Better Signs This Year

March 6, 2010

My 4 border hens have all laid eggs and only 3 eggs are fertilized.  It's not great but that's a lot better than last year.  Last year it took 4 rounds of egg laying before I got any chicks.  It looks like better preparation and feeding the soybean mix is making a difference.  Also, having a little more experience helps.  It's still early but I am happy to see a few fertilized eggs in the first round.

I noticed something about the hens a few days before and on the days that they lay eggs.  They seem to nibble on the cuttle bone a lot more often than usual.  It is almost like they know that they need more calcium for producing eggs.  To make sure that they get enough calcium, I add water soluble powder calcium to their water on a regular basis at a recommended amount or less.