California - Northern

[chiqita]

Wont oyster shell make the shell stronger?

It works for most. But like people chickens have different digestive system s and some don't do great with oyster shell for whatever reason. Food grade de liquid calcium or a differnt form of xalcium will often work if oyster shell won't

 

[ronott1]

Wont oyster shell make the shell stronger?

Yes but some hens do not like to eat it. Food grade DE has calcium that is easier to get into their system. It is like chelated minerals

 

[EZFarms]

Well i put a new hopper type feder in yestetday thats full of oyster shell

 

[BCollie]

Okay, question about staggering hatches...I know that eggs need to be turned an odd number of times each day, 3 or more times. I have an auto turner in my bator. I'm going to be setting eggs about 1 week from now, which will be day 15 for my eggs, 3 days away from lockdown. When it comes time for lockdown, you're NOT supposed to open the incubator at all, right? So how will I turn the eggs that were just set a few days before lockdown?

 

[chiqita]

Okay, question about staggering hatches...I know that eggs need to be turned an odd number of times each day, 3 or more times. I have an auto turner in my bator. I'm going to be setting eggs about 1 week from now, which will be day 15 for my eggs, 3 days away from lockdown. When it comes time for lockdown, you're NOT supposed to open the incubator at all, right? So how will I turn the eggs that were just set a few days before lockdown?

Either turn the entire incubator or let the eggs sit upright. If they are over day 5 I would turn the bator. Before that I would not worry as long as they are upright

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
I could set them on the 7th which would put them at 5 days old on hatch day(then they can go in the turner after that), so could I just leave them fat end up in an egg carton in the bator & not turn them?

 

[OR4-hmom]

I could set them on the 7th which would put them at 5 days old on hatch day(then they can go in the turner after that), so could I just leave them fat end up in an egg carton in the bator & not turn them? 

I've got a staggered hatch coming up also. I'll cover the chicken eggs while the quail are hatching to try and prevent hatch juices getting spread all over them.

 

[caychris]

Ok I'm coming up on decision time about changing feeds etc.

I have felt pretty fortunate so far with my hatchery chicks being grown out on Purina Medicated Starter. (But with nothing to really compare it to yet this is probably just coincidence)

On the advice here Im moving the dels off the medicated feed and I purchased Purina Flock Raiser for them for now because I will end up with some disparity between the ages of my flock when they start laying. Im planning on providing Free Choice oyster shell at the time.

I'm really interested in moving to the King Feed that so many have mentioned but it is pricey. I have decided if I move to that I will do fermented feed then.

My plan is to stick with the medicated Starter for the new chicks in the brooder when they come. The won't have been vaccinated for Mareks like the hatchery ones were. (Can this be done after they are hatched?) and use the Flock Raiser in the main coop till eveyone is laying and move to Fermented King feed at some point along the way.

How long can you store manufactured feed like this (assuming you can keep it cool and dry) should I be able to get a good deal on qty?

 

[SpringPeeper]

Well, more than 48 hours later my incubator has finally left Sacramento.

 

[caychris]

Well, more than 48 hours later my incubator has finally left Sacramento.

Sounds like you could have gone and picked it up yourself in faster time.