The ones you are going to cull, do you keep them in a small pen or area? Don't give them the chance of running it off.oh in the summer they are kept over fully stocked in water, i have about 5 double sided dishes that i keep full, and if it gets too hot they get ice in their water and birdy/bunny dunks lol but those are the ones stuck in the barn till late spring.... they are getting a brandy new coop, but until then...
a few weeks ago i ran short of FF and had to feed scratch for about 2 days, and they drank so much... even for a few days after...
ive also noticed that the NH crosses do not hold as great a weight on the FF in comparison to every other bird i have, i have 3 red crosses and 3 EE's that are going to freezer camp soon, the EE's are a month younger, and are borderline fat (i prefer to plump in the last 2 weeks before butcher to get extra fat to put away to be rendered) but dang, those reds, i put more food into them than anyone, they look great, but to pick em up, they still have a prominent keel bone, they done exactly feel skinny, but for what they are eating, and the size of their pens, i dont see how they dont gain more... the reds i did before, one of them was a beautiful bird, i was impressed with the fat on the one, the weight... the others were what i would consider normal, one was kinda runty... i do them in pen groups, i put them together based off size usually... these were all tall, but it was obvious who got more food :x I now to groups of 2 when i can to limit competition... but they just wont bulk up.... i have to cut my other birds back and move some of them out atleast when feeding because some of them are really too porky, and a few others are more skinny, but i feed in a long trough, plus an extra dish and i always see everyone eating, with a little left over that they pick at for the next hr or so...
but its helping me choose who im going to cull, this is the first year i checked weights on everyone, and just looking you wouldnt realize what was going on under those feathers... i have 2 pullets (was 3) that are the only survivors of 15 hatch mates.. something hit just them no other birds, and knocked them off steadily.. they would be fine, then drop weight, id separate for feeding, sometimes take them inside but once they got symptoms, they died... these little pullets act cold almost all the time, when i feed they are very active, one flys into the bucket every time, then after a bit that one will go sit in the sun by the door all fluffed up... not sick like, but cold, they cant put fat on it seems... but within this week ive noticed they have put a little on, i checked them today.. but idk if they will make it... not a single other bird in there is acting odd, just the ones from that hatch, i think it was aug. they are small birds too... not even close to being ready to lay...
We've got 10* here...practically short sleeve shirt weather.
No that will be Monday when it hits 30.
This wx is wreaking havoc on me. My neck has been so painful the last 2 weeks. Chiro and massage therapist says its the cold flaring up arthritis with all my metal in my neck. I am not a good couch potato and this being grounded to sit around is for the birds !! I can't wait till spring gets here
