We don't use the frames either, but in the winter, I grow hard red winter wheat in the house in trays.
We get it from the Amish for around $8 for 50#. If you could find a feed mill, that would be way cheaper than Amazon. Plus, they'd give you other great ideas, I'm sure! People in feed...
I actually saw this work once though. The farmer across the road from us have rats, we don't. They had taken over her barn where she doesn't keep anything but alfalfa and straw. She said she did the box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and baking soda and left a big pile in the barn. We wound up...
The next time you need feed, look for an all-flock. That will have 18-20% protein, vs. around 16% for layer feed. The only other difference is that it has less calcium, so you need to supply a separate dish of oyster shell.
Scrambled eggs is high in protein and a healthy treat.
Most of us say and give just a couple of hours' worth of our homemade or store-bought electrolytes. It's just to give them a little boost if they just got off a 12-hour shipping truck, are suffering from shock from being attacked, under heat stress, etc. It's not meant in any form to be given...
We've always used that rubberish shelf liner and have several cut to fit. After a hatch, I just throw them in the washing machine and hang them over the shower door to dry.
Wishing you a great hatch!
Wow! I've hatched hundreds of silkies and never seen or heard of that anomaly before. I guess you already know not to go back to that breeder, at least not for silkies. I'm sorry you had such bad luck with them.
Unhealthy parents can produce weak, handicapped, or abnormal chicks. I'd be...
What I do is have the brooder at 95°F before moving the chicks in, and sprinkle some crumbles around on their paper towels so that as they get up and walk around, they have something to pick at.
I have a small 4-ounce clear Pyrex bowl with a giant marble in it, and that's foolproof safe for...
I try to ignore my incubators as otherwise, I'm going to be lifting the lid to lower the humidity, grabbing chicks and egg shells, candling unpipped ones, etc. I incubate a lot, and I've been gone when they hatched and that is so much less stressful. :)
I'd have patience with the 9, but...
If their habits are the same as regular pheasants, there are three that come from a farm about 1/2 mile away and wander through our yard every so often. They leave and go home when they feel like it. Our dogs are used to them and don't bother them, but the chickens all run and hide.
If so...
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow
I add a little whey to their fermented grains I sometimes make for them, but never just gave it to them. I've never noticed anything strange in the eggs we eat or the ones we incubate.
We're glad you're here!