Recent content by de kippendame

  1. de kippendame

    Does anyone mill their own grains for feed?

    You're welcome! You could certainly do this in a small batch, a 50# bag of the supplement would end up making 142# of feed. As long as you have good storage, it will keep. I would think freshly ground corn would be similar to coffee! :) That said, I do know my birds go for the biggest chunks...
  2. de kippendame

    Does anyone mill their own grains for feed?

    Right now we are grinding it at 16% since they are able to free-range and have unlimited access to bugs and worms, we'll probably up it to 18% when winter comes. The ratios are in very large quantities, but you can do the math to make smaller batches. 16% Layer 1200# Grain(we use corn) 150#...
  3. de kippendame

    Does anyone mill their own grains for feed?

    Well, I could probably give you some of the info off the tag? Would you be wanting it for chickens or ducks or both? I generally grind it at the recommended ration for laying hens & all the other fowl I have eat that ration with no ill effects. There is a different ratio for turkeys, game...
  4. de kippendame

    Does anyone mill their own grains for feed?

    I might add, the base pellets start at 36% protein & adding in grain brings it down to the desired %. Starting with a base of already balanced feed & adding in grain could put your protein a little low though I'm not in any way an expert. :)
  5. de kippendame

    Does anyone mill their own grains for feed?

    We've been grinding our chicken feed for a few years now. The local feed store sells a poultry feed base pellet meant to be mixed with added grain. We grind in corn and there is a ratio on the tags of the 50# bags to know how many pounds of corn are needed to hit a certain protein %, i.e...
  6. de kippendame

    How to store egg shells to give your chickens

    You don't HAVE to bake them, I've heard some people boil and others don't do either. The high temp from baking or boiling is done to try to kill any possible bacteria, or at least that's what I've been told. I haven't saved shells in a while but if I were to again, I'd probably just rinse 'em...
  7. de kippendame

    Will broodiness stop upon early chick hatching?

    I'd probably help it out. As long as you don't see anymore veining, and really you shouldn't with it zipped that far, you should be fine. Looks like it wasn't in the best position for hatching and it might need a little help finishing up.
  8. de kippendame

    Small flock planning and opinions wanted.

    I really love my Easter Eggers. They are not particularly large, but not small either and could fair well as a modestly meated bird. I don't know first hand because I've not yet butchered one so take that for what it's worth.:idunno I love that they have so many different colors & patterns...
  9. de kippendame

    How to store egg shells to give your chickens

    I just rinsed them out really well, let them dry and put them in a bowl on the counter until I had a cookie sheet load full for baking them.
  10. de kippendame

    Hen turning eggs at day 19

    I chuckled at "much worse than turning them":lau Certainly much worse than gentle nudges from mom!
  11. de kippendame

    When to assist? 24 hours after pip?

    I've used this played from my phone near the vent on my incubator the last two hatches, it has chicks and broody sounds. Works great for motivation! :)
  12. de kippendame

    Hen turning eggs at day 19

    She knows what she's doing. They'll be fine.
  13. de kippendame

    So how do I keep this ball rolling?

    Generally, it's best to wait to give a hen eggs until you know she's broody, but if she's actively sitting and you are seeing veins, she's likely broody. Broody's act differently, she'll likely puff up and give you the evil eye when you try to mess with her eggs. When I have a broody, I...
  14. de kippendame

    So how do I keep this ball rolling?

    Yes, you should be able to see the "bullseye" right after she lays it. It does not need to be incubated for any amount of time to be able to see the blastoderm when you crack it. As the pictures above show if it's only a white dot, not fertile. White dot with a ring around it (bullseye) fertile.
  15. de kippendame

    How do you select which eggs to incubate?

    For me it's whichever ones strike me, usually based on color or sometimes if it's from a certain hen. I collect for a few days before I want to set depending on how many I think I want in there. Chicken math seems to make my hands put more in than my first intentions.:confused: It really...
See more
Back
Top Bottom