Arkansas folks speak up.........

[draye]

All my cockerels and pullets (but 2) are about 18 weeks old yet. I think it will be a few more weeks but my little hormone crazed boys have been riding my girls for about a month and even attempt each other if I have the girls locked up. They also jump on my 2 littlest ( 10 weeks old) girls. I'm thinking it doesn't make any difference if the girls are ready to lay or not.

You are correct. It doesn't matter to them, how old the ladies are.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Ok, I know you guys are tired of my cochin issues but, the fair is coming up. I can only take 5 birds. I have 2 picked out but I would like advise on the other 3 to take. And also what you think their colors should be called. Thanks!

 

[draye]

Ok, I know you guys are tired of my cochin issues but, the fair is coming up. I can only take 5 birds. I have 2 picked out but I would like advise on the other 3 to take. And also what you think their colors should be called. Thanks!

JMHO. The ones in the fifth picture the Buff on the right, it doesn't appear to have any background colors in the picture. The sixth picture, looks like a Silver Laced. Id at least take those two and maybe one of the Lemon Blues. The one pictured in the fourth one looks like a Mottled Lemon Blue ( is that white flake looking spots on it?).

 

[Puddin Fluff]

1 and 2 are same bird lemon blue
3 and 4 are same bird Red?
5 bird on left and 9 are same bird Red/Brown?
5 bird on right and 6 are same bird or buff?
7 and 8 are same bird. silver laced

So you think silverlace and buff. Ok. Thanks.

Sorry if the pics are confusing. they loaded in a different order than I thought I posted.

 

[Kcarp03]

My girls are almost 15 weeks old, when should I start them on Layer feed & when to start giving the Oyster shells?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

When they begin laying, I would phase out the starter and phase in the layer. I would go ahead and put out Oyster shell in some containers for them to take free choice. They seem to know when they need it. It isn't a perfect science. If you still have starter/grower just mix it with the layer until you use it up. No use wasting feed and they will be fine if they have the oyster shell free choice. Do you have any boys?

 

[Kcarp03]

When they begin laying, I would phase out the starter and phase in the layer. I would go ahead and put out Oyster shell in some containers for them to take free choice. They seem to know when they need it. It isn't a perfect science. If you still have starter/grower just mix it with the layer until you use it up. No use wasting feed and they will be fine if they have the oyster shell free choice. Do you have any boys?

Ok thank you! I know everyone has their favorite feed, I've been reading thru the forums looking for information on what % Protein works best, plant protein only vs animal protein, etc. Any specific brands that seem to work better? We had 2 Roosters, gave 1 to our Neighbor and was looking to give the other one away & 1 of our dogs got a hold of it somehow & killed him. My daughter was devastated!! So now we're down to 10 Hens.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Ok thank you! I know everyone has their favorite feed, I've been reading thru the forums looking for information on what % Protein works best, plant protein only vs animal protein, etc. Any specific brands that seem to work better? We had 2 Roosters, gave 1 to our Neighbor and was looking to give the other one away & 1 of our dogs got a hold of it somehow & killed him. My daughter was devastated!! So now we're down to 10 Hens.

I ask about the roos because they don't need the calcium in the layer feed and it can actually be bad for them. I actually feed my flock layer feed pellets and then I put game bird flight developer crumbles over it. I run a mixed flock and this has worked well for me. Partly my feed habits are shaped by what is easily available and price but I feel this combination allows my boys, any chicks, and any molting hens to get the extra protein they need. I have some girls going on 4 that still lay so I think it works pretty well.

 

[Kcarp03]

I ask about the roos because they don't need the calcium in the layer feed and it can actually be bad for them. I actually feed my flock layer feed pellets and then I put game bird flight developer crumbles over it. I run a mixed flock and this has worked well for me. Partly my feed habits are shaped by what is easily available and price but I feel this combination allows my boys, any chicks, and any molting hens to get the extra protein they need. I have some girls going on 4 that still lay so I think it works pretty well.

Gotcha, thank you for all the info!! I've also read if you're used to giving them treats & table scraps that it will cut down on the protein they're getting because the Layer feed only has 16% protein. I guess some people just give regular feed with higher protein & add the Oyster shell for calcium? We do give them treats & scraps, so trying to decide my game plan. They're about 15 weeks, so I'm thinking I have several weeks to decide for sure. Also wondering about the different proteins, the plant protein vs animal as I've been reading that Chickens need animal protein. Sounds like the game bird flight developer crumbles you are adding, maybe has more protein? I'm going to check out what my local CoOp carries as opposed to Tractor Supply,etc.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Gotcha, thank you for all the info!! I've also read if you're used to giving them treats & table scraps that it will cut down on the protein they're getting because the Layer feed only has 16% protein. I guess some people just give regular feed with higher protein & add the Oyster shell for calcium? We do give them treats & scraps, so trying to decide my game plan. They're about 15 weeks, so I'm thinking I have several weeks to decide for sure. Also wondering about the different proteins, the plant protein vs animal as I've been reading that Chickens need animal protein. Sounds like the game bird flight developer crumbles you are adding, maybe has more protein? I'm going to check out what my local CoOp carries as opposed to Tractor Supply,etc.

Our layer feed has 17% and the Gamebird has 22% It also has all the other things that chickens would need with the calcium exception. It also costs more. You could feed it with just Oyster shell free choice on the side and be fine. I don't exclusively fee the crumbles because I find there is more waste with the crumbles as they seem to prefer to scratch their feed out of the feeder and eat it off the floor of the coop.

We also bake and re-feed our egg shells to help with the calcium. We also give veggies and other scraps and they get several hours a day of free range time so they are eating seeds, grass, bugs - whatever. Most people don't realize that chickens are really an omnivore - they eat plant matter and "meat" in the form of bugs, frogs, mice, snakes, whatever they find. Tiny little dinosaurs with feathers! They do need their protein.