California - Northern

[ronott1]

Do you guys have an easy way to give the worming medicine to the chickens? I have the Valbazen and I don't relish the idea of catching each one and forcing it down their throat. Some some to be a little easier to work with some and not so easy. Mine don't seem to like bread.

If it is inject-able(it must be if you give it to them by mouth) Then you should be able to put the medicine in the water fountain like ivermectin.

 

[capayvalleychick]

My Fogel Rhode Island Red was High Steppin today!

Check out the chicken Tails!

She's looking good.. how old? Good shot of the tails!

Not a common concern but feeding corn to white birds will tint the feathers. Our judge mentioned it a few years ago when examining a white Cochin. Another reason I don't have white birds.

I've done some research on brassiness (yellowing) since I had that problem with my Braden Dels. I still don't completely understand it, partly because breeders disagree. There does seem to be two types of brassiness - one genetic and one environmental. Genetic brassiness is due to a gene that the bird carries. Sunlight induces the yellowing in this case, but does not cause it. The only way to stop the yellowing in a bird with this gene is by breeding it out in future generations. So you can't get rid of it or prevent it in a bird with the gene.
Environmental brassiness is yellowing that is caused by sun exposure. If you keep these birds out of direct sunlight after they molt, the feathers will grow back white and stay white.
The conflicting information that I've found is regarding corn and greens causing the yellowing. I *think* that they may have the same effect as the sun in birds with the gene - they induce it but don't cause the yellowing.

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.

I finally got the feed from them that I ordered, months ago. I think this store only wants to stock the soy/corn free feeds because they won't keep the King Feeds that I buy in stock. It's irritating because I buy 6+ bags of feed a month from them.
Laura, I've been to the Santa Rosa store a couple times. They are wonderful, helpful & friendly.

Quote:

I bought a bag of alfalfa pellets thinking the deer would eat it in the winter - they don't! The pellet size was bigger than the chickens pellets and they didn't eat it either, maybe if I had soaked it first.

Before hay prices went up, I used to throw flakes of alfalfa to the chickens. They all loved it. I give them pellets now. Thhey prefer the smaller, rabbit sized, don't like horse sized pellets. They definitely prefer the flakes.

I'm in serious trouble, since the price of hay has gone up to the point that I can't afford to feed all my livestock this winter. If anyone knows of a source for hay that is less than $15. a bale, please let me know!!!
I now have some Dexter cattle, St. Croix sheep and horses for sale at reduced prices, since I can't buy enough hay to feed them properly. A couple horses will be free to the right home. Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

 

[chicksnthestiks]

Do you guys have an easy way to give the worming medicine to the chickens?  I have the Valbazen and I don't relish the idea of catching each one and forcing it down their throat.  Some some to be a little easier to work with some and not so easy.  Mine don't seem to like bread.

I use a 1cc syringe, regular size chickens get .5cc. It is easier than you think. I just get out a chair, have the wormer drawn up already and sit with the chickens back to you and wrap a towel around it so it doesnt flog you. Pull on their wattles , if they dont have any just skin in same place. Wait for them to calm down if they get excited and just inject it in. I did my 21 in no time. And yes, alfalfa hay is the green bales for horses/cattle.

 

[chicksnthestiks]

She's looking good.. how old?  Good shot of the tails!

I've done some research on brassiness (yellowing) since I had that problem with my Braden Dels. I still don't completely understand it, partly because breeders disagree. There does seem to be two types of brassiness - one genetic and one environmental. Genetic brassiness is due to a gene that the bird carries. Sunlight induces the yellowing in this case, but does not cause it. The only way to stop the yellowing in a bird with this gene is by breeding it out in future generations. So you can't get rid of it or prevent it in a bird with the gene.
Environmental brassiness is yellowing that is caused by sun exposure. If you keep these birds out of direct sunlight after they molt, the feathers will grow back white and stay white.
The conflicting information that I've found is regarding corn and greens causing the yellowing. I *think* that they may have the same effect as the sun in birds with the gene - they induce it but don't cause the yellowing.

I finally got the feed from them that I ordered, months ago. I think this store only wants to stock the soy/corn free feeds because they won't keep the King Feeds that I buy in stock. It's irritating because I buy 6+ bags of feed a month from them.
Laura, I've been to the Santa Rosa store a couple times. They are wonderful, helpful & friendly.

Quote:
Before hay prices went up, I used to throw flakes of alfalfa to the chickens. They all loved it. I give them pellets now. Thhey prefer the smaller, rabbit sized, don't like horse sized pellets. They definitely prefer the flakes.

I'm in serious trouble, since the price of hay has gone up to the point that I can't afford to feed all my livestock this winter. If anyone knows of a source for hay that is less than $15. a bale, please let me know!!!
I now have some Dexter cattle, St. Croix sheep and horses for sale at reduced prices, since I can't buy enough hay to feed them properly. A couple horses will be free to the right home. Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

Do you have a way to haul the hay? I use a grower in East Nicolaus (near Sac. airport.) and his Alfalfa was 11 or 11.50. Nice 3 wire bales. He would probably have the name of guys who haul hay.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Do you have a way to haul the hay? I use a grower in East Nicolaus (near Sac. airport.) and his Alfalfa was 11 or 11.50. Nice 3 wire bales. He would probably have the name of guys who haul hay.

We have a flatbed trailer. Is it free of weeds & mold? Please send the growers contact info. Thank you so much!

 

[lawatt]

Do they have separate starter and broiler crumbles? I was looking at their website yesterday and the tag info for both of them is identical and says Starter/Broiler Crumbles.

yes, Western Farm Center carries both... not sure how much the contents differ, but they have different labels...

 

[ronott1]

She's looking good.. how old? Good shot of the tails!

I've done some research on brassiness (yellowing) since I had that problem with my Braden Dels. I still don't completely understand it, partly because breeders disagree. There does seem to be two types of brassiness - one genetic and one environmental. Genetic brassiness is due to a gene that the bird carries. Sunlight induces the yellowing in this case, but does not cause it. The only way to stop the yellowing in a bird with this gene is by breeding it out in future generations. So you can't get rid of it or prevent it in a bird with the gene.
Environmental brassiness is yellowing that is caused by sun exposure. If you keep these birds out of direct sunlight after they molt, the feathers will grow back white and stay white.
The conflicting information that I've found is regarding corn and greens causing the yellowing. I *think* that they may have the same effect as the sun in birds with the gene - they induce it but don't cause the yellowing.

I finally got the feed from them that I ordered, months ago. I think this store only wants to stock the soy/corn free feeds because they won't keep the King Feeds that I buy in stock. It's irritating because I buy 6+ bags of feed a month from them.
Laura, I've been to the Santa Rosa store a couple times. They are wonderful, helpful & friendly.

Quote:
Before hay prices went up, I used to throw flakes of alfalfa to the chickens. They all loved it. I give them pellets now. Thhey prefer the smaller, rabbit sized, don't like horse sized pellets. They definitely prefer the flakes.

I'm in serious trouble, since the price of hay has gone up to the point that I can't afford to feed all my livestock this winter. If anyone knows of a source for hay that is less than $15. a bale, please let me know!!!
I now have some Dexter cattle, St. Croix sheep and horses for sale at reduced prices, since I can't buy enough hay to feed them properly. A couple horses will be free to the right home. Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

I am so happy that you might have a place to get lower cost Hay!

The Australorps are 28 weeks old and the Fogel RIR is 26 weeks old. The Australorps started laying eggs this week!

The Blue Australorp weight 6#s 4oz.

 

[lawatt]

I finally got the feed from them that I ordered, months ago. I think this store only wants to stock the soy/corn free feeds because they won't keep the King Feeds that I buy in stock. It's irritating because I buy 6+ bags of feed a month from them.
Laura, I've been to the Santa Rosa store a couple times. They are wonderful, helpful & friendly.

they are great -- especially since one of my former students works there, and she sometimes gives me her discount!

so sorry to hear about the impact of feed prices on your livestock -- if i had fences, i'd perhaps be interested in sheep!! but no way to keep them from wandering here... someday!!

 

[chicksnthestiks]

We have a flatbed trailer. Is it free of weeds & mold? Please send the growers contact info. Thank you so much!

Sent you a PM.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: I have not used pellets.

I'm using Valbazen this year for worming. I used Ivomec last year because I had a heck of a time ridding my flock of poultry lice. So the Ivomec took care of both problems at once.

Okay what am I missing with the Alfalfa? You are giving them Alfalfa????? Isn't that the dried big rectangle bale of stuff you give horses?

Please forgive my ignorance (yet again) I am not a country girl, however much I would like to be.

Yep, alfalfa. The chickens will scratch through it and get the small green parts. They don't eat the stalks. This time of year at our place, greens are not around. My garden is done, weeds are done, so until it starts raining and the clover comes in, we don't have any greens. Alfalfa is a good source of greens to keep the yolks nice and dark. Kale, chard, clover, etc are as well.

Do you guys have an easy way to give the worming medicine to the chickens? I have the Valbazen and I don't relish the idea of catching each one and forcing it down their throat. Some some to be a little easier to work with some and not so easy. Mine don't seem to like bread.

I do it at night with a headlamp on. I pull them off the roost one at a time. Put the medicine in a medicine syringe (like you use for human babies). Then pull on their wattles and their mouth will open. I squirt it on their right side of their mouth and immediately release their wattles so they can swallow it. I have found that I can hold them against my body and pull on their wattles with one hand and squirt with the other.

I did the bread one year and it was a pain in the butt. The darn rooster kept trying to feed it to everyone else. It is so much easier to do it at night when they are settled, and it's easier to keep track of who has been done. I put them back in the same spot they were in, then grab the next one and work my way down the roost.