ALABAMA!!

[MarineCorpFarmr]

How'd it get in?  I have a 6' privacy fence but I am so worried there is something I haven't thought of.  I have netting over the top and a locked coop.  

Have to think about what can get under that fence too

 

[Tomtommom]

The thing with chicken keeping is that you WILL lose some. We know chicken is tasty, so does every other predator. Do the best you can do, protection wise, but always keep that thought in mind.

 

[RedneckGurl]

Quote:
Tomtom...it's not difficult, far from it. My fermented feed mix contains only three basic things: layer crumbles, three grain scratch, and a little BOSS. You just add water, stir it up until it is like a thick soup, and wait a few days, stirring and adding water if it gets too dry. I like mine the consistency of thick mortar but that's a personal preference.

I've been fermenting my feed now for months and the birds LOVE it. You can also add unfiltered ACV when you first mix it up to speed up the fermentation process but it's not necessary. I also will add garlic powder to mine every week or so as I've been told it can function as a natural dewormer. During these cold days, I still ferment mine in the storage area of my coop but in a flip top Igloo cooler using very hot water from the bathtub faucet (instead of a plastic bucket and water from the hose like in hot weather). The cooler keeps the mixture insulated to hold in the heat so it can still ferment and it doesn't freeze. I have 32 birds and I add to my mixture about every other day. I made some more up this morning after I fed them and by the time I open the cooler tomorrow morning, it will have a light white layer of scoby on top and smell slightly sour (a good thing).

There is a very good thread on here about fermenting feeds and the best resource is a BYC member who goes by the name Beekissed. Very knowledgeable but also has a VERY sensible view on raising chickens which is basically "if it's hard or complicated, you're not doing it right".

 

[Orps]

I live in Moulton, North Central Alabama, Hatching Eggs For Sale,, English Chocolate Bantam Orpington's $40 a Dozen,,,, Black, Blue, Splash LG Fowl Ameraucana $35 a Dozen,,,, Barred Rock Bantams $20 a Dozen,,,, My Jubilee Orpingtons just started laying and I will be selling chicks and hatching eggs from them Also I will sell a few of my True Araucana eggs,

You are making me want to get chickens again very badly. Love orps and aracuana(don't see those around very often)!!.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
The Tractor Supply near Byron Ga told me about mid February. Last year they got the chicks in on Tuesday.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
Where are you located?

 

[cgbama]

In the Pell City, AL area

 

[Tomtommom]

Tomtom...it's not difficult, far from it. My fermented feed mix contains only three basic things: layer crumbles, three grain scratch, and a little BOSS. You just add water, stir it up until it is like a thick soup, and wait a few days, stirring and adding water if it gets too dry. I like mine the consistency of thick mortar but that's a personal preference.

I've been fermenting my feed now for months and the birds LOVE it. You can also add unfiltered ACV when you first mix it up to speed up the fermentation process but it's not necessary. I also will add garlic powder to mine every week or so as I've been told it can function as a natural dewormer. During these cold days, I still ferment mine in the storage area of my coop but in a flip top Igloo cooler using very hot water from the bathtub faucet (instead of a plastic bucket and water from the hose like in hot weather). The cooler keeps the mixture insulated to hold in the heat so it can still ferment and it doesn't freeze. I have 32 birds and I add to my mixture about every other day. I made some more up this morning after I fed them and by the time I open the cooler tomorrow morning, it will have a light white layer of scoby on top and smell slightly sour (a good thing).

There is a very good thread on here about fermenting feeds and the best resource is a BYC member who goes by the name Beekissed. Very knowledgeable but also has a VERY sensible view on raising chickens which is basically "if it's hard or complicated, you're not doing it right".

That sounds very, VERY doable. My girls sure love 'wet food'. They go nuts for a bowl of oatmeal. I will certainly try sometime soon.

 

[RedneckGurl]

Quote:
On these very cold mornings we had recently (single digit temps) I cooked a large pot of oatmeal and mixed their fermented feed with it before dishing it out - they went NUTS!

 

[Orps]

I can't believe it. I found someone near me that has Phoenix. They are going to give me some when they start breeding.

You must post pictures when you get them