California - Northern

[lawatt]

The ups and downs of the weather have been freaky. I hope everyone's birds are doing well.

yes, it's hard to imagine 110+ when it's cold and foggy here right now, I'm wearing my thick wool socks with outside temps in the 40s and quite drippy... although saturday's forecast for here is "only" 90-95ish. too hot for me, regardless.

 

[Ali707]

They could be too old--well not really. My 2.5 year old Hatchery hens are still laying fairly well.

I read that they can be fed too much and it will lower egg laying. Check for parasites--take a manure sample to a vet for a float test. A Vet that will float test for Dog manure can check chicken manure too. Treat based on the test. Also they will lay less sometimes if they need calcium.

What feed are you fermenting? I fermented for a couple of weeks and just gave up on it. The King Freedom feed seems to do better for me.

Just out of curiosity, why did you give up on the fermenting? I am getting ready to start it because these guys are eating a pile of the Scratch and Peck Starter which seems to be the only thing I can get here. I guess that is okay but it can be pricey. It is non GMO and Organic apparently and they seem to like it fine. No one close by has the King non GMO in stock and I have never seen the Big Ole Bird feed anywhere.

i didn't have a photo for my earlier story, but have a feeling these might be appreciated here:



my dad and stepmother are moving house & gave me these on friday, they used to belong to my grandmother -- they were very grimy & full of old wax, but i heated them in the oven to melt & got them cleaned up, and they really have the *perfect* chicken expressions!!

Those are cute and mean more because they were your grandma's.

Channel 40 predicts temps will reach 110 for us on Saturday!

I need to freeze some watermelon balls.....

Freeze the whole melon! Cut them in half first though.

You know, depending on which weather website I look at it can be anywhere from 107 to 111 here in Roseville. Are you kidding me? I don't live in the desert because I HATE the heat! This is the weekend I am hopefully moving my chicks outside! I am going to have to get the misters up right away. The garage isn't any cooler than outside and it has more air flow outside so even though it is going to be hot, I think that has to be the better choice if I can get the rest done.

yes, it's hard to imagine 110+ when it's cold and foggy here right now, I'm wearing my thick wool socks with outside temps in the 40s and quite drippy... although saturday's forecast for here is "only" 90-95ish. too hot for me, regardless.

Lol I am sitting at my desk with the AC blaring and I am freezing at the moment, but knowing hell is coming, I am not complaining AT ALL.

 

[ronott1]

Just out of curiosity, why did you give up on the fermenting? I am getting ready to start it because these guys are eating a pile of the Scratch and Peck Starter which seems to be the only thing I can get here. I guess that is okay but it can be pricey. It is non GMO and Organic apparently and they seem to like it fine. No one close by has the King non GMO in stock and I have never seen the Big Ole Bird feed anywhere.

There was a payment problem between Western Pet and Feed and King feed. It has been fixed so the Freedom and other king feed should be back this week or next week.

The Egg Farmer in Dixon picked up his pallet of feed last week--$16.00 per bag for Freedom Layer pellets....

To be honest the fermented feed kind of scares me. It seems like it would be too easy for a pathogen to get into it. The Hens did not like it either.

Big Ole Bird is a pro biotic that is added to the water. Amazon sells it.

 

[PetRock]

There was a payment problem between Western Pet and Feed and King feed. It has been fixed so the Freedom and other king feed should be back this week or next week.

The Egg Farmer in Dixon picked up his pallet of feed last week--$16.00 per bag for Freedom Layer pellets....

To be honest the fermented feed kind of scares me. It seems like it would be too easy for a pathogen to get into it. The Hens did not like it either.

Big Ole Bird is a pro biotic that is added to the water. Amazon sells it.

Wow! $16 per bag?! Scotts Valley Feed charges $20. I may have to start going to Dixon once a month for feed!

My birds have access to dry feed but I also feed them fermented feed. I start it with LAB cultures that I grew and I'm careful to make sure it doesn't start smelling off. If it does, I just throw it in the compost and start again. Most of them are not crazy about it and it isn't their first choice when I fill the bowls in the morning. They would rather have the soaked grains that I throw to them at the same time. But the bowls are empty by evening and they have decreased the amount of dry pellets that they are eating.

 

[PetRock]

Wow! $16 per bag?! Scotts Valley Feed charges $20. I may have to start going to Dixon once a month for feed!

My birds have access to dry feed but I also feed them fermented feed. I start it with LAB cultures that I grew and I'm careful to make sure it doesn't start smelling off. If it does, I just throw it in the compost and start again. Most of them are not crazy about it and it isn't their first choice when I fill the bowls in the morning. They would rather have the soaked grains that I throw to them at the same time. But the bowls are empty by evening and they have decreased the amount of dry pellets that they are eating.

Just checked my newest receipt from last Friday. Freedom layer pellets are $21.59/bag and starter is $23.39. The nice thing is, my DH stops at the feed store on his way home from Santa Cruz and picks it up for me. I guess that I would spend the difference in gas unless I bought a couple months worth of feed at one time. I'll have to think about that!

 

[Ali707]

There was a payment problem between Western Pet and Feed and King feed. It has been fixed so the Freedom and other king feed should be back this week or next week.

The Egg Farmer in Dixon picked up his pallet of feed last week--$16.00 per bag for Freedom Layer pellets....

To be honest the fermented feed kind of scares me. It seems like it would be too easy for a pathogen to get into it. The Hens did not like it either.

Big Ole Bird is a pro biotic that is added to the water. Amazon sells it.

Ahhhh a Probiotic. I thought it was feed for some reason.

I am assuming the $16 per bag is for the 40 or is it 50 lb bag? I am paying something like $20 for a 25lb bag of Scratch and Peck. They are always out of the 40 lb bag.

 

[Ali707]

Wow! $16 per bag?! Scotts Valley Feed charges $20. I may have to start going to Dixon once a month for feed!

My birds have access to dry feed but I also feed them fermented feed. I start it with LAB cultures that I grew and I'm careful to make sure it doesn't start smelling off. If it does, I just throw it in the compost and start again. Most of them are not crazy about it and it isn't their first choice when I fill the bowls in the morning. They would rather have the soaked grains that I throw to them at the same time. But the bowls are empty by evening and they have decreased the amount of dry pellets that they are eating.

So are you saying they aren't crazy about the fermented feed? I was thinking that everyone was saying that their birds go crazy for it, and that it cuts their feed bill way down....?

Maybe the fermenting isn't worth it and I will just try the soaking thing.....

What do you think? I do know they like the sprouts I have been growing for them.

 

[tommysgirl]

Here is my little SFH I got from Deanne. I was afraid that by picking the prettiest one I was also picking a little boy and I was right. Anyone want him? He is beautiful






AND!!!! I think he is showing signs of a crest!

 

[ronott1]

So are you saying they aren't crazy about the fermented feed? I was thinking that everyone was saying that their birds go crazy for it, and that it cuts their feed bill way down....?

Maybe the fermenting isn't worth it and I will just try the soaking thing.....

What do you think? I do know they like the sprouts I have been growing for them.

I read a study--It said that at first the birds were interested in it but after a couple of weeks they started to lose interest. That is what mine did too.

Yes, soak it overnight to see what happens.

 

[ronott1]

Ahhhh a Probiotic. I thought it was feed for some reason.

I am assuming the $16 per bag is for the 40 or is it 50 lb bag? I am paying something like $20 for a 25lb bag of Scratch and Peck. They are always out of the 40 lb bag.

The price is if you bulk buy--He bought a bunch of 50# bags. I will be able to share with him but he wants to make sure they can keep getting the King feed. I hope so--it is a great price!