California - Northern

[Flowers of Abba]

Azure now has a drop in Davis, where I work. Driving to Vacaville for a drop was just too far. When I checked, th 50# bag of chicken wheat had gone up to a crazy cost. What are you getting that is better priced? If it cost me $30.65 to buy chicken wheat, I might as well go ahead and buy the layer for Big Sky no soy, organic for $32.30.

I can also get 40# bags of GMO free non sou feed from Bar ale for about $18.00 a bag.

Did the prices from Azure recently go up? I thought I was getting organic chicken wheat for about $14.00 last year.

Can you inform me a little more about this?  Where do you buy? Do you have a recipe? 

I have gone over like a million different recipes online from people who calculated the protein ratios and just combined a recipe that us somewhat close... Azure chicken wheat did go up but since the other ingredients are way less than 1.00 per lb it still as a unit is less than the pellets . And the pellets smell like poooop fermented , I won't do it. I actually like the smell of the fermented whole grains and it's not so messy to strain daily. So I mix one batch of dry whole grains that last 2 1/2 months with some ingredients left over . Meaning I only have to buy a few things from azure monthly to help spread out the cost.

Also keep in mind that since I will ferment the dry but not the nasty pellets it stretches my consumption. From what I have weighed out it's more than 50%. Their eggs are amazing and they are happy. So a little ordering mixing and straining saves me 60% or more...

 

[Hangtown Farms]

aww theyre so cute! What color eggs will they lay? Also i found a lot of varying pictures on the internet of what they look like full grown...do you happen to have a picture i can see?

I'm very happy with these today. The blue comes from Cream Leg Bar over an EE that lays off white eggs. The olive egg comes from Splash Copper Marans over an EE that lays green eggs. And the white is from a California Gray.

nice eggs

 

[chickee]

How exciting, Chickee : ) you will have rainbow of babies : ) I remember last year today, your Ameraucana chicks were hatching, and I was so excited because some were going to be mine. Well, today is their birthday, so for celebration everybody received the first watermelon of the season. I was happy to see that Costco is already selling them. They are now walking around with wet, sticky but smiling faces. I am looking forward to the photos of your chicks..













This last photo is how they looked on the day I picked them up from you. I love these gentle, sweet birds.

Great pictures as always Lual! Happy Birthday chickies! They turned out beautiful!! What did you do with the rooster?

Some of the Golden Cuckoo Marans pullet chicks will have your name on them

 

[capayvalleychick]

I can also get 40# bags of GMO free non sou feed from Bar ale for about $18.00 a bag.

The feed store in Esparto now has Bar Ale feeds. I know they have organic and they'll probably get any type that people want.

Congrats on all your pretty colored eggs. Looks like your work on that has paid off.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I have gone over like a million different recipes online from people who calculated the protein ratios and just combined a recipe that us somewhat close..

FWIW, I spent years agonizing over chicken feed. I collected research & recipes, talked to experts, and tried many different rations and recipes and supplements. Making my own ration always ended up being difficult to source and expensive. Supplements and premium feeds were the same.
Most of all, I never saw results that justified the trouble and expense. My birds seemed to do worse the more I tried to improve their diet.

I talked to a couple old timer poultry fanciers, both of which said that a good commercial poultry feed is all you need. So, I gave up on trying to improve and just feed a good basic feed that I can get at the feed store. My birds are doing fine.

 

[Laurieks]

I just bought Hunt & Behrens organic pellets, and they keep running to me insisting they're out of food. I don't know if it's an adjustment or if they know the Kings is actually better for them. Next trying Modesto... thinking if I get a tote it might be more affordable?

 

[lualshannon]

How exciting, Chickee : ) you will have rainbow of babies : ) I remember last year today, your Ameraucana chicks were hatching, and I was so excited because some were going to be mine. Well, today is their birthday, so for celebration everybody received the first watermelon of the season. I was happy to see that Costco is already selling them. They are now walking around with wet, sticky but smiling faces. I am looking forward to the photos of your chicks.. g This last photo is how they looked on the day I picked them up from you. I love these gentle, sweet birds.

Great pictures as always Lual! Happy Birthday chickies! They turned out beautiful!! What did you do with the rooster? Some of the Golden Cuckoo Marans pullet chicks will have your name on them

Thank you, Candy! Yes, I know some will have my name on them

doing count down now.. Last August, a week after they were allowed to join the adults, he was hit by a Cooper's Hawk which ended up being a very bad experience. While working in my studio, suddenly heard the loud warning sounds of the roosters, ran outside, and saw my pretty boy on the ground with the hawk right by him. His wing was bloody, and broken. he lived the following 2 mos., in my studio in a Cocker pen. His wing healed, but during this time he started to loose weight and early Oct. I lost him. The memory I am not able to forget is; when I ran outside, he tried to get up and walk to me, and fell back down. Over the years, I had many animals, and dealt with birth and death which comes hand in hand with animal husbandry. Some losses left a hole in my heart specially when it was untimely, and my pretty little Blue Boy did. I miss him very much. He was indeed a very special sentient being... Lual the bottom photo is the Blue Boy's portrait.

 

[KristyAnn]

We're really bummed out. I left to the hospital to have a baby and when I came home, my red rooster Scribbles had a broken wing and now today it appears both wings are broken. I don't know what it could've been, but whatever it is, it's left him handicap. I hate to say it, but I think his life time has been cut short. I see no wounds or any other symptoms in him or his hens that give me sign of disease. Does anyone have any idea of what it could be or what can be done?

 

[tommysgirl]

Would a Golden Cuckoo Marans Ro over a Ark Blue hen give sex-linked Olive Egger chicks?

It wouldn't be sex linked unless it was the other way around. Blue over cuckoo would create blue girls and barred boys and yes the egg would be more olive but as I understand it the Dark egg layer over the Blue would tend to give the best olive color.

 

[AmyPaperlady]

And now, my new girls...