Or will we even need to anymore?
Thanks
BB
Egg Questions
Yes, it takes a while for all of them to lay... they will get settled in their own time. :)
Here is a good place for egg cartons..
http://www.eggcartons.com/customer_account-exec/display/modifycart
No, it doesn't hurt and it's very good to feed them grass! The more the better.
I had to clip a few of mine more than once.. like about a month later. Now they have learned to not fly out and I haven't clipped wings for months!
I'm no expert.. this is just my opinion.. I hope it helps.
Thank you!
BB
Agreed with ZZ, they all lay at different rates/times/ages. I had a silkie who was laying every other day earlier this year, now she has stopped for about the last 6 weeks for no reason, but I have no doubt she will start again. I have quite a few adults who should, in theory, be laying, but are not. They are funny birds - no rhyme or reason for their egg habits!
Our chickens free range all day and love to eat grass, plants of all sorts, leaves, dandelions, etc. They're all good for them! There are some plants that are not good for chickens but they generally have some sort of innate sense that tells them what they should not eat.
I have never had to clip wings. I keep new chickens confined in a small chicken wire hoop house (footprint about 8 x 8 feet) for the first couple of weeks on my farm, so they know where they live. After that, they never leave or try to fly away. I do, however, clip the wings on my Muscovy ducks, and you can do that after they molt to ensure that they don't fly away. The feathers will grow back each year at molting time.