California - Northern

[Hangtown Farms]

I don't. Rich brought in five bags of the new stuff so people could try it. Of course, we were there and needed food so we bought all five bags. I compared the nutrition labels and they are both pretty close. The new stuff is $3 per bag cheaper. It swaps corn/wheat as the first ingredient, other than that nutrition & ingredients are very close all the way down the line. Except the new feed is higher fat.

The pellets are substantially larger, but still small enough for young birds.

We are trying it. The birds are eating it fine and we'll see how they are doing. We picked up another 15 bags, but then the 20 bags we have is only a 2-3 week supply. So I'll let you know if I see any difference in my birds. Unlikely though in that short time.

DH just told me Coloma Feedstore carries Nutrena, he was discussing it with the shearer when he was here to do our sheep.

I'm sure Hay Barn would still order the Nutrena if it's what everyone wants, he was just trying to save everyone some $$$ I think. We buy half a pallet at a time.

i dont like the looks of the new stuff much

My DH is not usually interested in chickens but has mentioned wanting to try incubating eggs. So, I've been looking at options. I was thinking about just getting an inexpensive Hovabator, until I saw those. If you have an rcom, do you need an additional hatcher?

you can hatch in it but I need to buy a cheaper genisis so I can stagger and they seem easier to clean.
The r-com is fully automated though so you are likely to get better hatches letting it do its thing. my other bator stinks I am not putting anything else in there ever

What?!?!? When did they start that! R & S Hay Barn has been my source for Nutrena All Flock. Crap.

last week. they said they can get it if enough people complain though

 

[lawatt]

ok, got frustrated trying to photograph chicks with my iphone, so dusted off my old DSLR -- so here are some updates!



max



crowing!!



max jr. (SFH x CL, i'm pretty sure speedy was his mom) and eleanor -- max jr is nearly 6 weeks old already!



the one pure isbar from Molly's eggs -- looking like it might be blue? with mom Daisy -- the chicks are nearly 3 weeks old



the CL girl (from Deann) and splash-ish isbar/marans cross (from Molly)



black-ish isbar/marans cross



bella and her 10-day-old birchen marans chicks -- who are totally identical, i can't tell them apart at all



the three araucanas, nearly 4 weeks old



naptime for the splash, blue isbar, & boy CL



the black isbar/marans again



and the little splash again

it is so fantastic to watch them all getting bigger!

 

[chiqita]

beautiful!

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Anyone want a 2 year old New Hampshire roster?

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote:
But just remember that if you're separating for breeding you wouldn't be able to let them free range together and risk another breed rooster breeding out of breed. I have three pens. My layers free range but the Polish and Marans are each in two separate pens and don't free range. I've considered rotating free ranging with the Marana and the EE/layers once these Marans chicks grow because it'll make a pretty large flock. The Polish don't care and have trouble finding their way back due to their crest! They think they free range but that can't see enough to know or not!

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote: I have heard that about Polish, and also if they don't get home before it gets dark they just go to sleep wherever they are standing...

When I did my "breeding pens" I put the cages out on the lawn. I moved them every couple of days so they had fresh grass and they could fertilize another section. They didn't get out of their cages to free-range it is true - but they got more "out" time than their brethen who had to wait until I woke up enough in the morning to let them out... They had to stay in there the 3 weeks for "cleanout" and the 2 weeks for collecting eggs, then they all got put back together. Chicken tractors would work for breeding pens too in secure areas.

As far as rotating the free ranges by pen, I have heard that it works - but if I let one batch out the other one paces the fence and complains.... If you ignore them they finally quit trying to tell you to let them out - just be prepared for the complaining until you "un-train" them...

 

[chiqita]

or just let the hens free range and the rooster fume....

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks for the welcome back. Starting to feel better. Just taken one day at a time.

So glad to hear from you! Hope you are doing well.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Processed 3 boys today. Took me 2 hours from start to finish. They are now resting in the freezer.

Gotta move the 1 welsummer cockerel I'm keeping and 3 pullets to the breeding flock tonight. That will free up some space in the big coop for all the barnevelder juveniles.

Coop cleaning on the schedule for tomorrow. And hopefully my welsummer hen will be healed soon and she can rejoin the flock. Oh, and one of my welsummers is broody - as if I don't have enough broodies as it is.

And I have eggs due to hatch Monday. The chicks are already sold, so they won't be sticking around.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote:
Yes, that's why I have the signature line I do

The Polish don't care and have trouble finding their way back due to their crest! They think they free range but that can't see enough to know or not!