Recent content by Luna Mesa

  1. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    Kalmbach Chicken Feed — A Little History and Why I Trust It For anyone curious about Kalmbach Feeds, they’ve been around since 1963, started by Milton and Ruth Kalmbach in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. What began as a small grind-and-mix mill grew into one of the most respected family-owned feed...
  2. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    I noticed the links on the YouTube Channel Link to Kalmbach feeds.
  3. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    I’m a big fan of Kalmbach feeds — they’ve really nailed the range of protein levels for every stage of chicken growth. You can start chicks strong on their 20–22% starter, drop to an 18–20% grower or all-flock, then move to 16–17% layer when they start producing. The nice thing is, it’s all...
  4. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    I’ve noticed higher protein can work great for some flocks too, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. A few things worth keeping in mind: Breed and growth rate matter. Fast-growing or light-bodied birds handle 22–24% fine, but slower or heavier breeds can outgrow their skeletal support if kept on it...
  5. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    That's not true. Excess protein can outpace bone and organ growth. You’ll sometimes see leg problems, kidney strain, poor feathering, or even feather picking when the diet’s too rich for too long.
  6. Luna Mesa

    Too much protein?

    A little extra protein won’t hurt baby chicks, but going over 23–25% for long stretches can. Chicks don’t get “angel wing” like ducks, but excess protein can outpace bone and organ growth. You’ll sometimes see leg problems, kidney strain, poor feathering, or even feather picking when the diet’s...
  7. Luna Mesa

    What's the temperature where you are???

    49° Fahrenheit here in Southern Colorado.
  8. Luna Mesa

    Indecisive about coop

    Maybe a local handyman could give you a hand while expanding your skills and bandwidth. That money could buy a lot of materials. Stay away from metal roofs unless you are planning to insulate underneath.
  9. Luna Mesa

    Solar Waterer

    Given you’re raising ducks in winter, off-grid aspects: If you plan to occasionally use the Camplux to fill or flush a trough with hot water (on cold days) and you do the installation carefully (shelter it, protect the plumbing, check the propane/regulator, confirm recall status), it could be a...
  10. Luna Mesa

    Topic of the Week - Preparing for Cold Weather

    Not too much we have mild winters here in Southern Colorado. We will see some -22° temps. I feed some scratch at those times for a little extra heat. I put the window in the coop. I set out the waterer heaters after the first frost. I put some extra gravel on the coop floor. No. I know this...
  11. Luna Mesa

    Heated Drinker Waterer Base

    The problem with those stupid metal waterer is filling them up. Use a 10 gauge extension cord and you will be fine. Make sure it is 10 gauge not just commercial grade. There could be a safety issue if you use to light of gauge of extension cord.
  12. Luna Mesa

    Heated Drinker Waterer Base

    Here’s my setup: -22 °F is the coldest it’s ever been here on my ranch in southern Colorado. That’s my Farm Innovators 125 W Heated Base Coop Heater—going on its fourth or fifth winter. And no, you don’t need a metal waterer. I’ve run a 3-gallon Little Giant plastic waterer on it for years...
  13. Luna Mesa

    DIY Smart Chicken Water Heater – Energy-Saving, Set-and-Forget! 🐔💡

    Thermo Cube or a Farm Innovators 125 watt heater. Both have built in thermostats. But hey what ever works for you.
  14. Luna Mesa

    Solar Waterer

    Ducks in the winter can sure be a pain. What I did the years I ran ducks, was to put a Little Giant 3 gallon rubber pan on a Farm Innovators 125 watt pan heater. The heater would have ice all around it but the water in the pan was ice free. I also ran heated dog bowls. Of course I had 110v...
  15. Luna Mesa

    Feeders and waterers for larger flocks?

    I bought these Kane feeders from Premier 1 when they first brought them out to use for sheep mineral feeders. The sheep knocked them off their mount. I use them for my Chickens now and love them. They hold about 5 lbs of feed. No more hanging feeders for me. I used two of these for 16 meat...
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