Australorps breed Thread

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Thanks for the info ....Im a pop corn nut...I guess Im in Trouble ..
Doesnt Fermenting food help with that anti-nutrient thing ?

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks for the info ....Im a pop corn nut...I guess Im in Trouble ..
Doesnt Fermenting food help with that anti-nutrient thing ?

Unfortunately, no...not with corn.

(And believe me....I really do miss the taste of corn. Nothing tastes more like summer than freshly cooked corn on the cob smothered in butter, but it's a personal choice.)

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Oh yeah! I'm a bit fanatical about their feed. I have a local supplier of organic, soy-free, corn-free, canola-free fresh layer feed of 16% - 18% protein that I also ferment. Plus I supplement with greens from my garden, occasional treats of apples or seed blocks or meal worms, and whatever bugs, lizards, weeds and grasses they can find. 

Thanks for you feedback!

I love how you feed! Do you offer oyster shells?

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Gramma,
I was trying for a white australorp but it turned out to be a splash cockerel.
Kurt

 

[DesertChic]

I love how you feed! Do you offer oyster shells?

Thanks! Absolutely on the oyster shells...as much as they want. Though once they're laying more regularly I will probably keep the shells from their eggs to feed back to them....save myself a little money.

 

[chickisoup]

Wow, it must be spring! I am 200+ posts behind on you chatty folks. Not going to try to catch up on the comments so I'll just say Hi to everyone.
I have to say I am a bit disappointed with my Cackle BA's. They are only a few weeks from being a year old, on top quality feed the whole time and they are no bigger than my red stars and I was hoping for better conformation. Good layers and nice healthy girls so I'm keeping them, but they definitely are not breeding stock. If they decide to go broody I'll still put them to work on some quality eggs.

 

[ronott1]

Wow, it must be spring! I am 200+ posts behind on you chatty folks. Not going to try to catch up on the comments so I'll just say Hi to everyone.
I have to say I am a bit disappointed with my Cackle BA's. They are only a few weeks from being a year old, on top quality feed the whole time and they are no bigger than my red stars and I was hoping for better conformation. Good layers and nice healthy girls so I'm keeping them, but they definitely are not breeding stock. If they decide to go broody I'll still put them to work on some quality eggs.

Yes, hatchery BAs will be a pound or two below standard in weight. Good for egg layers but bad for meat production. They have lost their dual purpose designation.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

That is the difference between a large fowl standard bred BA from a breeder, and your typical hatchery BA.
Kurt

 

[chickisoup]

Thanks guys for the wise input.

Guess I was a bit too quick to believe the catalogue. Like I said, they are healthy girls, (as I said before, one turned out to be a roo) and the shipping, tho expensive, was great, but I guess I am just going to have to try and find a quality breeder.

 

[DesertChic]

Woohoo! I think one of my Aussie girls is finally laying! The daily egg I had been getting from my Barred Rock had a "friend" yesterday, and I'm pretty sure it's from one of the Aussies. It's a paler, creamy tan color rather than "peachy" like my BR eggs. I was so tickled to see that second egg that I wanted to go around and hug all my birds...but this flock really isn't a flock of "huggers" so I just gave them some fresh greens from my garden instead.