California - Northern

[zooweemama]

I've got a copy, it's excellent.

I am thrilled to hear that!

 

[zooweemama]

So I have decided to go with some of Cheryl's MF Leghorns this Spring (woohoo!). I think it would be SO fun to do hatching eggs so I will go that route. IF I do not have a broody at the time I need the eggs (or that she has them)...I am thinking February-ish is good right- not too early? Would anyone be willing to incubate for me around that time? It would be 1 dozen eggs. OR would you recommend I buy a small incubator? Is it good to just have it as a back up? I think my biggest fear is having a broody suddenly abandoned ship. If I have a small bator- I could save the eggs right? I truly honestly do not want to make a career of hatching eggs- so what size would you recommend? I would like to be able to hatch a couple duck eggs or 2 goose eggs if necessary. (if necessary. i honestly prefer not to brood chicks if i don't have to lmbo) I don't mind the care so much- but introducing young chickens to an older flock- just the thought stresses me out.

 

[cherylcohen]

So I have decided to go with some of Cheryl's MF Leghorns this Spring (woohoo!). I think it would be SO fun to do hatching eggs so I will go that route. IF I do not have a broody at the time I need the eggs (or that she has them)...I am thinking February-ish is good right- not too early? Would anyone be willing to incubate for me around that time? It would be 1 dozen eggs. OR would you recommend I buy a small incubator? Is it good to just have it as a back up? I think my biggest fear is having a broody suddenly abandoned ship. If I have a small bator- I could save the eggs right? I truly honestly do not want to make a career of hatching eggs- so what size would you recommend? I would like to be able to hatch a couple duck eggs or 2 goose eggs if necessary. (if necessary. i honestly prefer not to brood chicks if i don't have to lmbo) I don't mind the care so much- but introducing young chickens to an older flock- just the thought stresses me out.

I can hatch for you or I'm happy to show you how

but I'm confused you want to hatch but you don't want to brood chicks?

I have a couple hens available now if you want to go that route

 

[zooweemama]

I can hatch for you or I'm happy to show you how

but I'm confused you want to hatch but you don't want to brood chicks?

I have a couple hens available now if you want to go that route

I would prefer a broody to hatch for me. That way she cares for the chicks, she integrates them into the flock and protects them. Not spending 2 months with me and then I have to integrate 2 month old chicks into a flock of mature chickens. I think I have fears of the roosters mating them too young, of the big hens attacking them or the flock not being accepting and not allowing them food or water. I will have 1 chicken coop- not several like many of you. BUT if I am overlooking anything- do correct me! I am trying to be safe and smart and appreciate the aide of everyone more knowledged than I.

 

[cherylcohen]

Best thing to do is get the hatching eggs from me at the Stockton Show. I should have eggs form all my breeds available.

I hope to be showing most of my breeds (even though not one of them is an APA accepted breed!!) it's an open show so I just want to get exposure for the breeds and hopefully attract some new breeders that want to work with all the breeds.

 

[zooweemama]

Best thing to do is get the hatching eggs from me at the Stockton Show. I should have eggs form all my breeds available.

I hope to be showing most of my breeds (even though not one of them is an APA accepted breed!!) it's an open show so I just want to get exposure for the breeds and hopefully attract some new breeders that want to work with all the breeds.

That would be perfect. Do you happen to have any information on the show? I would like to print it out and put it on my Calender.

 

[ronott1]

I didn't mean to be rude. I'm having some rough things to deal with here, so I'm snapping at people and being more argumentative. Sorry.

That said... I know some people don't like soy. My birds suffered without it and I can't find an affordable alternative. Why would my sow's fertility and litter sizes be much better, on a diet including Calf Manna, than all the others who are on non soy diets- if soy caused hormonal issues?

I'm trying to avoid petroleum products as much as possible in food & personal care products. That ultra Kibble has mineral oil in it- a petroleum product. That's why I don't use it.

I always have sort of different ways of looking at things.

Cheryl, I am doing a type of integrated farming here- crops & animals together.

Sorry to hear about rough times.

I fully understand that Soy is the only alternative depending on availability of non-soy and cost. I am alternating a Soy feed along with non soy and wheat+Ultra Kibble so mine get soy 1 out of three times.

The pigs are probably doing better because of the other stuff in the Calf Manna.

You are always a valuable member of the great discussions we have here!


Ron

 

[ronott1]

Zooweemama:

I get the Wheat from Azure. It is not cracked. I make sure the chickens have grit.

TSC has Groats. They were not cracked but are hulled.

 

[tls_ranch]

I didn't mean to be rude. I'm having some rough things to deal with here, so I'm snapping at people and being more argumentative. Sorry.

That said... I know some people don't like soy. My birds suffered without it and I can't find an affordable alternative. Why would my sow's fertility and litter sizes be much better, on a diet including Calf Manna, than all the others who are on non soy diets- if soy caused hormonal issues?

I'm trying to avoid petroleum products as much as possible in food & personal care products. That ultra Kibble has mineral oil in it- a petroleum product. That's why I don't use it.

I always have sort of different ways of looking at things.

Cheryl, I am doing a type of integrated farming here- crops & animals together.

I didn't think you are sounding rude. I for one am leery about feeding any kind of animal by product (meal) like fish meal to my birds. The meal may be preserved by ethoxyquin (sometime used as a pesticide) and I'm concerned about how the animal byproducts are processed/rendered. I have no problem feeding animal based protein to my chickens, but try to keep away from "meal" products.

There are ups and downs with any feed ration if you consider each ingredient by it's self. For example, rice, brown rice and rice bran can have extremely high levels of arsenic depending on where it is grown (not tested for even in human food). Some people say stay away from soy, wheat gluten, corn, alfalfa....the list goes on and on. I think some even say to stay away from meal worms as the adult beatles can carry parasites and diseases.

Eat this/don't eat that or feed this/don't feed that. It get's a bit crazy sometimes

. So "to each their own" and practice "everything in moderation".....is what I try to go by.

Trisha

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Luckily chickens are pretty tough little guys.

It is just as confusing trying to figure out what to have for lunch. Are Kipper snacks good or bad for me

They sure keep people from bugging me because of the smell