Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door Review
Ensuring their safety and well-being is a top priority when keeping chickens. Installing a convenient and reliable coop door is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a secure chicken coop. The Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door offers the perfect solution, with innovative features that set it apart from traditional chicken coop doors. In this review, I discuss its key features, such as its all-season suitability, easy installation, and performance, and I offer comparisons to similar products on the market. In This Review Why a Good Chicken Coop Door Matters Having a functional chicken coop door is essential for several reasons: Features of the Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door The Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door offers a range of features that make it an excellent option for your backyard chickens: With these features and its innovative design, the Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door addresses coop owners’ specific challenges and offers convenience with peace of mind. Easy Installation and Setup Process The Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door installation was easier than I expected it to be. It is straightforward and can be accomplished with basic tools and minimal technical expertise. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the installation: I recommend the following tips for an installation with fewer hassles: Setting up the Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door follows a similar process. However, if you’ve never installed a garage door opener before, don’t worry. The process is much more straightforward and less time-consuming than changing a garage door opener for your home. Following these guidelines, you can efficiently install the Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door and address common challenges while ensuring proper alignment and functionality. Performance and Durability The door performed reliably during testing, providing secure protection from predators and withstanding weather conditions. With the unexpected rainstorms we have experienced this year, the Chickcozy performed well, closing and opening efficiently during scheduled times and when we operated it manually. The horizontal mechanism ensured the coop remained tightly shut at night and during storms, offering a secure environment for our flock. Pros and Cons Pros: Cons: Comparison to Other Automatic Coop Doors Compared to other automatic coop doors, the Chickcozy door offers: Conclusion The Chickcozy Automatic Chicken Coop Door is an excellent choice for chicken coop owners. This sturdy little door offers standout features such as a horizontal opening mechanism, built-in safety sensors, and multiple operational modes. Its ease of installation, reliable performance, and competitive pricing make it a good investment for ensuring the safety and security of your chickens. For more information, visit Chickcozy.
Internal Egg Laying In Chickens: Prevention And Solutions
Impact-Site-Verification: 05e0c007-8e0a-4cd3-bc9a-5f1251bdab04 Many backyard chicken farmers find their chickens’ egg laying slowing or stopping altogether during the summer. While the first thought is to attribute it to the extreme heat we suffer each year, it may not be why some of your hens stop laying. Internal egg laying in chickens is not a common condition, but it is a possibility and can occur from oviduct trauma, infection, or genetic defects. What is Internal Egg Laying? Internal egg laying in chickens is a serious condition in which eggs are retained inside the hen’s body instead of being expelled normally. This condition poses significant health risks, including infections and internal damage, and can even be fatal if not promptly addressed. Understanding internal egg-laying is not just important; it’s crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of your flock. As a backyard chicken farmer, recognize the signs of internal egg-laying early. Factors such as genetic predispositions, environmental stressors, inadequate nutrition, and underlying health issues can all contribute to this condition. By being proactive and intervening promptly when you notice signs like lethargy, decreased appetite, a swollen abdomen, and difficulty walking, you can prevent severe complications and ensure the health of your flock. Preventing internal egg-laying involves several proactive measures. Ensuring a balanced diet rich in calcium and other essential nutrients supports proper egg formation and laying. Maintaining a stress-free environment with adequate space, appropriate lighting, and minimal disturbances helps reduce the risk of internal laying. However, it’s not just about prevention. Regular health check-ups and monitoring are equally important. They provide reassurance that your flock’s health is being cared for, catching early signs of trouble and allowing for timely medical intervention. This regular care is a testament to your responsibility as a backyard chicken farmer, ensuring the well-being of your flock. Solutions for internal egg laying often require veterinary care, including manual egg removal, antibiotics to prevent infection, and, in severe cases, surgical intervention. Post-treatment, it is vital to address the underlying causes to prevent recurrence. This diligent commitment to your flock’s health is critical to being a responsible backyard chicken farmer. Poultry farmers can effectively manage internal egg laying by understanding the causes, implementing preventative measures, and seeking timely solutions. This approach ensures the welfare of the hens and supports the poultry operation’s overall productivity and economic viability. Understanding the Causes of Internal Egg Laying Internal egg laying in chickens is a serious condition in which eggs are retained inside the hen’s body instead of being expelled normally. This condition poses significant health risks, including infections and internal damage, and can even be fatal if not promptly addressed. Understanding internal egg-laying is not just important; it’s crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of your flock. Various factors, including genetic predispositions, environmental stressors, inadequate nutrition, and underlying health issues, can cause internal egg-laying. Recognizing the signs early, such as lethargy, decreased appetite, a swollen abdomen, and difficulty walking, and intervening promptly can prevent severe complications. This proactive approach is a testament to your responsibility as a backyard chicken farmer. Preventing internal egg-laying involves several proactive measures. Ensuring a balanced diet rich in calcium and other essential nutrients supports proper egg formation and laying. Maintaining a stress-free environment with adequate space, appropriate lighting, and minimal disturbances helps reduce the risk of internal laying. However, it’s not just about prevention. Regular health check-ups and monitoring are equally important. They provide reassurance that your flock’s health is being cared for, catching early signs of trouble and allowing for timely medical intervention. Solutions for internal egg laying often require veterinary care, including manual egg removal, antibiotics to prevent infection, and, in severe cases, surgical intervention. Post-treatment, it is vital to address the underlying causes to prevent recurrence. Poultry farmers can effectively manage internal egg laying by understanding the causes, implementing preventative measures, and seeking timely solutions. This approach ensures the welfare of the hens and supports the poultry operation’s overall productivity and economic viability. Chicken Breeds Less Likely to Suffer from Internal Egg Laying table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } th, td { padding: 15px; text-align: left; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; } th { background-color: #4CAF50; color: white; } td { background-color: white; color: black; } tfoot td { background-color: #4CAF50; color: white; text-align: center; } Chicken Breeds Less Likely to Suffer from Internal Egg Laying Breed Characteristics Rhode Island Red Hardy and robust, excellent layers of brown eggs. Sussex Docile and friendly, good egg production and dual-purpose breed. Australorp Known for their high egg production and calm temperament. Plymouth Rock Reliable layers, hardy in various climates, good dual-purpose breed. Wyandotte Resilient and good layers, known for their beautiful plumage. Orpington Gentle and friendly, decent layers and excellent for meat production. Leghorn Prolific layers of white eggs, active and hardy birds. Brought to You By thepreppersbasement.com Early Detection and Diagnosis Internal egg laying in chickens can lead to severe health complications if not detected early. Identifying the signs and symptoms promptly is essential for protecting the health of your flock. Here are the key points to watch for and steps to take: Behavioral Changes: Physical Symptoms: Veterinary Consultation: Record Keeping: Understanding Risk Factors: By being vigilant and proactive, poultry farmers can significantly reduce the impact of internal egg laying on their flock, ensuring the health and productivity of their chickens. Preventative Measures for Poultry Farmers Preventing internal egg laying in chickens helps maintain flock health and farm productivity. Proactive measures can significantly reduce the incidence of this condition and its adverse effects. Establishing a Conducive Living Environment Creating a clean, safe, spacious coop with adequate ventilation is the first step in preventing many issues with your flock’s health. Ensuring access to natural light and maintaining a regular light-dark cycle supports the hens’ circadian rhythms, essential for regular egg-laying patterns. A well-maintained environment reduces stress, a significant factor in preventing internal egg-laying. Importance of Nutrition Nutrition plays a fundamental role in preventing internal egg-laying. A balanced diet ensures that hens receive all necessary nutrients for
Chicken Breeds For Hot Climates
One overlooked aspect of backyard chicken farming is choosing the right chicken breeds for hot climates. Your breed choices impact the well-being and productivity of your flock, which in turn affects the sustainability and profitability of your farm. Hot environments, typically characterized by temperatures ranging from [86-104 °F] and high humidity, present unique and significant challenges. The relentless heat and high humidity can severely test the resilience of chickens, potentially limiting their growth and egg-laying capabilities. However, nature has provided certain chicken breeds with unique characteristics that enable them to survive and thrive in these intense conditions. Selecting the right breed benefits the chickens, ensuring their health and ability to produce eggs or meat. In this guide, I will empower you to discover which breeds are best for you and why. Then, we’ll explore how you, as a responsible farmer, can keep your flock healthy and productive despite climate challenges. It’s important to note that this knowledge is not exhaustive, and local farmers and traditional farming practices often have valuable insights that can enhance your understanding and guide your decisions. Key Benefits of Choosing Heat-Tolerant Chicken Breeds Characteristics of Heat-Tolerant Chicken Breeds Selecting chicken breeds that can thrive in hot climates is crucial for maintaining their health and ensuring sustainable farming. Here are the characteristics that make certain breeds suitable for warm environments: Choosing chickens with these characteristics isn’t just a matter of comfort; it translates into sustainability. When chickens are well-adapted to their environment, they maintain higher productivity, which means consistent egg-laying and healthy growth with less need for interventions. Sustainable farming practices are crucial in today’s world. By opting for breeds that naturally cope with heat, you’re reducing the reliance on electricity for cooling systems and contributing to an eco-friendly operation. This decision supports not only the welfare of your chickens but the health of our planet as well. Top Chicken Breeds for Hot Climates Investing in the right chicken breed is crucial for a thriving poultry farm in hot climates. Based on extensive research and interaction with various breeds, here are the top contenders that not only survive but also excel under such stressful conditions: Caring for Heat-Tolerant Chickens in Hot Climates Even the sturdiest chicken breeds need proper care to thrive in hot conditions. Here are some key strategies for maintaining a healthy flock when the mercury rises: Common Issues and Solutions for Chickens in the Heat Raising chickens in intensely hot conditions comes with its own set of challenges. Beyond selecting the right breed, you need to know how to recognize and remedy heat-related issues to keep your flock healthy. ?️ Common Issues and Solutions for Chickens in the Heat ? Heat Stress This can sneak up on chickens, showing symptoms like panting, spreading wings, lethargy, and reduced egg production. Stay vigilant, especially during heat waves. Dehydration Ensure your chickens have constant access to fresh, clean water. Supplementing their diet with electrolytes on extremely hot days can help them maintain balance. Disease Diseases thrive in warm, moist environments, so manage coop cleanliness and humidity. Regular coop cleaning and proper ventilation will help prevent the spread of illness. Emergency Response Your quick response can save lives during emergencies. Immediate steps include moving the affected bird to a cooler location, providing cool water, and avoiding sudden temperature changes to prevent shock. Brought to You by thebackyardchickenfarmer.com Remember, prevention is vital. You can effectively manage your flock’s well-being through the summer by recognizing the early signs of heat stress, addressing hydration needs, and maintaining a clean, well-ventilated coop. With these strategies in hand, you’re well-equipped to ensure the success of your poultry farm in hot and humid climates. Final Thoughts: Mastering the Art of Breed Selection for Your Climate Choosing suitable chicken breeds to raise in hot climates transcends personal preference. It’s a pivotal decision that directly impacts the welfare of your birds and the prosperity of your poultry venture. This choice is not just about the present, but it’s an investment in the future of your farm. Understanding the specifics of your local climate is a game-changer. This involves thoroughly analyzing temperature patterns, humidity levels, and the severity of extreme weather conditions during different seasons. It’s about being in tune with nature’s rhythm and using that knowledge to your advantage. Selecting a chicken breed well-suited to your climate does more than ensure the birds’ comfort and health. It optimizes their productivity for egg laying, meat production, or both. Remember, the vitality of your flock is a direct reflection of the sustainability and profitability of your poultry farming efforts. Heat-tolerant chicken breeds testify to the power of working in harmony with nature rather than against it. I strongly recommend networking with local poultry experts. Their insights can prove invaluable, offering recommendations tailored to your specific situation. They can share their experiences and provide insights into your region’s breed selection and effective care strategies. This kind of knowledge sharing is a cornerstone of successful farming. In the end, the well-being of your chickens and the success of your farming practice hinge on informed decisions grounded in a deep understanding of the local environment. So, choose thoughtfully and prioritize the welfare of your poultry, and your diligence will be rewarded with a thriving flock despite the challenging climate. Remember, every decision you make today will shape the future of your poultry farm. So, let’s make those decisions count.
Sustainable Urban Homesteading: Learning to Preserve Food
In the bustling landscape of modern life, where convenience often reigns supreme, the art of food preservation without refrigeration is experiencing a revival within urban homesteading circles. This resurgence is fueled by economic considerations and an awareness of the health risks associated with mass-produced foods. Salt, sugar, trans-fats, and artificial additives in commercial products have spurred individuals to seek alternatives. The practice of preserving food at home emerges as an appealing solution. It offers a healthier alternative and the practical advantage of enjoying seasonal fruits and vegetables year-round. By eschewing harmful preservatives and embracing traditional preservation methods, urban homesteaders can savor the natural flavors of their produce, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world and its cycles while contributing to a more sustainable and self-reliant lifestyle. This guide covers preserving fruits and vegetables, but I will delve into processing other foods in future guides. Reasons for the Revival The rise of backyard gardens and the abundance of excess produce have challenged urban homesteaders to make the most of their harvests without contributing to food waste. Simultaneously, the health risks of commercially processed foods, laden with additives that compromise taste and well-being, have become a growing concern. In this context, the revival of food preservation is not just a solution but a practical and empowering response to these contemporary challenges. It offers urban homesteaders a pathway to sustainability and self-sufficiency while prioritizing wholesome, natural ingredients. Simple Preservation Techniques Mastering the art of food preservation is an essential skill in the quest for sustainable living and self-sufficiency. Simple yet effective techniques allow individuals to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, ensuring nothing goes to waste while enhancing their meals’ flavor and nutritional value. From the ancient practice of sun-drying fruits and vegetables to the tangy delights of homemade pickles and the timeless tradition of canning, various preservation methods await exploration. This guide will dive into these fundamental techniques, offering practical insights and step-by-step instructions to empower you on your preservation journey. Whether you’re a novice homesteader eager to embark on your preservation adventure or a seasoned enthusiast seeking to expand your culinary repertoire, these methods promise to unlock a world of flavor and sustainability. Explore the simplicity and ingenuity of drying, pickling, and canning as we discover the secrets to preserving nature’s bounty for year-round enjoyment. Tips for Successful Preservation Preserving food is not just a culinary endeavor; it’s a commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency. Starting with the right foundation is crucial for a successful preservation journey. This begins with selecting the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available, ensuring that the flavors and nutrients are preserved at their peak. Investing in top-notch preserving equipment, such as sturdy glass jars and reliable lids, is essential to maintaining food safety and extending shelf life. In the following section, we’ll delve into essential tips and strategies for successful food preservation, equipping you with the knowledge and tools needed to preserve nature’s bounty with confidence and finesse. Recommended Suppliers For those looking to embark on their preservation journey, reputable home goods suppliers like Wares of Knutsford offer a range of functional and aesthetically pleasing preserving equipment. Here is a list of reputable suppliers for home food preservation tools: Conclusion By embracing traditional food preservation techniques, urban homesteaders can enjoy the satisfaction of reducing food waste, improving health, and savoring the natural flavors of home-preserved foods. Ready to embark on your preservation adventure? Let quality ingredients and reliable equipment be your guide. ???
DIY Chick Brooder Box
If you are new to backyard chicken farming, the thought of raising baby chicks at home may be intimidating. However, watching your babies grow from fuzzy hatchlings to full-grown birds is rewarding. Making the process more rewarding is building your own DIY chick brooder. It only takes a few materials and basic woodworking skills to create a safe, cozy place for your hatchlings to thrive. In this guide, you will find step-by-step instructions for making a wooden brooder box, perfect for nurturing your newest arrivals. How to Build a Wooden Chick Brooder: Step-by-Step Guide Materials Needed: Plywood or lumber for the sides, bottom, and lid Screws or nails Hinges Saw Screwdriver or hammer Drill (optional) Hardware cloth for ventilation Chicken wire (optional) Wood glue (optional) Step 1: Cut the Wood Measure and cut the plywood or lumber to the desired dimensions for the sides, bottom, and lid of the brooder. Typical dimensions for a small brooder might be around 24 inches by 36 inches for the base, with sides around 12 inches high. Step 2: Assemble the Box Begin by attaching the sides to the bottom piece using screws or nails. Ensure they are flush at the corners. If desired, apply wood glue along the edges for extra strength before screwing or nailing them together. Once the sides are attached, add the lid by attaching hinges along one edge of the top piece and the corresponding edge of the back side. Step 3: Add Ventilation Using a saw or drill, cut ventilation holes in the sides of the brooder. These holes should be covered with hardware cloth to prevent chicks from escaping and predators from entering. Instead of holes, you can leave the sides of the brooder box open and cover the opening with hardware cloth. Alternatively, you can use chicken wire for ventilation, but ensure the holes are small enough to prevent chicks from escaping. Step 4: Finishing Touches Sand any rough edges to prevent splinters. Apply paint or sealant to the exterior of the brooder to protect the wood from moisture and extend its lifespan. Add bedding material to the bottom of the brooder, such as pine shavings or straw, to provide a comfortable surface for the chicks. Step 5: Prepare for Use Set up a heat lamp or heating pad inside the brooder to maintain the chicks’ temperature. Place feeder and waterer inside the brooder, ensuring they are easily accessible to the chicks. Monitor the temperature and adjust the heat source as needed to keep the brooder warm but not too hot. Step 6: Maintain and Clean Regularly clean the brooder by removing soiled bedding and replacing it with fresh material. Check the ventilation holes regularly to ensure they remain clear and unobstructed. As the chicks grow, you may need to adjust the size of the brooder or move them to a larger space. Following these step-by-step instructions, you can quickly build a wooden box brooder to raise baby chicks at home. Your newfound DIY skills helped you create a nurturing environment for baby chicks to grow and flourish. Your DIY chick brooder box helps you regularly monitor the chick’s well-being to adjust the temperature and maintain the box’s cleanliness as needed. As your baby chicks grow, you can easily expand and upgrade their living quarters. Enjoy knowing you’ve provided a warm, secure home for current and future flocks.
Upcycled DIY Chick Brooder
Welcome to the world of sustainable chick-rearing. If you’re looking for a creative and eco-friendly way to give your baby chicks the best start in life, you’ve come to the right place. Unlike building the chick brooder in our DIY Chick Brooder post, this upscaled chick brooder shows you how to transform a used kitchen cabinet into a cozy brooder for your baby chicks. Our upscaled chick brooder gives new life to old materials and provides a safe and comfortable environment for your chicks to thrive. Let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions and get started on this exciting DIY project. How to Build an Upcycled Brooder from a Used Kitchen Cabinet Looking for an eco-friendly way to raise baby chicks at home? Consider repurposing a used kitchen cabinet into a brooder! Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a cozy and sustainable space for your feathered friends: Materials Needed: Used kitchen cabinet Box cutter or jigsaw Hardware cloth or mesh for ventilation Heat lamp or heating pad Feeder and waterer Step 1: Choose a Suitable Cabinet Select a used kitchen cabinet that is large enough to accommodate the number of chicks you plan to raise. Ensure the cabinet is sturdy and has solid walls to provide adequate insulation and protection for the chicks. Step 2: Prepare Ventilation Holes Use a box cutter or jigsaw to carefully cut ventilation holes along the sides of the cabinet. Ensure the holes are evenly spaced and large enough to allow for proper airflow while preventing chicks from escaping. Step 3: Install Ventilation Mesh Cut pieces of hardware cloth or mesh to fit over the ventilation holes. Secure the mesh in place using screws or adhesive, ensuring it covers the holes completely to prevent chicks from escaping. Step 4: Create an Access Door Determine where you want the access door to be located on the cabinet. Use a box cutter or jigsaw to carefully cut out a rectangular door, leaving enough space for chicks to enter and exit. You can also repurpose one of the existing cabinet doors as the access door. Step 5: Set Up Heat Source Place a heat lamp or heating pad inside the cabinet to provide warmth for the chicks. Position the heat source at one end of the cabinet to create a temperature gradient, allowing chicks to regulate their body temperature as needed. Step 6: Add Feeder and Waterer Place a feeder and waterer inside the cabinet, ensuring they are easily accessible to the chicks. Fill the feeder with chick starter feed and the waterer with clean, fresh water. Step 7: Monitor Temperature and Humidity Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature inside the brooder, aiming for a temperature of around 95°F (35°C) for newly hatched chicks. Keep the brooder in a draft-free area and adjust the heat source as needed to maintain a consistent temperature. Monitor humidity levels using a hygrometer and adjust as necessary to keep chicks comfortable. Step 8: Regular Maintenance Clean the brooder regularly by removing soiled bedding and replacing it with fresh material. Monitor chicks for signs of illness or stress, and provide appropriate care as needed. As the chicks grow, gradually increase the size of the brooder or move them to a larger enclosure. Following these step-by-step instructions, you can easily create an upcycled brooder from a used kitchen cabinet to raise baby chicks at home. Final Thoughts With your upcycled kitchen cabinet brooder complete, you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey of chick-rearing. You’ve created a sustainable and functional space for your baby chicks to grow and flourish by repurposing materials and tapping into your creativity. As you watch your chicks thrive in their new home, take pride in knowing you’ve contributed to their well-being and the planet’s health.
Feeding Chickens for Health and the Best Eggs
Most people raising chickens for the first time over-complicate their needs…wasting money on fancy gadgets and equipment they don’t need. Backyard chicken farming is relatively simple. Your birds’ only needs are food, shelter, and water. While poultry waterers and feeders are nice, they aren’t necessary; anything deep enough to avoid tipping and the chickens walking through the feed and water works. Don’t solely rely on commercial chicken feed when feeding your chickens. Besides being the least healthy food, a green diet is better for them. Those beautiful, large orange yolks, synonymous with fresh eggs, don’t come from a grain-based diet. You need healthy chickens to eat a healthy diet to produce healthy chicken meat and eggs. I only feed my chickens commercial food during the winter if the natural source is scarce. Chickens are natural foragers, hunting insects, worms, and greens. Even if you can’t let your chickens forage on their own, you can supply them with the varied diet they need by feeding them leftover scraps from the kitchen. 5 Essential Dietary Ingredients Meat Protein – Protein is essential to egg production. I do not recommend feeding your chickens meat as this tends to turn your chickens cannibalistic. When chickens forage, they eat worms and bugs, which are high in protein. Raising free-range chickens is not always an option, especially in the winter. Because of this, I provide them with a culinary delight of various types of insects. I pick tomato worms in the summer and give them to my flock. They are crazy for these fat green worms and run around the pen, delightfully squealing. In the winter, I buy mealy worms and crickets. I also provide them with fish oil and fish meal throughout the year. They not only love it, but it’s also good for them. Grass and Hay – I know this sounds strange, but believe me, it’s a win-win situation. I have a large penfor my small flock and my compost pile in one corner. Why do the backbreaking work of turning your compost? It takes almost a year before you can use the compost this way. With chickens, your compost will be ready in about 4-6 months, and your fertilizer will be mixed in. Chickens make fast workof a compost pile, plus it’s good for them. Dried whole Corn and Grains – I use this sparingly, but it is an excellent supplement to their diet and contributes to the richness of the yolk. Greens – The secret to nutrient-rich, delicious eggs is greens. This includes lettuce, beet greens, kale, or whatever green scraps you have in your kitchen. I’m a dumpster diver, so whenever I see the markets and stores throwing away vegetables, I gather them for my girls. I also beg scraps from my neighbors; I’m known as the “vegetable bag lady.” Calcium—Calcium is essential for chicken health and egg quality. No…I don’t put calcium pills down their throats; I feed them eggshells. If you talk to other backyard chicken farmers, you will find many different opinions about this. However, everyone agrees that laying hens need lots of calcium. A lack of calcium is terrible for your hens and causes thin-shell eggs. Water – I find it interesting that what is the most critical feeding aspect for a flock is rarely discussed. You can provide your chickens with all the high-priced, fancy food you want, but if enough fresh water is unavailable, your chickens won’t eat. This results in egg production loss since half the egg is made of water. Make sure fresh water is always available. In the winter, place water inside the coop to avoid freezing, and increase your water monitoring in the summer. Birds quickly dehydrate without enough water. Many people will tell you grit is a necessary part of your chicken’s diet. We don’t buy grit because the chickens get all they need from the soil. If you want to feed your chickens grit, go ahead, but it isn’t necessary. What better way to use fresh eggs than in our Farm Fresh Breakfast Burrito? Stuffed full of fresh eggs, beans, and gooey cheese, this delicious dish will please the entire family. Feeding Your Hens Eggshells Because your hens use a lot of calcium to lay eggs, it’s important to add calcium to their diet. Most local and online feed stores carry oyster shell as a calcium supplement. But, if you’re like me, you prefer sustainable living, which includes caring for your chickens naturally. This is why I use eggshells instead of buying calcium supplements. Feeding chickens eggshells is a practice dating back a few hundred years. Most premixed feed rations contain added calcium. However, if much of their food is table scraps and foraging finds, then youneed to add calcium to their diet. Some people fear feeding their flock eggshells will turn them into egg eaters. In my 20+ years of raising chickens, I’ve only had two egg eaters that I can remember, and I don’t think it was because of feeding them eggshells. If that were true, all my hens would be egg eaters. Usually, chickens eat their eggs because they lack calcium. But, as a disclaimer, anything is possible, and some chickens may have the “mad egg-eating” disease. However, I think that is unlikely. The feeding process is as simple as tossing the used shells in your scrap bucket with their other goodies. I prefer a different method, but it’s whatever works best for you. My process: I collect the shells as I use the eggs, smashing them down and storing them in a bucket I leave in the pantry. Once the bucket is halfway full, I spread the half-crushed shells on a baking sheet and bake at 350° F for 8 minutes. While baking kills any lingering bacteria, I bake the shells because toasting them dries out the membrane, making them easier to crush into tiny pieces. If I’m in a hurry, I skip this step. Once cooled, crush the toasted shells into tiny