Recent content by thunderbolt&marjorie

Hi all! What a bunch of activity and more great information! I have one week left before freezer camp. My meaties (and 5 SLW) are doing great on the FF. While I am not keeping statistics on grow-out weights, I am pleased at the size of the meaties. My SLW do look tiny compared to them...

Good morning all Thought I would post an update: My birds are now 6 weeks old (23 FR and 5 SLW). I started with fermenting crumbles, then moved to layer mash/crumble mix at a 2:1 ratio/3:1 ratio depending on how I feel. Before I switched them to the layer mash mix, I did notice there was more...

My adult layers free range, but these meaties and 5 replacement layers are only at 4 weeks, and aren't (they get to go out in a 25x25 pen) Hubby isn't sure he wants them to free range as they might be hawk buffet! I would love them to free range as it would be less mess and wear and tear on...

Beekissed, thank you for the long and thoughful reply. I greatly appreciate it. With amount to feed: I feed at 6am before I head to work and when I get home at 3:30, I am often finding everything completely empty, but, I never know how LONG it is has been empty. Thus my concern that I am not...

So here is an update (and questions) on my meaties. 4.5-5 weeks old at this point. (actually 5 of them are my replacement layers and a bit older) They were started on fermented crumbles, then at 3 weeks I switched to fermented layer mash based on Beekissed's usage. Really liked dealing with...

Picked up layer mash and also agree at how nicely it ferments/drains, etc. Feeding it and the last bucket of the fermented crumbles. Beekissed, thanks again for your information on what you have discovered re: layer mash etc. Now I have a great option for feeding out my meaties and layers...

Timely info for me Beekissed! I wrote a post yesterday that was 'eaten' and didn't show up! I have 3 wk olds FR (and 5 SLW) chicks that have just finished up the bag of starter crumbles that I have been fermenting and I was wondering if it was ok to switch them to grains this soon. Also...

Hi All All is going well so far with the FF; I did lose three of my 26 Ranger chicks. One came with a bad foot/leg, and one was very wobbly/weak, and despite them eating and drinking, didn't make it after 3 days. Then on day 5, lost another one I noticed wasn't zooming around like the others...

I am trying to train them to come when called (they are less than a week old!) by calling 'chick-ens' when I put the full feeder into the brooder, then I 'peck' on it (tap it) with my finger while calling. I want them to come when called when they are older so I can put them up at night instead...

HI all Chicks are loving the FF! Wondering how often to feed them however; right now I am feeding twice a day; they seem to get the feeder cleaned up after about 6 hours. I am feeding in the AM before I go to work (5:45am) and when I get home at 3:30. I check them before I head to bed and...

Sorry to hear about your losses. This heat has been so extreme; I just got my chicks and glad we have days not above 90! Thanks for all the detailed record keeping!

26 Rangers arrived today! One doesn't look too good; weak and not standing up. But all the rest active, drank water immediately (no vitamins added!) and were pecking at the FF when I left for work! My 5 little SLW girls all huddled in the corner while the rowdy Rangers checked out the brooder!

Could be! Sure is strange...I will change out there water and just have ACV in it.. I have never taken prenatal vitamins...cause I haven't ever been prenatal. But I know what you mean. B vitamins are really good at that.

ORANGE POO!?!?! As in Neon orange! I have raised two batches of chicks in the past two years and never seen anything like this before! A few chicks had a little pasty butt. But many poo tinged with neon orange. I do have some vitamins (but not enough to turn the water yellow) in the water with...

They hatched on Monday and I got them on Wednesday (mail). They initially pecked at it when I put them in the brooder (after dipping beak in water etc) Just hard to tell due to the small number, and they are stepping in/on the food I have put out. I did put a bit in the red trough too. And of...