California - Northern

[juststruttin]

Gotcha. I just looked at the label from Manna Pro's site. It is the 5th ingredient listed. Brewer's yeast has an inferior nutrient profile to nutritional yeast, so I'd suggest nutritional yeast. Dried or liquid buttermilk, or a few cans of no salt tuna will supply that occasional animal protein of high quality at a much cheaper price than a bag of Manna Pro. I'd go easy on fish and milk since too high of levels can cause diarrhea/enteritis. I saw Manna Pro is also producing an organic layer and starter ration. 10 lbs for $16! I don't know anyone that would pay that. Their milk replacers all have ethoxyquin listed in their products. That preservative was banned from dog food since it was found to be linked to cancer.

Ron and Michael,

Thanks for all the great info!!!

Michael, are you familiar with King Freedom chick starter?
http://king-brand.com/new/index.php...category_id=82&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6

That is what I have been feeding all my birds including the adults. I have been really happy with it but would love your feedback especially if you think they should be supplemented with something. I supplement the babies with vitamins until they are 12 weeks, but do not supplement the adults.

I used 4 different brands before settling on this one. What brand do you use?

 

[tommysgirl]

@Michael Apple Hi! I am still hoping to get eggs from you in the fall. You have processed your cockerels right? How are they? I did a CG Del cross at about 16/17 weeks was curious when you processed yours and how they turned out.

 

[tommysgirl]

Ron is hatching for me and we are on day 10. My biggest girl has gone broody and I am planning to give her as many of the chicks as I can when they hatch. She is a big ol fluffy thing. How will I know how many chicks to give her? I think she can manage a dozen plus. But I have never given a hen chicks before.

Here is her pic she is a Chocolate Barred Plymouth Rock from Chooks Chick's project.



The bird bath she is next to is about 18 inches across the top and this was taken last fall. She is bigger and puffier now

Also my sizzle girl has decided to join the broody party. She will also get chicks if she is serious but I don't know how many for her either.

Can they have more because it is summer?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[juststruttin]

Check out this egg yolk separating trick
http://sfglobe.com/?id=829

 

[Happy Chooks]

Check out this egg yolk separating trick
http://sfglobe.com/?id=829

That is pretty cool! I'm going to have to try it.

 

[caychris]

Is there anyone who can help a novice's untrained eye begin to understand breeding terminology about shapes feathering etc.

Ive been looking at PBR chickens a lot lately and I think the hypnotic barring pattern is getting to me.

Im having a hard time distinguishing between PBR (and the various qualities) and things like Dominique or Holland.
No I know PBR and Holland both have Dominque heritiage but there are few places I can actually see good pics let alone put them side by side. (I know Dominque has a rose comb)

 

[chrissyr]

I need some advice.
I have 3 roosters. They all love to "fight through the fence", and when they do they're combs get scratched. At first not bad. Then my lovely hens start to peck at them. And the dang roosters let them. So they get big wounds that they're girls won't let heal. I've seen them do it and the boys just sit there.
I seperated one and he was almost healed but needed the room. This morning they pecked at the smidgeon of scab and tender skin.
I've put the no pick ointment and it does nothing to deter the hens.
I have 2 boys in solitary until they are completely healed up with no scabs.

 

[ronott1]

I need some advice.
I have 3 roosters. They all love to "fight through the fence", and when they do they're combs get scratched. At first not bad. Then my lovely hens start to peck at them. And the dang roosters let them. So they get big wounds that they're girls won't let heal. I've seen them do it and the boys just sit there.
I seperated one and he was almost healed but needed the room. This morning they pecked at the smidgeon of scab and tender skin.
I've put the no pick ointment and it does nothing to deter the hens.
I have 2 boys in solitary until they are completely healed up with no scabs.

Was the no pick ointment Blu Kote?

That usually stops the pecking at it.

Many use thin ply wood at the bottom the the fence to keep them from fighting through it. Do you have some type of barrier to use? You could put up a false fence in front of the main fence or use plastic netting or a smaller squared fence for the bottom two feet.

Best!

 

[caychris]

I need some advice.
I have 3 roosters. They all love to "fight through the fence", and when they do they're combs get scratched. At first not bad. Then my lovely hens start to peck at them. And the dang roosters let them. So they get big wounds that they're girls won't let heal. I've seen them do it and the boys just sit there.
I seperated one and he was almost healed but needed the room. This morning they pecked at the smidgeon of scab and tender skin.
I've put the no pick ointment and it does nothing to deter the hens.
I have 2 boys in solitary until they are completely healed up with no scabs.

can you create a visual/physical barrier at the fence line. A number of the kennel style breeding pens I see generally have walls that separate the roosters. I always thought that was to discourage them fighting or trying to get at the other boys hens etc. you might need to do something similar. I thought Blue Kote was supposed to discourage wound picking.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Is there anyone who can help a novice's untrained eye begin to understand breeding terminology about shapes feathering etc.

Ive been looking at PBR chickens a lot lately and I think the hypnotic barring pattern is getting to me.

Im having a hard time distinguishing between PBR (and the various qualities) and things like Dominique or Holland.
No I know PBR and Holland both have Dominque heritiage but there are few places I can actually see good pics let alone put them side by side. (I know Dominque has a rose comb)

The APA SOP has all the information on all that. You could also read the CSU thread. I don't think Hollands were discussed, though.

If you look at a silhouette of a Rock and a Dominique, they are completely different shapes. The barring is also different on a BR versus a Dominique.