Arizona Chickens

There is still a huge debate raging about whether scratch will raise the body temperature of poultry. I've seen articles by authors with PhDs that push both sides of the answer. For me, it is more about maintaining the properly balanced diet than it is about the temperature, since I intentionally kept my yard as naturally agreeable to a cool environment as possible. It's absolutely amazing what a good layer of grass and some shade will do for the ambient temperature of your yard. That being said, scratch is very high in carbohydrates and is considered a "hot" feed because of the potential energy it has available through these carbs. Likewise, it is also higher in fat. Both of these can cause health issues in poultry, including the storing of large amounts of fat that can result in hens being egg-bound or unhealthy.

For feeding the fermented feed, I've used several methods and all worked well. For my chickens, I usually used a 9"x13" ceramic baking dish. It was heavy enough that it wouldn't move or get knocked over, but was non-reactive and therefore safe for putting the acidic feed in. For my turkeys, I used a painting tray from Home Depot and drilled two holes in it. At first, I mounted it to the edge of my brooder, but then moved it off the porch and attached it to my pool fence. This allowed me to raise or lower it depending on the height of the birds and their development. Both ways worked very, very well and I will continue to use them when I start my flocks again. Just make sure it is a non-reactive material, or you will start noticing problems in the container. Aluminum and galvanized steel feeding bowls, for instance, are not safe to use.

Demo - thanks - this is also the approach I take. AND I totally appreciate the info regarding FF feeding containers. Off to peruse the second hand stores for containers!!! BTW - before we sent our turkeys to Camp Freezer (man they were good) I used the paint tray method for feeding them - you had posted earlier this method and it worked perfect for me. Thanks again.
 
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Well day 1 of "Operation: Wild Birds are a pain in my rear" was successful. Put the feed trough in the coop and didn't see any wild birds attempt to go through the little coop door. We'll see if this remains the case. I'm not a huge worrier about them getting my chickens sick but it is a concern I keep in mind when they're actually pooping in the feed trough. They also eat a heck of a lot of feed. Hopefully the feed move into the coop stops the problem. Thanks for everyone's help
 
The chicks I ordered arrived. If anyone has a broody and needs chicks this would be good, since these chicks haven't been handled or around people very much. I have barred rocks, red sex links and australorps. PM me if you're interested.
 
We just add water that has no chlorine.. We start to give them their feed by day 2-3.. Sometime we add ACV.. But not always.. We are out of F.F. Right now, using up what Desert Marcy uses..

What part of the valley ??
How are your hens liking that feed?
 
Here's what was on either side of the top underside of my carport a week ago, like two sentinals:







These are Western Screech Owls. I am glad to have them around, they are good mousers.
 
Two more of my young girLs are laying!! I got them Feb 10th at 2 days old, so that makes them just over 4 months! There's 8 that are 4 months old. And a Polish that is 5 months old and has been laying for about a month now. Not sure WHO is laying the pretty brown eggs but I'm thinking its the RRs. My previous batches of hens never laid this young. Maybe its all the baby activity going on around here.
 
Two more of my young girLs are laying!! I got them Feb 10th at 2 days old, so that makes them just over 4 months! There's 8 that are 4 months old. And a Polish that is 5 months old and has been laying for about a month now. Not sure WHO is laying the pretty brown eggs but I'm thinking its the RRs. My previous batches of hens never laid this young. Maybe its all the baby activity going on around here.
I bought mine March 15th at a few days old so we'll see how far I am behind you with getting eggs. I can't wait. Yum.
 
fencing off my broodies worked :weee :celebrate   so far 2 chicks have successfully hatched to my blk ameraucana. I am very excited. now about 35 more eggs and about 3 weeks differences in ages on the rest of the eggs. next year any broody will be separated with the eggs I want to put under her instead of letting her get eggs from all the coop. ah well live and learn. :)

:jumpy :jumpy


How eggciting... Congradulations
 
We just add water that has no chlorine.. We start to give them their feed by day 2-3.. Sometime we add ACV.. But not always.. We are out of F.F. Right now, using up what Desert Marcy uses..


What part of the valley ??

How are your hens liking that feed?


So far they like it.. @arizonachicken took one..
 

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