[rugbymad40]

The chickens we hatched back at Easter are now very nearly 18 weeks old and according to the texts we can expect eggs any time now.

My first question is when and how do we feed grit to help improve the shells?

Are there any tricks for getting the chickens to lay for the first time?

This is what we have been waiting for, fresh eggs from our own hens - Rock and Roll

Regards

Rugbymad40

[Sadgit]

well from advice here I feed mine "layers pellets" which contain grit and mine have just started to lay, had 3 in the last 3 days and the shells are nice and firm already.

mine are almost 22 weeks old, so you might have another couple of weeks to wait. Saying that when we got them at 20 weeks, some of the others the woman had, had just started laying.

[Aunt Sally]

Women eh...   :roll:

They'll lay when they're good and ready and not a second before  

Layers pellets contain all that a laying hen needs.  But if your girls free range or you give them any treats in the afternoon (heaven forbid) you should give them some extra grit and oyster.  I just hang a couple of coop dishes on the (covered) run wire mesh and they help themselves as and when the want too.

Don't forget it's a good idea to give them some nice greens off of the lottie each day - really good for them and makes their yolks deep orangey yellow and ssoooooo tasty  

[Sadgit]

I found this to be a good article..

http://www.downthelane.net/feedingchickens.html