Spoilt chickens

[MaureenHall]

Ok, I know I'm a great big softy when it comes to my chooks but I think today I really have gone completely bonkers!

At least 1 of the ex-batts is laying eggs with paper-thin shells and if I don't get them out of the coop quick enough the others start eating them (not a practice I want to encourage). There was 1 yesterday with a tiny puncture in it and 1 today with a crack in it. Rather than let them go to waste, I mixed them in with some porridge and potato peelings and water, microwaved it for about 4 minutes and it looked lovely They're all now tucking into it mixed up with layers pellets as if they'd never seen food before in their lives! Hope they don't expect this treat every morning though, 'cos they're not getting it! (unless there's more thin-shelled eggs of course ) No more treats today, that's their lot till tomorrow

[Noodle]

Ah, I like your way of thinking, not letting it go to waste! I've had a couple of no shell eggs from the new barn hens, I'm trying to find a calcium suppliment to help them with this. Mine eat them as well before I get teh chance to recover them!
Mine had warm mash this morning as it was our first proper frost! They love it!

[snuffer]

Can't fault you MaureenHall. Part of the fun of having pets (and I think we can include chickens in 'pets' if they're not intended for the pot) is spoiling them. Lets be honest, not only do our pets enjoy it but it gives us immense pleasure as well.

Bertie and Poebe, my two Bassets, have had warm milk with Yeo Valley organic natural yoghurt as a treat today. Soon dissapeared.

[kirsty b]

Mine have got carrot peelings and cabbage leaves, cooked up with porridge oats. Have been waiting for it to cool slightly, but will be on way down there shortly.
I love giving them hot food on cold mornings.

[MaureenHall]

I do also add crushed egg shells to their porridge, not that the "little" girls need the extra calcium as much as the old girls

[Noodle]

I'll give that a go, do you bake the shells first?

[MaureenHall]

Yes, collect them all in a dish during the week, then when I'm cooking something in the oven, shove them in the bottom for a bit. I use an old coffee grinder to crush them really finely then the bits stick to the food better

[lynda66]

mine are having boring chick crumbs ..... yum lol, mind you they aren't really eating yet, just the odd peck here and there, pingu is much more advanced than the others seem to be in that department

[T-lady]

That's not soft Maureen, it's just being a good mother hen to your little ones.

I confess to having put together a warm mash this morning due to the fairly hefty frost - thought their little tummies might appreciate a bit of warmth!

[di]

Well we committed the awful sin of running out of mash,so this morning they got a bit of a treat of cooked rice/spaghetti/noodles & porridge.....mixed up with a tin of sweetcorn,some raisins & chopped up pumpkin seeds!.....they've got a trough of pellets to see them throughthe day also,but I do like to start their mornings off with a little something warm!

[MaureenHall]

Well we committed the awful sin of running out of mash,so this morning they got a bit of a treat of cooked rice/spaghetti/noodles & porridge.....mixed up with a tin of sweetcorn,some raisins & chopped up pumpkin seeds!.....they've got a trough of pellets to see them throughthe day also,but I do like to start their mornings off with a little something warm!

And I think I'm soft?

[di]

I just felt sooo bad that we'd managed to run out of mash!.......the real "soft" factor is that I had to go to Asda 10pm last night to get the rice & oats!!!

[MaureenHall]

I'm surprised you didn't bake some bread and make a pasta dish for them too

[HayleyB]

Mine had their porridge, cabbage and sultanas last night with spice, it's definitely their favourite. Mixed corn tonight which they cut their own throats for

[janeyo]

Mine ha d left over rice and fresh cooked porridge. They don't hardly let me get through the gate before they pounce o n it !

janeyo

baby on lap fiddlin sorry