California - Northern

[debs_flock]

Very cute Molly, congratulations!

Why I even look on Craigslist at chickens is Crazy. It's not like I can fit anymore chicken here... I just hatch like 60 chicks today. I'm out of my mind!

I look on CL all the time (see your ads), and I just hatched 6 chicks yesterday and lots more eggs cooking.

Resistance is futile!!!

It's hard to resist a polish chick for cute. Just had a new WCB hatch yesterday.

Deb

 

[juststruttin]

I think you should let Broody Betty do her job, they don't need micro managing. Check no more then ONCE a day, better yet, every other day to make sure the other hens are not adding eggs. If they're adding eggs, set up a fence to deter them. That's what I did with my Polish. I put a portable dog kennel around her box on the bottom of my brooder, just like Betty's and I covered it. The other girls stopped laying eggs in there and when the chicks hatched, the older ones were able to get out and eat and drink and mom stayed on the nest longer.
I'm guessing this one's boy....or a very "big boned" girl! Cute is a given!

I am hoping for a boy!! It is too early in the game to expect them to be auto sexing but it is really light and does have a white dot on the back of its head. I have more eggs in the bator from the new generation so I am hoping for more chipmunk colored chicks to compare this one to..

I did not think I could get the the chipmunk pattern with my existing line. The crele polish are not true creles because BBR does not exist in the breed. I decided I needed to add BBR into the line so I crossed in a BBR Icelandic pullet. I now have 6 twelve week old Icelandic/polish cross pullets that I planned to introduce into the line. And then wammo, out pops this little chick that is pure polish. I am very excited. I just hope it is not a fluke.

 

[ronott1]

ACK!!! never mind it's so expensive... but the analysis shows that if you have them only eat this, it saves $$$

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplie...supplies-ft_hydroponic_supplies;pg111628.html

Debi/Pet Rock you are super good at researching things like this...I'd love to know what you think...probably a good thing for raising Bresse too I would imagine, but sounds like would create the BEST eggs

Capayvalleychick(Hi Kim) has tried sprouts, pasture and grubs for the chickens and it winds up not working that well. It is a lot of work and chickens really do not eat that much grass.

as a supplement, you would be better of dedicating a large patch to growing chard or kale for them. You could cut out 10 to 20 percent of your feed bill, but it's really about the health of the chickens with Kale type greens.

It's a better ROI(return on investment) to just use good old time gardening for stuff like this.

 

[PetRock]

ACK!!! never mind it's so expensive... but the analysis shows that if you have them only eat this, it saves $$$

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplie...supplies-ft_hydroponic_supplies;pg111628.html

Debi/Pet Rock you are super good at researching things like this...I'd love to know what you think...probably a good thing for raising Bresse too I would imagine, but sounds like would create the BEST eggs

LOL!!! I just read your first post and rushed to the site to check it out! You know me so well! George is VERY interested in hydroponics so he may come up with some ideas on doing our own system. I would like to combine hydroponics with vertical gardening. I will be sure to let you know what we find out!

 

[PetRock]

Capayvalleychick(Hi Kim) has tried sprouts, pasture and grubs for the chickens and it winds up not working that well. It is a lot of work and chickens really do not eat that much grass.

as a supplement, you would be better of dedicating a large patch to growing chard or kale for them. You could cut out 10 to 20 percent of your feed bill, but it's really about the health of the chickens with Kale type greens.

It's a better ROI(return on investment) to just use good old time gardening for stuff like this.

I don't know about chickens not eating grass. My backyard free ranging flock has eaten every blade of grass in my backyard. I have to block off areas and reseed to get anything to grow. We throw the grass clippings from the front yard (no chemicals used) in the back for them and they go crazy. I am thinking about growing a forage blend using hydroponics. I am just waiting for some consistent warmer weather to start the project. I do grow trays of forage blend and wheat grass for them plus I sprout BOSS and they love that. I have recently been following the BYC thread about feeding meat birds fermented mash. I have my mash bucket going and my birds get fermented feed & grains every morning. So far so good with it but I've only been doing it for 2-3 weeks. Has anyone else tried feeding their flock fermented mash?

 

[Miss Molly]

I was out enjoying my Isbars yesterday. I thought I would share some pictures...

 

[ChickNmamma]

I was out enjoying my Isbars yesterday. I thought I would share some pictures...

Very very pretty! Are those splash hens? I have a blue roo here too from Deb - but he is going to get EEs to play with.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

ACK!!! never mind it's so expensive... but the analysis shows that if you have them only eat this, it saves $$$

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplie...supplies-ft_hydroponic_supplies;pg111628.html

Debi/Pet Rock you are super good at researching things like this...I'd love to know what you think...probably a good thing for raising Bresse too I would imagine, but sounds like would create the BEST eggs

I can't remember which thread it was...seams like the Bay Area thread but someone was using this and there was a discussion about it.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Capayvalleychick(Hi Kim) has tried sprouts, pasture and grubs for the chickens and it winds up not working that well. It is a lot of work and chickens really do not eat that much grass.

as a supplement, you would be better of dedicating a large patch to growing chard or kale for them. You could cut out 10 to 20 percent of your feed bill, but it's really about the health of the chickens with Kale type greens.

It's a better ROI(return on investment) to just use good old time gardening for stuff like this.

My chickens eat tons of grass when I let them out. They also dig up anything that has sprouted and eat it and the bugs, and dirt, and rocks.. and then dust bathe in it!

I think the fodder is for birds that don't get out to free range, at least that's what I was reading on the Paypal Swap thread. There are some good visual instructions on how one person (Lilwanis) does their fodder... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/703394/hatching-eggs-paypal-chat-thread/12820#post_10320962

I usually just throw the pulled up gardening weeds in the coop that doesn't get to come out to play very often.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I did not say they do not eat grass. I said the hydroponic system in the post was not a good ROI--Grow greens(Grass is green isn't it?) The regular way. I give my chickens the grass clipping from the front yard and when I get a lawn back in my back yard I will give them those clippings and find a way for them to get out there every once in a while too.

Also, go to a store and get greens that are not pretty enough to sell when you can't grow your own.

The eggs are amazing when they eat things like that but I have never noticed a big drop in them eating the chicken feed.