Poultry Egg Issues

Sometimes, laying hens lay eggs that are damaged and unusable. Often, these issues can be addressed with a simple fix in their diet. Quail, chickens, ducks, and other egg layers need high amounts of calcium to produce a quality egg.



Add Eggshells

Collect eggshells while keeping poultry. These may be dried and baked for a short time on a cookie sheet in the oven. Bake at 140° for 30 minutes to kill the element that make the birds eat their own eggs.



Grind Eggshells and Layer Pellets
A small hand grinder is a handy tool for pulverising shells and even layer pellets for snall flock birds like quail. It reduces the items into powdered form for easy feeding and meal supplements.

Tip: eggshells are an excellent nutrient to add to tomato plantings!

posted from Bloggeroid

Emergency Food for Farm Birds

Emergencies happen. Feed supplies run short and the flock is goung to revolt if they aren't fed. What does one do in this situation? Create a healthy, temporary substitute that contains proteins and grains with an bit of color and make a peace offering to those feathered friends.

Emergency poultry rations

This is enough food nutrients to carry flock birds over until feed is replenished.

12 dozen boiled eggs
1 cucumber
3 tomatoes
3 C oatmeal
4 C water

Chop eggs shell and all. Chop or dice tomatoes and cucumber into fine pieces. Stir together and set aside.

In a large stock pot add and boil water. Stir in oatmeal and let simmer 6 to 10 mins on medium. Stir occasionally. When oatmeal thickens add egg and veggie mixture. Pour into small bowls and place in fridge to cool.

For added bulk, stir in leftovers from family meals, meal worms, canned beans, or canned veggies. Tuna may also be added.

Serve at room temperature.

Makes 20 + bird servings.

posted from Bloggeroid

On Homesteading

I cannot tell you how hard it is to give up having a social life, spending weekends buried in farm chores, resting in between when I can't go any further. How tough it is on the body to stoop over and clean out a water jug or brooder or grab a newly laid egg. How heartbreaking it is when the local varmint eats your newly planted flowers or one of your favorite hens dies. How aggrivating it is to water that garden you broke your back to plant daily, sometimes twice, so it stays living. How frustrating it is to need things that time will bring to your door to create a nicer environment for you and your homestead. Or how rewarding it is to call this farm and home yours at the end of the day when the stars shine bright and the rooster stops crowing. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is my world and I'll keep at it until I cannot possibly do anymore....

posted from Bloggeroid