California - Northern

[ronott1]

Wow! Using this method I only have 5 chickens and am within the County guidelines! Yay!!!

Your chickens are all poofing up nicely Ron. They are really looking good.

I am trying to finish the bag of Organic Costco feed, and I really don't think they are liking it. They are all losing weight. It could be a coinsidence with the move and all, but I am going back to the King Freedom and see if things improve.

Man I miss one day on here and have 99 posts to catch up on.

This morning I was rushing (because I was late, Surprise!) and went to let the chickens out and noticed two soft shell eggs on the poop tray. I hadn't seen any since the first one on Wednesday. I must have missed them because they were soft shelled and it was kind of dark when I got home. The first egg was a nice thick shell, then two membrane only.

Tonight I got back from Anaheim (day trip to see mom) and I got my first Welsummer egg! Yay! In the bucket nesting box. I think the buckets might be a little too small for the Orpingtons..... I am going to try to put a different one out there tomorrow and see what happens. Here are the two firsts side by side. Amazing the color difference.

I am at the limit for my place too! Well a bit over....

Give them a bag of Freedom Starter and then switch to the layer. The extra protein will help them recover. The layer is too low in protein. Of course give them free choice calcium.

Today I let the Australorps out into the yard. a bit later I heard some loud noises and discovered that the Penedesencas and broken out of their pen! I figured why not let the Pita Pintas join the party. All of them found their homes tonight, except for the Basque hen that stays with the Pita Pintas in a grow out tractor. I looked around the yard for her and found her peering in the sliding glass door! She wanted to go into the house instead of her Grow out tractor.

I moved her back to where she belonged and she jumped up onto the roost with the Pita Pintas.

It was really something to see all of those colors out in the yard.

 

[OR4-hmom]

I still wouldn't make it in the city, I'm at 8 breeds and that's combining large fowl, bantams and varieties on a few breeds.

 

[ronott1]

I still wouldn't make it in the city, I'm at 8 breeds and that's combining large fowl, bantams and varieties on a few breeds.

If I lived in the country I would be like Papa Brooder or Debs_flock.

I have 0 chicken will power.

 

[OR4-hmom]

I just ran through them again and I have 10 not 8. Not counting quail or pigeons since they don't really crow. I think my pillow is calling me, I've been up since 5 this morning and wearing down.

I'll have to see if I can get a picture of Hans and the bbs or bantam we kept, she is such a sweetie.

Night all, good chicken dreams.

 

[AmyPaperlady]

We went shopping today! The pictures of my girls playing with the birds we didn't get (ours were boxed up by then) came out much better than the ones of our actual birds, but oh, well!



No one was pooped upon.



The GLW does actually have a head, I swear! I'm pretty sure everyone went to bed with a full crop--I think they were at the feeder for half an hour.

 

[ronott1]

We went shopping today! The pictures of my girls playing with the birds we didn't get (ours were boxed up by then) came out much better than the ones of our actual birds, but oh, well!



No one was pooped upon.



The GLW does actually have a head, I swear! I'm pretty sure everyone went to bed with a full crop--I think they were at the feeder for half an hour.

I am so happy for you!

All of the Girls look so happy too.

 

[itgns]

:3 My chicks are starting to be comfortable with me picking them up. And it's about time seeing as how I've been transporting them back and forth between the brooder and their pen outside! I was tired of them all freaking out and running away and knocking things over when I would try to pick them up. Everyone is starting to be calmer about it now. My Easter Egger is still a little shy, but she's coming around. It's a nice relief to see them crowd around the fence of the pen when I come outside instead of running and hiding from me. Also, when I come home from work at 8 in the morning (I work grave shift) they hear my voice and start chirping and trilling as soon as I come in the door. They know it's going-outside-time.

 

[lawatt]

I am at the limit for my place too! Well a bit over....

Give them a bag of Freedom Starter and then switch to the layer. The extra protein will help them recover. The layer is too low in protein. Of course give them free choice calcium.

for what it's worth, since i have boys in the same pens with my girls, i switched to the Freedom broiler feed -- has higher protein than the layer, and now the girls just nibble on extra oyster shell to get their calcium. seems to be working well for everyone.

 

[ronott1]

:3 My chicks are starting to be comfortable with me picking them up. And it's about time seeing as how I've been transporting them back and forth between the brooder and their pen outside! I was tired of them all freaking out and running away and knocking things over when I would try to pick them up. Everyone is starting to be calmer about it now. My Easter Egger is still a little shy, but she's coming around. It's a nice relief to see them crowd around the fence of the pen when I come outside instead of running and hiding from me. Also, when I come home from work at 8 in the morning (I work grave shift) they hear my voice and start chirping and trilling as soon as I come in the door. They know it's going-outside-time.

That is great to hear!

Handling them does help. Pullets often start being friendlier when they get close to laying eggs too.

 

[ronott1]

for what it's worth, since i have boys in the same pens with my girls, i switched to the Freedom broiler feed -- has higher protein than the layer, and now the girls just nibble on extra oyster shell to get their calcium. seems to be working well for everyone.

Some of the places that carry King Feed do not carry all of their product line. Broiler feed would be great if they have it.

@capayvalleychick is having trouble getting one of them from Western Pet in Davis.