ALABAMA!!

[icandi]

BCM's, and EE's are two of the breeds I was looking at getting but I have nothing set up and no supplies at the moment.. I'm hoping to get my shed cleaned out this weekend with hubby's help so I can start measuring and deciding what will go where and how to make a run off of the shed. We have a fenced in backyard but I don't trust that to keep them safe unless I'm out there with them.
Which reminds me.. could some one tell me about how much chick starter is needed and for how long until layer feed is ok? I just called the hardware store close to me and they do carry the feed in 16%, or 22% protein, or pellets and also chick starter. I don't know prices or brands but it's a relief that if I run low on something I don't have to travel far for more

 

[DeannaA]

BCM's, and EE's are two of the breeds I was looking at getting but I have nothing set up and no supplies at the moment.. I'm hoping to get my shed cleaned out this weekend with hubby's help so I can start measuring and deciding what will go where and how to make a run off of the shed. We have a fenced in backyard but I don't trust that to keep them safe unless I'm out there with them.
Which reminds me.. could some one tell me about how much chick starter is needed and for how long until layer feed is ok? I just called the hardware store close to me and they do carry the feed in 16%, or 22% protein, or pellets and also chick starter. I don't know prices or brands but it's a relief that if I run low on something I don't have to travel far for more

I give mine chick start for 4-6 months. The lower protien unless they shows signs of needing higher protien. During molting is a good time for the higher protien. I ferment my feed and add 20% scratch in the winter. Corn raises the body temp so I avoid it in the summer. Chick start is all they really need until 4 months. I also give bread from the bakery outlet to help with feed costs. Some people say bread, corn and grains can make them fat and lower egg production. Mine seem to lay great and they enjoy the bread and grains. I try not to give them too much. Feed can get expensive. Fermenting cuts down the amount I have to feed and they like it much better than the dry pellets.

 

[Tomtommom]

BCM's, and EE's are two of the breeds I was looking at getting but I have nothing set up and no supplies at the moment.. I'm hoping to get my shed cleaned out this weekend with hubby's help so I can start measuring and deciding what will go where and how to make a run off of the shed. We have a fenced in backyard but I don't trust that to keep them safe unless I'm out there with them.
Which reminds me.. could some one tell me about how much chick starter is needed and for how long until layer feed is ok? I just called the hardware store close to me and they do carry the feed in 16%, or 22% protein, or pellets and also chick starter. I don't know prices or brands but it's a relief that if I run low on something I don't have to travel far for more

I have a fenced in backyard. I've had two hawk attacks. So yes, don't trust a fence alone! My run is 6ft tall, no top and under a HUGE tree, no hawk attacks there. The two times they got attacked was when they ventured into the yard without the shelter of a tree. No worries though, both girls survived and healed back up. I just try to prevent folks from heartache.

And do yourself a favor: Do not skimp out of wire. Get hardware cloth or something similarly sturdy. Don't buy chicken wire. A raccoon or dog will tear through that like it's nothing.

I start my babies on flockraiser/grower feed, day one. I don't do starter, just not really needed. Just more bags you have to finish before starting the next. Layer starts around week 18-20 (depending if I am running out by week 18, or closer to 20. No sooner than 18 weeks though). Some folks use grower feed all the time, simply providing oyster shell on the side. I can only get that stuff in crumble = waste. Pellets last me twice as long as crumble

Can't really tell you how much you'll need, as it really depends how messy your 'kids' will be. Starter/grower is more waste than food, sadly. They just looove to dig in that stuff, poop in it and do other 'non-eating' activities with it.

 

[icandi]

Ha! thanks sounds like the kids I have now

My 4 little mess makers, the dog makes 5 and I'm about to add a whole bunch more lol

I've never seen a hawk around here but plenty of opossums and raccoons. Since I'm on a dead end street there's a bit of woods a couple houses down so no telling what's in there really. I had a look at the rafters inside the building and there's some gaps under each one where I can see out... maybe big enough for a squirrel or small bird to get in. Those would need some hardware cloth too right? I figured they don't need completely covered since it would help with ventilation... heat rises and all that.

 

[DeannaA]

I have read grower is for meat birds to help them gain faster. And for layer birds it's better for them to gain slower to give their bones more time to grow and strengthen. This is not true?

 

[Wisher1000]

Starter/grower is specially formulated for young growing poultry. It provides the proper balance of nutrition that is required to support bone, muscle, feather, and nervous system developement. I use starter, supplemented with gamebird starter (higher protein,) for at least three months. I will then cut back on the gamebird but they will get BOSS (blk oil sunflower seeds) and some Calf Manna occasionally. If I could get All Flock I would use that from four months to first egg but I can't so I continue the starter until I switch them to layer. I use a special mix for the adult breeder pen birds. Four parts layer, two parts gamebird starter, one part Boss, one part Calf Manna. The layer flock get layer pellets and free range all day. I have been giving them some added horse feed (senior, sweet feed, and all-in-one pellets) because I had it left over when my old gelding died and I hate to waste it. I've been mixing it into the hopper with the layer pellets, about 2/3 chicken feed and 1/3 horse feed.

 

[waynec1955]

I feed my chicks starter for 4 weeks (and grit) and them switch to grower until 18 weeks. At 18 weeks I switch to layer. I use 16% protein feeds and my birds free range. They get scratch feed as a supplement/treat.My birds also get fresh vegetable scraps and left overs on occasion. Our chickens are for egg prodution and insect control.

 

[Dragonfly216]

Hi! I'm from the Birmingham area myself! I haven't gotten started with my chickens just yet, just been researching and getting very excited We have a fenced in area that has been used for them previously and we just started clearing out the leaves and digging a trench around it to sink some chicken wire down deep to detract predators hopefully! Then the plan is build the coop and lay chicken wire over the top to keep anything from climbing in at night! We live in a pretty wooded area, the only real clearing is by the pond. Has anyone had luck with free-roaming their chickens during the day in the woods areas? I see at least one hawk flying around and have seen a coyote one morning, but we have two dogs that don't mess with chickens, so I think maybe they would protect them? I would love to let them free roam! But I do have a very heavy chicken tractor already built if I HAVE to use it

 

[Dragonfly216]

Didn't mean to post this here, lol!

 

[Dragonfly216]

My coop is mostly open, with a sheltered area. They were keeping eachother toasty last night.. only had to break some ice in their water this morning.


Back to the rooster thing. I *just* found out the girl is NOT a girl. I have spent the last 17 weeks raising two roosters. I am SO upset. I noticed a bit of hackle feathers coming in last week, but kind of shrugged it off. Going to have to cull him, as he has weird deformed toes.. something I was willing to deal with in a hen, but a rooster is going to breed and that's just no good (I don't think it's genetic.. but who wants a deformed rooster if you can get good ones a dime a dozen?).

Keeping the pretty fellah a while longer, as he's quiet.... going to have to dispatch the other shortly. No use even cleaning him... lanky bird without meat. *sigh* What a waste of time.

I've been reading where you can make a nice chicken broth from roosters, even old ones, and freeze it in 1 cup increments for later use! Just an idea!