California - Northern

[ronott1]

My biggies are reaching 8 weeks and time to change the feed from chick starter (non-medicated, organic) to ?
I got a bag of layer crumble from Costco, but that's still months away. Any suggestions or warnings are very welcome!
Thanks!!
Colleen

They can stay on the chick starter. Usually the difference between chick starter and grower is the crumble size.

Don't give them layer until they lay eggs. Too much calcium when the start laying can cause problems.

Do you have new pictures?

 

[Kaylish]

So today is day 5 and I just candled my eggs(don't worry, they stayed in the turner, I just held a light up to them) and I have at least 19 developing - that is out of 42, but I could not see into half of the eggs because my flashlight wouldn't penetrate the blue/green shells, at least not when it's light out like this morning. I might take another peek in the blue/green ones tonight when it's dark out.
Of that 19, 11 of the developing ones are from my 21 Trader Joe's eggs! I even saw a heartbeat in one of them!!!

Yea !

I am MAKING myself wait until day 7 to candle; its sooo hard. But that give me hope for my TJs!

I am married. Have 4 kids 46,43, 34, and 23. 2 girls and 2 boys. We have 40 chickens, but are only getting about 18 eggs a day. We live in Montague,Ca. 30 miles from the Oregon border.

Quote:

We have Rhode Island Reds,Aracana, Welsummers,Barred plymouth Rock.

Great to have you!

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
I was going to wait until day 7...but you know...I didn't. lol!

 

[caychris]

My biggies are reaching 8 weeks and time to change the feed from chick starter (non-medicated, organic) to ?
I got a bag of layer crumble from Costco, but that's still months away. Any suggestions or warnings are very welcome!
Thanks!!
Colleen

Not sure why you need to change feed at 8 weeks especially if non-medicated. I've read they can stay on it till 12-16 weeks.
What breed are they? A lot of people here seem to really like the King brand of feeds. I'm using Purina Flock Raiser for my outside pullets to get them off the medicated starter. I still need to get the oystershell out for the older ones as they are approaching POL.
I'm going to be switching eventually to King's Layer GMO Soy free brand. Just havent made the switch yet because Ive got so many at various ages yet.

I'm still working on putting together my long term feeding program.

 

[caychris]

How long can chicks be fed medicated chick feed? I'm feeding chicks of various ages - about 5 weeks old to about 3 months old. They're all in the same pen so they all have to eat the same thing.

I got mine off medicated at 12 weeks (actually shortly after that) They are on Purina Flock Raiser now.

The babies and younger birds are still separate so I feed them the medicated stuff. I've had good luck so far having the chicks on medicated feed.

Ive heard that as long as they have additional calcium birds can be fed the starter/raiser feeds (non medicated) indefinitely.

I dont know what you do about flocks with Roo's (Ive read the layer feed isnt good for them)

 

[ronott1]

I got mine off medicated at 12 weeks (actually shortly after that) They are on Purina Flock Raiser now.

The babies and younger birds are still separate so I feed them the medicated stuff. I've had good luck so far having the chicks on medicated feed.

Ive heard that as long as they have additional calcium birds can be fed the starter/raiser feeds (non medicated) indefinitely.

I dont know what you do about flocks with Roo's (Ive read the layer feed isnt good for them)

Hens\pullets that are not laying eggs should not have layer feed. Flock raiser or grower feed is fine with free choice Oyster shell calcium.

Roosters die from organ failure if given too much Calcium. I read a study recently where necropsy showed organ damage on roosters on Layer feed. Many do not understand this and then wonder why their Roosters die at two years old.

It does not kill them right away so the association between the death and the feed is not obvious.

 

[casportpony]

Interesting article:
http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/nature/incubating-bird-eggs-more-complex-you-think

-Kathy

 

[Kaylish]

So I have a bad feeling my quest for dark eggs is going to continue. (backstory: I bought 4 BCM chicks from a local breeder who swore she had 90% accuracy feathersexing. I was supposed to have 2 girls and 2 boys) About 4 weeks old I posted some pics and I think the general opinion was all roos. I sent a message to the breeder to let her know that she was incorrect (made it clear that I wasn't asking for a refund/exchange but that I just wanted her to be aware that she wasn't as accurate as she thought). The response was to wait; and that at 8 weeks the differences would be obvious...well @ 8 weeks 3 had lots of copper on the neck and one was still black so I thought I had lucked out and gotten ONE girl... Now I think I was wrong and I've got 4 roos. Can anyone confirm? They are almost 10 weeks old.

This is "Lady"




and top view: Lady on the right; Big Boy on the left


and for reference; a view of Big Boy

Thanx!

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
Awww, this is my Riley.

The handsomest dog that ever lived! I'm not prejudiced at all! He's always had more tongue than mouth, LOL, it hangs out in most of his photos.

He is very handsome! And so is his tongue! LOL!!!! My Riley is a girl.

Quote:
I fostered a dog named Riley, another long haired BC He was my 21st foster dog - my lucky number!

Beautiful eyes on that one! See....all the good dogs are named Riley....

So today is day 5 and I just candled my eggs(don't worry, they stayed in the turner, I just held a light up to them) and I have at least 19 developing - that is out of 42, but I could not see into half of the eggs because my flashlight wouldn't penetrate the blue/green shells, at least not when it's light out like this morning. I might take another peek in the blue/green ones tonight when it's dark out.
Of that 19, 11 of the developing ones are from my 21 Trader Joe's eggs! I even saw a heartbeat in one of them!!!

Wow! That is great this time. Hope they make it to hatch...

Quote:

I am married. Have 4 kids 46,43, 34, and 23. 2 girls and 2 boys. We have 40 chickens, but are only getting about 18 eggs a day. We live in Montague,Ca. 30 miles from the Oregon border.

Welcome to the group!

Quote: They chirp, eat and poop, lol.



-Kathy

An open mouth is a healthy one with nestleings. It's when they stop opening them you need to worry. FYI...many people who hand raise add a bit a of organinc ACV with the Mother to the formula to help prevent yeast from developing. Just a drop added to the mix at each ffeding.

So I have a bad feeling my quest for dark eggs is going to continue. (backstory: I bought 4 BCM chicks from a local breeder who swore she had 90% accuracy feathersexing. I was supposed to have 2 girls and 2 boys) About 4 weeks old I posted some pics and I think the general opinion was all roos. I sent a message to the breeder to let her know that she was incorrect (made it clear that I wasn't asking for a refund/exchange but that I just wanted her to be aware that she wasn't as accurate as she thought). The response was to wait; and that at 8 weeks the differences would be obvious...well @ 8 weeks 3 had lots of copper on the neck and one was still black so I thought I had lucked out and gotten ONE girl... Now I think I was wrong and I've got 4 roos. Can anyone confirm? They are almost 10 weeks old.

This is "Lady"




and top view: Lady on the right; Big Boy on the left


and for reference; a view of Big Boy

Thanx!

I would not go by the amount of copper on the neck to determine sex of BCM. The amount can vary widely in both hens and roos. I have 2 hens that are at opposite ends of the scale for the amount of copper. I would look closely at the feathers in the saddle and hackle area. They will be more pointed in both areas on roos. If these are both 8 weeks old I would guess roos. I have a couple that hatched around early February that sill have no comb/wattles to speak of.

 

[Audio51]

OK...juvenile with the injured leg/foot seems to still be doing OK in spite of no antibiotics. I had to run to Chico this morning for Labs so I was able to get a bottle of Penicillin injectable. It is 300,000 u/ml. This youngster is about 8 oz. It looks like the area on the bottom behind the toes was abscessed. When I got home from Chico it looked like it had ruptured and drained. You can see the loose skin over it.





The original wound looks like it may have been a bit....maybe a rat? Although it would have to be a big rat to leave such a big wound.



I can also see on the top of the foot between the toes it looks that that may be where the abscess drained.





Now...my brain does not work well with math any more, so I would appreciated some help with dosing this guy. I can do IM into the breast muscle. I am keeping it separated for everyone except it's buddy. I am also thinking I should wrap it. I have nitrofurazone powder I can put on a gauze and use VetWrap to hold it in place. Otherwise it is going to be impossible to keep clean.