California - Northern

[Nikon]

Ok my chicken Masters I have some questions for you.

1) How often do chickens yawn? My English Orpy Rooster has been doing this thing where he yawns a lot in a row for like 2-3 min and then is fine. Yesterday he did it but like yawned and then shook his head (like a dog would do if it has a foxtail in its ear) and then yawn again. He doesn't do it all the time, but he really has me concerned. Any advice?

2) And how many feathers do chickens lose a day? My flock is 16 weeks old. There are feathers everywhere! Are they still losing their fluff in the inner depths of their plumage or something?

3) Should they have a grit and oyster shell station?

Thanks always for the input!

 

[ronott1]

Ok my chicken Masters I have some questions for you.

1) How often do chickens yawn? My English Orpy Rooster has been doing this thing where he yawns a lot in a row for like 2-3 min and then is fine. Yesterday he did it but like yawned and then shook his head (like a dog would do if it has a foxtail in its ear) and then yawn again. He doesn't do it all the time, but he really has me concerned. Any advice?

2) And how many feathers do chickens lose a day? My flock is 16 weeks old. There are feathers everywhere! Are they still losing their fluff in the inner depths of their plumage or something?

3) Should they have a grit and oyster shell station?

Thanks always for the input!

1) As long as he is not sneezing, has fluid coming out of his nose or gooey eyes I would not worry. He my think he is trying to catch a fly.

2) The Molting at 16 weeks is the final Juvenal molt. It is completely normal. Because of their age and the time of year, yours will most likely not have the first adult mold until next Fall, when they will be 1.5 years old.

3) at 16 weeks old they should have free choice Grit and Calcium. Are you feeding them Grower? Roosters are not supposed to eat layer feed.

I hope this helps.

 

[Nikon]

1) As long as he is not sneezing, has fluid coming out of his nose or gooey eyes I would not worry. He my think he is trying to catch a fly.

2) The Molting at 16 weeks is the final Juvenal molt. It is completely normal. Because of their age and the time of year, yours will most likely not have the first adult mold until next Fall, when they will be 1.5 years old.

3) at 16 weeks old they should have free choice Grit and Calcium. Are you feeding them Grower? Roosters are not supposed to eat layer feed.

I hope this helps.

Okay, I haven't seen any gooey eyes or noses so that's a relief! Once in a blue moon I'll see a chicken sneeze, but not enough to make me concerned.

Oh whew! That's good to know! It looks like someone plucked a chicken in the run there are so many feathers! Going home to rake em' all up soon.

Right now they are all getting the Purina Flock Raiser. I haven't switched to layer rations. Can I just keep giving them the flock raiser or do the hens need the extras that badly? I've read that the roos aren't supposed to have the oyster shell or the layer rations. If I put hoppers side by side will they go after the oyster shell too?

As always Ron, thank you!

 

[ronott1]

Okay, I haven't seen any gooey eyes or noses so that's a relief! Once in a blue moon I'll see a chicken sneeze, but not enough to make me concerned.

Oh whew! That's good to know! It looks like someone plucked a chicken in the run there are so many feathers! Going home to rake em' all up soon.

Right now they are all getting the Purina Flock Raiser. I haven't switched to layer rations. Can I just keep giving them the flock raiser or do the hens need the extras that badly? I've read that the roos aren't supposed to have the oyster shell or the layer rations. If I put hoppers side by side will they go after the oyster shell too?

As always Ron, thank you!

Keep giving them Flock Raiser(or Freedom Grower\starter) along with free choice calcium. They will get enough calcium and the Rooster won't blow out his kidneys.

 

[Nikon]

Keep giving them Flock Raiser(or Freedom Grower\starter) along with free choice calcium. They will get enough calcium and the Rooster won't blow out his kidneys.

Ok, but not the oyster shell?

We are going to open up the nest boxes today so they can explore them today. I'm hoping they don't lay their first eggs when we are on our backpacking trip the 28-3rd.

 

[ronott1]

Ok, but not the oyster shell?

We are going to open up the nest boxes today so they can explore them today. I'm hoping they don't lay their first eggs when we are on our backpacking trip the 28-3rd.

Yes, Oyster Shell Calcium is the best for them.

Of course they will lay the first egg when you are gone. The Silly chickens like to play games with you. Wait until they decide to hide them on you. I found three eggs behind a pallet yesterday...

 

[lawatt]

3) at 16 weeks old they should have free choice Grit and Calcium. Are you feeding them Grower? Roosters are not supposed to eat layer feed.

really, roosters aren't supposed to have layer feed? i didn't know -- how on earth does one keep a roo in with one's laying flock but not have him eat the layer feed?

i suppose i will have to switch to flock raiser...

 

[ronott1]

really, roosters aren't supposed to have layer feed? i didn't know -- how on earth does one keep a roo in with one's laying flock but not have him eat the layer feed?

i suppose i will have to switch to flock raiser...

Some Roosters will be ok for a long time. Some will not make it sooner. It definitely shortens their life to feed them layer. The calcium is bad for their kidneys and over time it will hurt them

Molting hens are not supposed to have layer.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

really, roosters aren't supposed to have layer feed? i didn't know -- how on earth does one keep a roo in with one's laying flock but not have him eat the layer feed?

i suppose i will have to switch to flock raiser...

I use Nutrena All Flock. its 18%
I give the oyster shells too. I just sprinkle it around

 

[lawatt]

I use Nutrena All Flock. its 18%
I give the oyster shells too. I just sprinkle it around

thanks Jason and Ron -- I've been buying King Feed, now that it's locally available, but will have to switch to their flock raiser, as Max is always in there chowing down with the ladies. they also always have oyster shell to snack on, but several of them really did have poorer shell quality (even with free-choice oyster shell) during the time when there were broodies/chicks in the same pen so everyone was eating chick starter... hmm.