BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Our Roost]

Steak and fries? I will trade you for a leftover ham bone. Ha ha.
Runny stools can bring concern. Before you become totally alarmed remember a few things that could be contributing to it. I myself experience this on occaision. Chickens disperse their fluid intake excretions through their rear vent along with their normal discharge of waste. Because of the spring thaw and melting of snow and ice they tend to drink a lot from puddles and such.

 

[Our Roost]

Darned! I hit the send button before I was finished. Anyway, chickens digestive systems tend to get irritated and sometimes cause the results you are seeing. A good summer rain does the same. Hope its nothing serious and clears up for you.

 

[Beekissed]

Hope that everyone had a good holiday. We had steak and homemade fries with onions. Now that the rain has stopped I've been able to get outside today and do a few things. My SIL goes with me but said from now on just to take my phone.

I see so many things that have been neglected due to my rehab 3 weeks and I can't wait to go gang busters until I get them done. I do have a concern. With white chickens it's appearant. Maybe getting unlimited food while I was gone or have mites or something, 3 of my girls have the runs. SIL also changed the layer pellets while I was gone. They all need to be able to get out and roam daily. Suggestions? Ideas?

Time. The change in feed, increased laying, increased water intake due to the switch to dry feed while you were away....you name it, anything could be causing it but I'd just give them time to adjust to whatever changes they are going through.

My layers have the train tracks too right now but that happens every year when laying is hot and heavy, new spring grasses are growing, their diet changes from winter to spring, etc., but I never give it a second's thought. Poop happens.

 

[hellbender]

Time. The change in feed, increased laying, increased water intake due to the switch to dry feed while you were away....you name it, anything could be causing it but I'd just give them time to adjust to whatever changes they are going through.

My layers have the train tracks too right now but that happens every year when laying is hot and heavy, new spring grasses are growing, their diet changes from winter to spring, etc., but I never give it a second's thought. Poop happens.

I might add...along with the prescribed 'time'....I would likely provide electrolytes in their water for a couple days or so.

 

[armorfirelady]

My layers have the train tracks too right now but that happens every year when laying is hot and heavy, new spring grasses are growing, their diet changes from winter to spring, etc., but I never give it a second's thought. Poop happens.

My hens get them to. Every spring it seems. I figure its because they are out scratching in the leaves and garden and getting all sorts of goodies & it causes it. I also think their winter feathers are part of the problem. I will trim the *pants* soon so they are cleaner. Once spring decides to stay & they are out on the grass the problems usually rectifies itself.

 

[hellbender]

Well, another die is cast. A young man who is helping Jason get out hay and ensilage machinery ready to go to work has expressed an interest in the Buckeye chickens so...I told him if he is really serious, talk to his dad (the kid's a senior in high school) and if the birds are welcome, he's to show up here late Saturday evening and be ready to haul about 20 or so 10-month old pullets home with him. I know his dad well and that they have a place to coop them.

I might through a randy cockerel in, for good measure. The kid knows his way around diesel engines and this little 'bonus' is just good business because I can always count on him to do heavy manual work too...like hefting our heavy
small bails of second and third cutting that is especially set aside for the goats.

I'm keeping 3 Buckeye pullets and two cockerels. That should (hopefully) handle any needs I have for next year.

There is a moratorium here on any new birds being brought in, at least for the near future. I'm aware that AI could strike anyway but no reason to court trouble.

RON

 

[LindaB220]

Time. The change in feed, increased laying, increased water intake due to the switch to dry feed while you were away....you name it, anything could be causing it but I'd just give them time to adjust to whatever changes they are going through.

My layers have the train tracks too right now but that happens every year when laying is hot and heavy, new spring grasses are growing, their diet changes from winter to spring, etc., but I never give it a second's thought. Poop happens.

Now this relieves my mind. The fermented feed I made should be able to be fed out starting tomorrow. Maybe get them back to normal. I bought a hovor bator 1588 with air and turner. Not the best, by any means, but what I can afford and a big jump up from Farmers Innovators. Get some of these Blosl and XW eggs cooking. Yea!!!!

 

[LindaB220]

Well, another die is cast. A young man who is helping Jason get out hay and ensilage machinery ready to go to work has expressed an interest in the Buckeye chickens so...I told him if he is really serious, talk to his dad (the kid's a senior in high school) and if the birds are welcome, he's to show up here late Saturday evening and be ready to haul about 20 or so 10-month old pullets home with him. I know his dad well and that they have a place to coop them.

I might through a randy cockerel in, for good measure. The kid knows his way around diesel engines and this little 'bonus' is just good business because I can always count on him to do heavy manual work too...like hefting our heavy
small bails of second and third cutting that is especially set aside for the goats.

I'm keeping 3 Buckeye pullets and two cockerels. That should (hopefully) handle any needs I have for next year.

There is a moratorium here on any new birds being brought in, at least for the near future. I'm aware that AI could strike anyway but no reason to court trouble.

RON

This is so like you Ron. Pay it forward. Always helping out. You are a good person.

 

[hellbender]

This is so like you Ron. Pay it forward. Always helping out. You are a good person.

Well...the kid is the one who is really helping out. Not only is he a reliable worker, he is also doing me a favor and taking some pullets off my hands that I have no use for and I really don't want to put them into the 'feed process' since they are so young and productive...thus keeping Ariel off my back at the same time...WIN-WIN...

 

[bmvf]

I think the topic of thermometer's has been discussed here but I can't find the discussion.

I'm looking to start another hatch today and was warming up my incubator and decided to check my thermometer. I artificial inseminate my dairy cows and had a card thermometer that is used in the water batch where the numbers illuminate when it reaches a certain temp. I also had a few dial thermometer's also for the water batch. All say a different temp. I read on another thread about calibrating in a ice water batch. Is that the way to go or are there better ways to calibrate with a higher temp?