To cull or not to cull....

The Wyandette has been laying shell-less eggs for 2 months now. I am hosting a chicken slaughter class at my house on Thursday evening, taught by an experienced member of the farm co-op.  I was planning on culling the Wyandette due to the oviduct issue.  This week, she started laying eggs with shells on them.  What the heck?!  I finally make a decision on it, then she kinda fixes herself. 

The problem is she still isn't laying completely 'normal' eggs.  They are incredibly small (peewee sized) and odd shaped. Kind of golf-ball sized, with weird bumpy ends.  Here is a picture of her egg, next to one of the normal eggs. 

So I am torn. She is still underproducing given the size of her eggs. I am worried that she will start laying shell-less eggs again. If I'm going to have to cull her anyway, I'd like to do so w/an experienced teacher (like I'll have available to me during the class).  Oi.

Oviduct problem

So the Wyondette is still having periods of acting droopy and weird, and laying eggs w/o a shell.  I think we've narrowed it down to an oviduct problem, as when she does lay eggs (1/2 per week, WAY below her norm) they are shell-less. They don't have the hard calcium shell around them, just the thin membrane that supposed to be inside of the shell. She has laid 3+ of these now, so it's not a fluke.  They are normal otherwise (size, yolk, shape).  The thin membrane holding the egg together is weird, and like a thin piece of tissue paper that holds the eggs together when gently handled, but easily ruptured. Below is  a picture of the egg w/o a shell (it didn't go to waste, was fed to the dogs).

My much more experienced chicken friend thinks it is an oviduct problem, and the hen needs to be culled.  I'm kinda bummer out, as I did just get her.  And she is the Easter Egger's friend, they hang out together and she protects the Easter Egger when the others pick on on her.  But she is droopy and sad looking a lot, so think she will probably need to be culled. 

Bee Installs and Queen Releases

This week was buzzing with beekeeping stuff. Over the weekend installed bees in 2 hives (one on my property), and the yesterday released the queens from their cages.  Below is a pic of the install in our backyard. My husband says it looks like CSI.

Even the chickens were curious what was going one! This week will be more bee stuff (checking for eggs to see if the queen is getting down to business).

The ladies (hens) are doing well. The Wyondette keeps having spells where she quits laying, poofs up, and gets lethargic.  She's laid a couple of weird eggs (no shell, very thin shell), so I think it's an egg laying issue.  I'd like to cull her, but she is Chicken Little's only friend and her protector when the other hens pick on her. This week's most recent concern is flies. It's been warm and no rain, so flies are getting bad. I put out fly traps, and yesterday the hens knocked one over and ate the dead flies in it. Im worried about their health after doing so as I'm not sure whats in the bait, so all of todays eggs are going in the compost (just in case). Next week Im going to make my own fly traps.

In other new, I get my stitches out tomorrow (hopefully).  :)

Beekeeping start and my injury - graphic pics

Beekeeping apprenticeship is going well.  Lots of hands on learning, which is exactly what I wanted.  I've done many hive inspections without a sting.  My host hive is set up in the backyard, and the bees will be put in this weekend, weather permitting.

Yesterday had to go to ER for an injury with the hedgetrimmers.  All my fingers are still there fortunately, but have several with stitches.  Luckily I was wearing leather gloves (that got shredded) but am sure saved me from further injury.  Below are pics, I put them at the bottom so those that don't want to see don't have to.  Scroll down if you'd like to see (somewhat graphic, not terrible though).

At hospital, before being cleaned out

At hospital before they cleaned it out

The next AM during bandage change

Injury and Demand

This past 2 weeks has been hell for the Wyondette. First, the Wyondette was ill, I isolated her, and she got better and was back w/the flock in a few days. Then, she broke a toenail.  She kept picking at it, and it kept bleeding and getting re-opened.  I cleaned it out, put antiseptic on it, and put a bandaid on it to stop it from getting picked at by her, and caked w/dirt. She could barely walk on it. The next day,  after some forced rest isolate in a cat carrier, she seemed much better.  Now she is back with the flock and seems fine. She hasn't started back up laying though.

Also, the demand for our eggs has increased.  We previously had more than we could supply, but now we have even more requests!  Today while at work, 3 people asked hubby for eggs, and last week people at my work asked for some.  A neighbor who bought some (as a one time thing) decided he really likes them and wants more.  Someone else on the neighborhood forum requested some.  It makes me want more chickens!

Beds and Buzz

Last weekend we got the raised beds together and filled. Below are pictures in action. Thusfar we have in starts of: onions, shallots, garlic, potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower.  We can put the Kale seeds in now, just haven't gotten to it yet.  :) We will have to wait until April (last frost) to put the rest of the seeds in.

This weekend was a big weekend for me in terms of beekeeping. I got my first up close and personal experience with several hives, as well as made up sugar syrup for spring feeding.  Also, I found out that I will be getting 2-3 hives in April, in addition to the ones located in the community that I am responsible for checking on.  The most amazing thing was the smell. Somehow, the books all failed to mention the fact that the hives have the most wonderful and distinctive smell. Who knew?!  Even the dead one that we dissected/cleaned still had an aroma to it.  It's like a floral, sweet flowery-buttery smell. 

Cleaning out the dead hive was a lot of hard (even  gross) labor. Lot of lifting, scraping out wax/propolis, found lots of crawly things living in the dead hive (even mold started to take it over).  However, was really interesting.  This is a hobby I can really see myself enjoying. 

Beekeeping start

This weekend the beekeeping apprentices to start our training- I am excited!  It is just to cover intro stuff (gear),  and we are doing a dissection of a hive that died over the winter.  What an incredible learning experience!  It is still undecided if our property has been chosen to be a 'hive host' this season. I'll post a follow up after the weekend!