Arizona Chickens

[heidisue]

D

If anyone else is interested, this just popped up on one of the other threads I'm involved in...  I am in no way involved in this...

Darn, I can't believe I missed that!

 

[MaddBaggins]

I moved my brew cart to the patio so I could let the girls free range while I brew.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I moved my brew cart to the patio so I could let the girls free range while I brew.

Cool. So cool, I am going to have to make the trip.

Did you know that Elephants love corn mash and beer? If there is a still anyplace they will raid it. Then go on a drunken rampage. . . Sort of. They are like people when drunk, some get mean, some get overly fun loving, some just stand there with a Sicily grin.

 

[ChicksOfHazzard]

I don't get it, 5 girls have laid eggs of my 8. But I am getting 2 eggs a day, one today. I can not find any ground eggs. I wonder if I am doing something wrong?
I just changed their feed, I am still fermenting it. I had putting oats, millet (white, red, and German), sunflower both shelled and unshelled, punkpin seeds (raw), barley (whole), and svelt (not sure of the spelling). Not equale quantities, mostly sunflower, millet and oats. A out 1:8 seeds and regulate egg feed. It has soy in it. I didn't catch that when I read the ingredients. I do not like soy. I need to find a no soy feed that I can afford. I have the info on other sources. Need to fallow up on it.

They are terribly spoiled. When I just give them greens they do not eat it. When I chop it up into thin strips it is gone.

What percentage of protein are you at with your feed? For laying hens, I believe it should be 16-20% protein. And of course they should be getting free-choice oyster shell for calcium.

Edit:
And with regards to sources for feed, have you tried the Phoenix Organic Feed Coop? They have organic, soy free, with or without fish meal. Reasonably priced. Pickups in Phoenix and Tucson. http://www.phoenixorganicfeed.com

 

[MaddBaggins]

Cool. So cool, I am going to have to make the trip.

Did you know that Elephants love corn mash and beer? If there is a still anyplace they will raid it. Then go on a drunken rampage. . . Sort of. They are like people when drunk, some get mean, some get overly fun loving, some just stand there with a Sicily grin.

Good thing there's no SouthBound Pachyderms in my neighborhood.

I'm a cross between the latter two.

 

[MaddBaggins]

What percentage of protein are you at with your feed? For laying hens, I believe it should be 16-20% protein. And of course they should be getting free-choice oyster shell for calcium.

Speaking of calcium, I've been saving eggshells to crush up and offer to the girls. I though I read here somewhere to bake them first. I'm assuming 350˚ for 10-15 min. I've rinsed all of them right after cracking so egg residue is minimal.

 

[Demosthine]

Speaking of calcium, I've been saving eggshells to crush up and offer to the girls. I though I read here somewhere to bake them first. I'm assuming 350˚ for 10-15 min. I've rinsed all of them right after cracking so egg residue is minimal.

If you are in a hurry to dry them out or are overly concerned about diseases, then yes, you can bake them. Otherwise, many of us just leave them sitting in a bucket for a few days and they'll get rather brittle. My Mom and I both do that at our houses and then I break up the shells when the bucket is mostly full. We don't rinse them or anything and there's been no problems so far. Just make sure there is ample air flow and you should be fine. We don't cover our bucket. To be perfectly honest, it's just a large bucket that you'd take to the beach with you or something. It was left in the garage when we bought the new house, I think.

Salmonella requires a moist environment to breed, so leaving it in the dry open air will prevent this. That is the primary cause for baking, aside from the "drying" aspect. Besides, a properly maintained flock should be easily resistant to it, especially those who are fed fermented feed and have superior gastrointestinal flora.

 

[MaddBaggins]

If you are in a hurry to dry them out or are overly concerned about diseases, then yes, you can bake them. Otherwise, many of us just leave them sitting in a bucket for a few days and they'll get rather brittle. My Mom and I both do that at our houses and then I break up the shells when the bucket is mostly full. We don't rinse them or anything and there's been no problems so far. Just make sure there is ample air flow and you should be fine. We don't cover our bucket. To be perfectly honest, it's just a large bucket that you'd take to the beach with you or something. It was left in the garage when we bought the new house, I think.

Salmonella requires a moist environment to breed, so leaving it in the dry open air will prevent this. That is the primary cause for baking, aside from the "drying" aspect. Besides, a properly maintained flock should be easily resistant to it, especially those who are fed fermented feed and have superior gastrointestinal flora.

Good info! I thought the baking was to ensure there is no egg residue that could give the girls a taste for raw egg. I have them in a large coffee can by the kitchen sink. I crush them down when the can gets full.

 

[jbolt]

Ok my chicken math got a bit outta control....I have a pullet package I'd like to offer. All are between 1.5 and 3 months old. 3 ee ameracaunas, 2 white Leghorn /minorca,and 2golden comets . All for 50, or trade for layers.

 

[MaddBaggins]

My girls are getting spoiled today.
First they had corn on the cob and banana, bright and early this morning.
Then they had free range time.
Then they had 2 bowls of yogurt mixed with oats.
Now they have a pile of brew grain.