Found four eggs again today. It’s so exciting!

I am rewarding our hennie-pennies by switching them from soy pellets to a more natural, and I hope healthier (even though it is not organic) grain diet. Using Pearson’s Square, I figured out how to mix a 17% protein feed for them:

26 parts grains– I used Dry Cob grain mix (oats, barley, corn) 8% protein ($12.95 for 50 lbs = $6.73)
9 parts protein — I used half Black Oil sunflower seeds 26% protein ($26.95 for 50 lbs = $2.43) half fish meal 60% protein for a total of 43% protein ($38.95 for 50 lbs = $3.51)
TOTAL: 35 lbs for $12.67 (or $18.09 for 50 lbs compared to $22.15 for the gross, extruded soy pellets I was giving them before)

They are also getting the following free choice:
oyster shell
red pigeon grit
kelp granules 8% protein

I was also recently reading about the importance of clean water for laying hens, and how chickens will shun dirty water and can die in a matter of hours if the temperature gets too high, so I wanted to come up with a better watering system for our girls. After searching for these nipples locally with no luck, I went ahead and ordered four of them along with a 20 gallon flat back bucket from FarmTek (who knew shopping for farm supplies could be so much fun?), and Dan created a new waterer that they cannot knock over, perch on and poop in or get dirty in any way. I love it!