Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

UGH i have a weasel and i can not catch that darn thing ..its killed 6 so far ..i bait a live trap with chicken liver ..just cant catch this critter ..ok ot's .i need help lol

You need a good dog living right outside your coop. That's the only way I've been able to keep chickens safe all these years.

 

[Seslar]

I'm feeding free choice Nature Smart organic.
Crude Protein.....................................Min. 18.0%
Lysine........................................Min. 0.95%
Methionine...................................Min. 0.35%
Crude Fat.........................................Min. 3.0%
Crude Fiber....................................Max. 6.0%
Calcium..........................Min. 0.9% Max. 0.95%
Phosphorus...................................Min. 0.65%
Salt...............................Min. 0.4% Max. 0.6%
Sodium........................Min. 0.19% Max. 0.22%

It's not layer feed because I have 11week old pullets in the same pen. Is that bad?

 

[chickletteSarge]

fermented feed post.....  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...r-and-lay-some-wisdom-on-us/2490#post_8652649  .....I UNburied it for you.

Thanks holyhart! You didn't have to!!! For that I will beat my face! (Push ups) =/the pg #
Thank you again!

 

[fowlman01]

UGH i have a weasel and i can not catch that darn thing ..its killed 6 so far ..i bait a live trap with chicken liver ..just cant catch this critter ..ok ot's .i need help lol

It will kill everything it can get. I have used a live pigeon or other small bird (cull) wrapped up in a live trap with good success. Sometimes they will not take anything that is already dead. They enjoy killing so you need to get it soon....and they can get into small places.

Walt

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm feeding free choice Nature Smart organic.
Crude Protein.....................................Min. 18.0%
Lysine........................................Min. 0.95%
Methionine...................................Min. 0.35%
Crude Fat.........................................Min. 3.0%
Crude Fiber....................................Max. 6.0%
Calcium..........................Min. 0.9% Max. 0.95%
Phosphorus...................................Min. 0.65%
Salt...............................Min. 0.4% Max. 0.6%
Sodium........................Min. 0.19% Max. 0.22%
It's not layer feed because I have 11week old pullets in the same pen. Is that bad?

Feed looks fine and it not being a layer formula is also fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm feeding free choice Nature Smart organic.
Crude Protein.....................................Min. 18.0%
Lysine........................................Min. 0.95%
Methionine...................................Min. 0.35%
Crude Fat.........................................Min. 3.0%
Crude Fiber....................................Max. 6.0%
Calcium..........................Min. 0.9% Max. 0.95%
Phosphorus...................................Min. 0.65%
Salt...............................Min. 0.4% Max. 0.6%
Sodium........................Min. 0.19% Max. 0.22%
It's not layer feed because I have 11week old pullets in the same pen. Is that bad?

Do you have laying hens in this pen eating this feed along with the 11 week olds? If so, how are their egg shells? If they are firm and hard, they are finding another calcium source. If they are thin or soft, the laying hens are not getting enough calcium. I'd suggest offering oyster shell on the side if you have laying hens, especially if the shells are thin or soft. The ones that need it will eat it for the egg shells and the ones that don't need it won't eat enough to harm themselves.

If you don't have laying hens eating that food with them, don't worry about the extra calcium until they start laying. I just can't tell the way you wrote it whether or not you have other chickens in with the 11 week olds.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Fultzie.-are you using a 'weasel' trap? Know for sure it's a weasel- have a tight coop? I agrèè dogs are great for predators, I can't wait to get the entire yard fenced so i can let the dogs out all night. You might try also to hire an experienced hunter/trapper in your area and turn em loose.

 

[ccar2000]

I went for a couple of years without one but, I've been keeping a backyard flock fairly steady since '88.No real issues with predators since I have always kept a tight coop with dogs in the yard. I credit my success to good feed, automatic waterers, a well built coop and have always purchased chicks.

 

[ELauraD]

So "Poopy Butt" is from too warm of a brooding pen? This is good to know and I pity the chick that now has that name forever. Spa Girl, The General... their actions or behavior name them forever. I've washed PB a couple of times and applied A&D ointment. I think the issue has passed (no pun intended).

I look forward to hearing all your sage advice. I am new to "henning"~ I have twelve, 3 Buff Orbingtons, 3 Americana, 2 Austrathorp, 2 Sex Link and 2 Barred Rock.

 

[therapydoglady]

I'm pushin' 60 years old and have had chickens all my life. We grew up with what we called "Domineckers." My Granny (great grandmother) swore they were the very best. And they are still great chickens. Most of my "chicken expertise" I learned from her, and she always drilled into me "Cleanliness is imperitive!" "Dirty chicken pens give you sick chickens!" "Dirty nest boxes give you nasty eggs!" "Dirty water gives you sick chickens!" And on, and on. But you know, she was right! A good clean henhouse, clean food and water containers and clean nest boxes (dusted at least once a month for "bugs"), and clean yards make for a happy, healthy flock. I go to Tractor Supply of one of our feed store and buy a bale of compressed cedar shavings and sprinkle around in the outside yard where it is well ventilated. It helps keep down the flies - they don't like the smell. No matter what I'm doing in the chicken pens, whether cleaning, feeding, gathering or just sitting & watching, Granny(who died in 1960) is never far away. And isn't that nice?