I have a chicken and her name is June today it has been 3 weeks she has been living in my cellar?

Question

3 weeks ago she became egg bound she layed a soft shell egg when she goes outside to hang out with her five friends they pick on her when will she be able to go back in the coop? Also any ideas what to lay on the the coop floor so it will be easy to clean out?

Answer 1

Chickens get egg-bound because they lack calcium in thier diet (hence the soft-shelled egg she finally laid.) Not only do they need calcium to make egg shells, they also need it for thier muscles tocontract properly. Feeding crushed oyster shell (available at the feed store) is the easiest way to give calcium supplements. Feed it in a spearate trough from the regular feed. The chickens will instinctively know to eat it.

Chickens have a distinct pecking order, and will pick on a bird that is new to the flock, or one that is weak or sick. The way I introduce (or re-introduce) a bird to the flock is to put her in a cage on the floor inside the coop where the others are. (Be sure she has food & water!) Move the cage up off the floor at night so she is not vulnerable to rodents and so she feels safe. The hens will get re-acquainted through the wire. After a few days you should then be able to release her with a minimum of squabbling, although there will still be some as they re-establish their hierarchy.

Regarding the coop, you didn't say what you are using now. I use straw and dried grass clippings from the lawn - I catch them in a grass catcher, sprad them out to dry, then bag them in old feed sacks for future use. (But DO NOT do this if you treat your lawn with chemicals! You will poison your chickens!) In the fall the dry leaves also work very well. A nice thick layer -- 4-6 inches -- lets the chickens scratch and turn the litter over. It gets dusty in there, but is easier to clean than a bare floor. The mix of straw and manure also composts very nicely.

Answer 2

Get some crushed oyster shells. You can find this at many good pet supply stores or a farm store. June needs calcium to produce healthy eggs with hard shells. Also get the food best in quality at a feed store.

Answer 3

Chickens are kind of mean animals they will pick on any new birds for a while until they get used to them we find it is better to add multiple birds at the same time if you must add birds to a flock because they can't pick on just one.

There are a few matts you can find in farm cataloges that are good for laying down also saw dust or sand is easier to dig out then straw.

Answer 4

Giver her some "grit", this can be found at your local feed store and I believe even WalMart carries it. Also, feed her something with some oyster shell in it (again your local feed store), this should harden up her eggs. And put her outside!!

Answer 5

feed-time

Answer 6

if they picking on her it sounds like suppertime to me