Any gravity feeder could help ease the vacation process. That way the routine isn't upset too much and acts as a fail-safe.
On that note: Consider a few more days worth of feed than required. Water too. We had a sitter experience an emergency mid-sit and, luckily, the hens were supplied enough...
I had to switch to a treadle feeder for this reason. Depending on your flock size it may not be feasible, but if you have a small amount of birds you might consider one. Just follow the directions if you go that route and be cautious of the cheap models--don't buy a guillotine by mistake.
I've got 6 currently. 3 Wyandotte, 2 Jubilee Orps & 1 F2 Olive Egger.
Originally planned to have more orps/F2s, but a poor chicken egg hatching & WILDLY successful turkey egg hatch conspired otherwise. So add 7 midget white turkeys to that count for a LOUD yard.
Thanks! I'll keep your 4-5 hens under advisement for an initial breeding crew, too. That wasn't the original plan, but perhaps this stroke of luck deserves some thought.
Thanks for the tips! If I got 6 hens out of 7 birds, from 8 that hatched total...from the ONE time I hatch for the table and not for chickens that I want for egg production...I will make the best of it but be quietly cross, lol.
Here's some mohawk shots. Still learning how to get that overhead...
1) Yep. I feel this. 2) Wow, I envy the options some folks have here! Like the post above, a 40 min drive is groceries for me. Driving an hr+ to get poultry is a given.
At the heart of it, it's your business. You & the birds kept safe is the bar. Beyond that you've got this life and maybe it...
Turkey novice question. Can one large and in-charge tom cause a suppression of features in other males?
We have 7 midget white birds, 7 months old. The obvious tom is the largest, has beard, gobble, blue head, etc. Everyone else in the flock is beardless and smaller. Goal is to process 3-4 and...
@JacinLarkwell I hope you made your booth money and then some!! Plus enough to get more minis and continue the fun~ As a slightly chaotic DM at the best of times, I can safely say that work like yours is much appreciated...!
@allosaurusrock I have a friend going back to Seattle pride this year! They're also more nervous than past years and honestly, same. We've spooled up the "where-when-with who" note-leaving protocol we usually reserve for other things. That said--I hope you DO have fun!! It looks like it's going...
Mostly B's, and given my jubilee orpingtons currently wreaking havoc in the brooder, quiz seems accurate! Ironic, too, cause I would have listed myself a more "practical" chicken keeper until these guys...but...They're like raising cue balls. SO round. SO heavy. The cutest. I'm smitten, and will...
In addition to a happy pride month, Happy Solstice to all! It's rainy here (the poults and chicks are offended), but I'll take a cozy day in to celebrate the light anyway. Hot tea and daydreams, yes please~ Hope you all get a good breather, too!
In case anyone in a similar state stumbles on this someday, here's my conclusion: the second sick poult pulled through. Best guess is it was Coccidiosis? It's now back in the flock but is half the size of the rest, despite all of them taking Corid treatment. We're taking pains to keep it from...
Thank you for this~ I've used Rooster Booster for chickens, but I've had the turkey poults on Nutridrench. Stopped when I saw the first illness. I was worried the molasses in it was promoting an issue, but now think otherwise.
They're on a gamebird starter crumble. I've never tried probiotics...
Thanks for the double-check. It looks like I'm using the correct dose. This is the current heartbreaker. Still alive this morning, barely. If the brooder plate seems low, this one and the last used it as a roost sometimes and kept falling off in their stupors. I couldn't stand to watch so I...
Hey all,
I hatched 8 midget white turkey poults from an NPIP certified farm. At 11 days old we had one droop and die. Now a second is exhibiting symptoms. Here are the details:
Birds go from rowdy to drooped and hunched within hours. Dead by Day 2 of illness. Droppings became odd--Sometimes...