Recent content by nvdirtfreak

  1. nvdirtfreak

    Fermenting pig feed?

    Has anyone fermented pig feed? Pros and cons? How did you give it and how much (for 2 pigs)? I've always allowed free choice pellets. TIA!
  2. nvdirtfreak

    How do you give fermented feed to broilers?

    Wanting to try fermenting feed for my broilers this year, but I'm not sure how to actually give it to them. Do you allow them free choice, giving a whole 5-gallon bucket (for 50 chickens) at a time? Or do you only allow a certain amount? I'm worried if I just give them a ton of it at once it...
  3. nvdirtfreak

    Respiratory infection in rooster

    7 month old Buff Orpington rooster has a respiratory infection. I isolated him as soon as I saw him, gave him vetrx and apple cider vinegar. He seems much improved now. However, can I ever reintroduce him to my flock now that he is a carrier? Hens all seem fine, don't want them to get sick. Also...
  4. nvdirtfreak

    Do my broilers need heat until processing?

    I bought day-old Cornish X on 4/26 (so now 3 weeks old) and would like to put them outside soon as they are nearly fully feathered, but I have been told they require heat at night their entire lives. Next week will be lows in the 50s, I built a chicken tractor but it does not have access to...
  5. nvdirtfreak

    How much brooder space do Cornish X need?

    I am getting 25 chicks in a couple of weeks, planning on building brooder 5x5 feet, so 1 square foot per bird. Planning on moving them outside at about 3 weeks old (to 10x10 tractor). Is this enough brooder space? I understand Cornish are a lot messier than layers, expecting to have to clean the...
  6. nvdirtfreak

    What to feed broilers?

    Thank you, I do plan on doing 12 on/ 12 off and they will be in a tractor getting moved 1-2/day. The entire point is to have meat that I know was treated humanely so I'd rather have slower growth than heart & leg issues :)
  7. nvdirtfreak

    What to feed broilers?

    My local feed store recommends flock raiser, which is 20% protein crumbles, for the first 3 weeks and a finisher for the remaining 5 weeks. They do not carry any broiler-specific feed. Both are the same price ($19/50 lb bag). Does this sound right? First year raising meat chickens, and I'd like...
  8. nvdirtfreak

    Can I let chickens eat spilled pig feed?

    Hello, my new pig weaners made an awful mess using feed buckets before they got big enough to use the trough, and there is grower pig feed (20% protein) scattered everywhere. The pigs don't seem interested in what's on the ground. Can I kick them out to the pasture for a few hours and let my...
  9. nvdirtfreak

    North Idaho / Eastern Washington

    Thanks for the help :)
  10. nvdirtfreak

    Idaho?

    Hello, I will be moving to CDA area later this year and am curious about the local laws for raising chickens. The ISDA website sounds like a permit is required? Or is that only if you have a certain # or want to sell the eggs? The area I currently live in has pretty relaxed laws as long as you...
  11. nvdirtfreak

    Chickens don't like their coop!

    Hello, I built a coop 2 years ago and my chickens last year were fine with it. It's about 6x8 feet with 8 nesting boxes and total 25 feet or so of roosting space for 10 chickens. Unfortunately, a loose dog got in the run (not the coop) and killed all of my chickens last year, so we reinforced...
  12. nvdirtfreak

    Butchering mean rooster...too old to eat?

    Hello, I have a 27-week old rooster (luckily the only rooster in a batch of 11 chickens) that I originally intended on keeping as I thought he completed my flock nicely, plus he is oh-so-handsome. However I have decided there is no room for a rooster in my flock, especially one that has grown...
  13. nvdirtfreak

    chickens not roosting

    My six month old chickens do not roost, either. They huddle together on the floor, but I figure it's not hurting anything so I've never done anything about it. They lay well and seem happy and healthy
  14. nvdirtfreak

    cold and chickens

    I'm sure a heat lamp isn't necessary - my girls have had zero change in production and it has been getting below freezing overnight for awhile now here in Northern Nevada. I don't plan on doing any "weather proofing" other than maybe wrapping the outer sides of the coop and one side of the pen...
  15. nvdirtfreak

    Feather pulling

    Need more info. For example, I noticed a feather picking problem in my flock a couple of weeks ago, so I spent some time observing my chickens and decided I have two bullies. I separated the two bullies and now the rest are doing fabulous. I plan on reintroducing the bullies in a week or two to...
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