Arizona Chickens

[mom-to-5]

I quit doing the FF but won't make that mistake again. The flies are not around as much now that I've started back. It makes their feathers shiny, firm stools, eat less and clean the bowl where without it fermented, they were wasting/scattering feed. I love it. It looks messy like it would be hard to clean but I use a cat litter scoop to drain it, and with a hose and NO Scrubbing it comes spotless. Seems like the wild birds don't like it either, but I don't really know if that's true. There have been less though for whatever reason.

How many birds are you feeding with the 5 gal bucket? Our flock is gonna triple when I move and will be needing to up the size of my current system.

Right now I'm feeding 6 laying hens and seven 13 week old pullets. The way I do it, not replenishing daily, the 5 gallon bucket last about 5 days, give or take, but I usually don't have it completely full. Then I just refill and add more water to the old slosh. I did leave for vacation once for 10 days so I filled the bucket up. At the time I had 8 laying hens and there was plenty of feed for the caretaker plus several more days after my return. How many will you be feeding?

 

[K9Dave]

Right now I'm feeding 6 laying hens and seven 13 week old pullets. The way I do it, not replenishing daily, the 5 gallon bucket last about 5 days, give or take, but I usually don't have it completely full. Then I just refill and add more water to the old slosh. I did leave for vacation once for 10 days so I filled the bucket up. At the time I had 8 laying hens and there was plenty of feed for the caretaker plus several more days after my return. How many will you be feeding?

My 9 young soon to be layers and I think maybe 10 of hers. So you keep 2 buckets in rotation or just start a new one when it's empty? The fist couple of feedings wouldn't be fermented right if I start a new bucket? I was maybe thinking that if I bought a few buckets that I could have a steady rotation.

 

[mom-to-5]

My 9 young soon to be layers and I think maybe 10 of hers. So you keep 2 buckets in rotation or just start a new one when it's empty? The fist couple of feedings wouldn't be fermented right if I start a new bucket? I was maybe thinking that if I bought a few buckets that I could have a steady rotation.

No need for two buckets! Initially, it takes a couple days for the feed to ferment, after that, I will add in the morning when I notice the bucket getting low after I feed for the day (there is usually 1-2 days worth of FF left in the bucket), full it up again, add water to cover and by the next morning it's bubbling again...all ready to go. I do keep my FF outside so the heat speeds up the process. Keeping the same batch going prevents the waiting for fermentation. I only clean out the bucket and start new if something seems "off".

 

[kacklinkelly]

Doggy door trained Chicken.

Thank you for making me smile! Lost my first chicken today. Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have. Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs. She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs. Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week. Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color. I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes. She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in. I was glad I was holding her when she passed. I know that's more about me than her. Thanks for listening.

 

[mom-to-5]

My 9 young soon to be layers and I think maybe 10 of hers. So you keep 2 buckets in rotation or just start a new one when it's empty? The fist couple of feedings wouldn't be fermented right if I start a new bucket? I was maybe thinking that if I bought a few buckets that I could have a steady rotation.

I'm guessing with about 20 hens a 5 gallon may last about 4-5 days or so if it's full...but then again all hens are different. I have one, my BO, that eats constantly and my BA hardly eats anything???
But, then again, you could always replenish the feed daily by adding a couple cups of dry feed and water to cover after your feedings. I'm just too lazy for this method and sometimes my daughter helps feed the chickens, just scooping and rinsing the strainer off is easier for her.

 

[mom-to-5]

Thank you for making me smile!  Lost my first chicken today.  Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have.  Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs.  She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs.  Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week.  Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color.  I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes.  She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in.  I was glad I was holding her when she passed.  I know that's more about me than her.  Thanks for listening.  

Condolences! I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have gotten very attached to our girls, we call them our "working pets".

 

[City farm]

Doggy door trained Chicken.

Thank you for making me smile! Lost my first chicken today. Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have. Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs. She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs. Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week. Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color. I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes. She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in. I was glad I was holding her when she passed. I know that's more about me than her. Thanks for listening.

Condolences from us..

 

[chicksurreal]

Thank you for making me smile! Lost my first chicken today. Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have. Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs. She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs. Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week. Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color. I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes. She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in. I was glad I was holding her when she passed. I know that's more about me than her. Thanks for listening.

So sorry you lost her.

I'd never have believed how much I could love chickens either, it still amazes me.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Thank you for making me smile!  Lost my first chicken today.  Never would have imagined they would grow on me as much as they have.  Had 3 and only 2 layed eggs.  She was our best layer and layed the biggest eggs.  Not sure what the cause was, just slowed down laying this week.  Layed a smaller egg than usual two days ago, became listless today and layed under a bush. Her comb and waddles were light in color.  I brought her in the house and tried to get her to drink some electrolytes.  She had a little bit, The color started coming back, she got a little feisty but was gone within an hour of bringing her in.  I was glad I was holding her when she passed.  I know that's more about me than her.  Thanks for listening.  

So sorry about your biddy.

 

[jubilation]

I know this is a silly question as most peoples chickens have slowed down and all with the heat....but, anyone have extra eggs I could buy and live near Mesa?
My 6 laying hens are leaving us only 2-4 a day right now and the 7 pullets are only 13 weeks. That's not cutting it for my family of 7. Before I go buy store bought eggs I was hoping that just maybe someone else had way more than they could use that I could buy from them. Let me know if you have extra!

Too bad you live way down in Mesa cause I've got eggs coming out the wazoo.