A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[R2elk]

I say raise them how you want. Like you said not many of us have chickens that actually ever see a vet. If not for the USDA Vet inspecting me, mine never would see one.

The FF feed is issue becomes so personal and finding any reliable information that is not anecdotal is nearly impossible. It tears threads apart so I prefer we just talk about what keeps us together,,,Turkeys..

I don't do FF for the simple reason is that it would create a lot of work for me and also is not a natural way for poultry to get their food. I keep feed and water in front of all my poultry at all times. My main feeder holds 150 lbs. of feed. I did the same when I raised CX and BBWs. I did not have any leg issues but my poultry gets lots of exercise whether it is from free ranging or just spending time in a 50' x 100' run.

 

[JRNash]

If I put 150# of feed out I'd have 200# rats. I wage a constant battle with Norway rats that get the size of squirrels

 

[Bantambird]

Are Norway rats really from Norway?

 

[JRNash]

Fixing to invest in a 4-10 with bird shot. The buggers are hard to hit at night with a pellet rifle or 22lngr

 

[JRNash]

Bantambird I don't have the foggiest clue.lol

 

[JRNash]

Phone is double posting....guess the feds are monkeying around with the satellites....

 

[R2elk]

If I put 150# of feed out I'd have 200# rats. I wage a constant battle with Norway rats that get the size of squirrels

No rats here other than maybe tree rats (not squirrels). No rodents survive inside the coop and I only feed in the coop.

I did lose a lot of feed to pigeons and starlings. I tried shooting all the pigeons but ended with flight netting to keep them out. The starlings I shot by going into the coop after dark, closing it up and turned the lights and shot starlings until my arms ached from using a pump up pellet pistol.

The poultry hunt down and eat every mouse or vole that gets near the coop.

 

[Bantambird]

My birds will eat mice and voles too. I catch them in the live trap and feed them to the birds.

 

[JRNash]

I try not to think about that....lol

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I do FF though mine is more like just soaked feed. I leave just a little in the bucket at all times but it's maybe a scoop or two. I refill with feed and water every evening. I just like how they don't scratch much of and hardly waste any. That's why I do it