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  1. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Top 50 List Of What Chickens Can & Can't Eat'

    News Flash!!! Chickens are NOT Vegetarian and certainly NOT Vegan. Chickens are primarily Carnivores adding a very small percentage of plant matter to their primarily MEAT diet. Yes you read that correctly. "Bugs" are Animal Protein. This list of what's safe to feed to your chickens is a bit...
  2. magicdave

    Feeding with mealworms as the only protein source

    Too muxh reliance on the "Science" offered by the Big Ag feed companies in the bysiness of selling "You" feed and not enough common sense. Chickens are primarily Carnivorous. Free Rangers like mine hardly ever eat commercial layer feed except in the winter when there aren't any "bugs" to eat...
  3. magicdave

    Which Chicken Breeds Sell Best?

    I raise Light Sussex chickens. They are very friendly, calm hens that will "talk" to you all day long. They are a breed that isn't exactly rare but not really common. I got my flock for free because a hen hatched out 9 chicks and the woman didn't want a bigger flock. As long as you don't...
  4. magicdave

    How large does run need to be to keep the hens from destroying the grass?

    I live in farming country. I just let my chickens forage where they choose. The hay farmer that surrounds my tiny plot doesn't care so they have several hundred acres to forage. The area where I spread their scratch grain is pretty much grass free but that brown spot grows in very fast as I...
  5. magicdave

    How the heck do I get rid of fire ants inside the chicken run?? 😱😱😱

    You can try spraying the ground all around the chickren run with "Orange Oil" (Limonene). It is not toxic to chickens and will drive off the FireAnts and any that gets Limonene on them will die from dehydration. It is a powerful solvent made from citrus peel. It is not inexpensive but won't...
  6. magicdave

    How the heck do I get rid of fire ants inside the chicken run?? 😱😱😱

  7. magicdave

    How do you get rid of unwanted male chicks

    I know it is tough to cull unwanted Cockerels but they sure do taste good. I keep 1 rooster per 10 hens. I have 30 hens. The roosters are "too tired" to crow at 4 AM. My situation has been that every time ai made arrangement give away my gorgeous "Light Sussex Boys" they don't show up. So i...
  8. magicdave

    Review by 'magicdave' in article 'Common Hazards In The Poultry Yard'

    Raising chickens involves 99% common sense. Chickens kept for eggs need to free range. They need to eat "bugs." Chickens are NOT herbivores. They are essentially a Carnivous omnivore. Mostly animal protein. They are afterall "Jungle Fowl." As soon as my chicks are fully feathered and they...
  9. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Grass for Chickens-Taking a look at the natural health benefit provided by this everyday green'

    JSPeese:My flock aren't sex linked commercial egg layers. If you are the "Chicken Expert" that is so insulting to my 60+ years experience that began with 4H in the late 1950's. As far as egg production is concerned my girls are Light Sussex, Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire Red. They are NOT...
  10. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Grass for Chickens-Taking a look at the natural health benefit provided by this everyday green'

    L I have been keeping chickens for decades. My losses to hawks has been 1 or 2 over the last 25 years. Lots of hawks but no losses. Chickens raised really free range by free range Hens are extremely smart. They simply don't get caught and this is farming country. The Red Tail Hawk...
  11. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Grass for Chickens-Taking a look at the natural health benefit provided by this everyday green'

    I feed my "girls" fermented grains year round. I suppose they are constantly drunk 😁 but most of them lay eggs every day. 40 hens - 36 eggs every day year round. My ducks don't like the fermented grains.
  12. magicdave

    white bread for chicken

    I feed lots of burds in my "yard." When I say Lots of birds it means Sparrows, Chickdees, Wrens, Jays, Cardinals, Crows, and every other bird that happens to drop in for a snack including a pair of Ravens. I have put out stale bread for my "family" of birds. They will only eat the bread if...
  13. magicdave

    Best breeds for broody hens?

    Whenever one of my hens gets broody i give her 4-5 fertile duck eggs to sit on. My Light Sussex hens are dedicated hatchers but are totally baffled by ducklings so I introduce them to one of my more "motherly" ducks as soon as they are imprinted on me. My broody hens are really dependable...
  14. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Grass for Chickens-Taking a look at the natural health benefit provided by this everyday green'

    Interesting essay but it is missing a very important aspect of raising healthy chickens. Chickens are primarily Carnivores. Chickens are not vegans or even vegetarians. While grass is in fact good for chickens, it is not a major component of a "Jungle Fowl's" dietary regimen. I literally...
  15. magicdave

    Official BYC Poll: Do You Clip Your Chickens' Wings?

    My chickens are extremely well socialized and totally free range. They need their wings to function if escaping a predator is necessary. I don't use enclosures with my adult birds. As chicks my birds are thoroughly imprinted with my appearance, scent, and the sound of my voice. When I call...
  16. magicdave

    Help! My wife is mad at me for feeding the chickens pizza!

    Pizza is mostly bread(bad for chickens)cheese(bad for chickens)tomato sauce(too much salt). In my opinion as a poultry breeder that pizza is not a healthy "snack" for chickens. I suppose it won't do much harm once in a while. What cracks me up is that most people treat chickens as if they are...
  17. magicdave

    Comment by 'magicdave' in article 'Fermenting Chicken Feed: A Straightforward Method'

    Chickens spend their days searching for food. They eat by choice and in fact will eat long after sundown if the coop is illuminated. Feeding chickens once per day then removing food encourages Egg Eating and Cannibalism. I have been fermenting my bird feed for at least 20 years but never...
  18. magicdave

    Can a racoon open a barn door latch?

    Yes. Secure Latches Are A Must. Yes they will figure it out. They are very smart and very strong. I keep them out with very strong latches that are an effort for me to open. I do not trap raccoons. I shoot them. They aren't in any way endangered so killing them eliminates the threat. I...
  19. magicdave

    Wild Wyandottes! What should I do?

    Catch them. I use dried mealworms to catch my "wilder girls." Chickens connot resist dried mealworms. They are really beautiful healthy looking girls. I would bet that feeding them a 17%-18% ration of soy free/ corn free layer mix would give you eggs. My Wyandottes layed well for over 6...
  20. magicdave

    Layer pellets & scratch?? Less eggs or more?

    My "girls" are totally free range. I have never given them "scratch grains." They get layer feed that is both Soy & Corn free. I do give them dried mealworms for "animal protein and fat." Chickens are not vegetarians. They are primarily Carnivores. My "girls" lay eggs year round because...
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