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

[galefrances]

Thanks Bee. I gave them some watermelon before I left & put it under the waterer in the hopes they boink their head on it and when it gets wet they realize there is water in there lol
I will try holding one of them to show them the water when I get home. Those girls are quick runners tho

I noticed you're from Hamburg, NY. I'm from Akron, NY...just wanted to say hello

 

[galanie]

If you have chicks, don't ever give them anything but a nipple waterer and they catch on right away. That's what finally taught my knotheads how to drink from those - a bunch of little ones that had been drinking from them from day 1. Course mine had access to other water and this was just in the coop for convenience so it's not like the only water they had. But now, if they're there and thirsty they do use it. Cause the young 'uns showed them how.

 

[loanwizard]

Gosh this is turning into a pet thread.... I had the day off so I piddled around, trimming hens nails, and gave all 80 of them French Pedicures. Them fancy ladies love kicking around for bugs with their little white tips..... Not.

I find it strange that roosters have razor sharp spurs.... Not doubting it at all, but I must have dull roosters. Unless I get poked by one... why would I? It would never occur to me to dull their defense mechanism.

Anyone raise Freedom Rangers? I have raised them all year and have a small problem. I was told 1 ton, 2000lbs of feed per 100 birds for 9-10 weeks.

My first batch ate maybe 1/2 that and averaged out about 3lbs dressed weight. Another batch ate about 1/2 that and avaeraged about 3 1/2 lbs. I have my last batch of the year finishing in 2 weeks. 140 birds, probably 3/4 ton of feed, and think these might go to 4 maybe 4 1/2lbs but 12 weeks.

I am wondering if I just don't feed them enough, or are they getting that much forage? They are just now at 10 weeks demanding a 5 gallon bucket twice per day.

This group does seem to drink quite a bit more.

Just curious, I suppose if I put them on full feed or close thereto, I might shorten the time, but why? If I can get by with less feed, isn't that healthier for my family and customers?

Just had fried chicken last night. 2 chickens, Garlic mashed potatoes in 10 minutes using the pressure cooker, oyster dressing (girlfriend has been begging me to make some, ran out of bread so used hamburger buns...) Tasted great.

 

[Beekissed]

I raised 50 CX on 350 lbs of feed in 10 wks this year. They were free ranged as well. I didn't get finish weights on them due to unusual and hurried circumstances at the time of processing but they were good sized...not as good as my previous birds raised in a similar fashion, so it may have been the source this time that resulted in a smaller carcass. These birds were smaller as chicks than the last batch and never seemed to get as big, on the same feeds.

I fermented all their feeds, so they didn't drink much water and their feces were normal in appearance and amount, with a more normal, chicken poop smell.

If I had had my way about it, I wouldn't have processed at 10 wks because they were really just then starting to put on some serious weight. I had free ranged and controlled proteins and feed amounts for the express purpose of getting a slower growing bird and would have liked to see the experiment out to the end of their capabilities(held them until they were about 3-4 mo. old) but had to cut the experiment short. Maybe next time....

 

[armorfirelady]

I noticed you're from Hamburg, NY. I'm from Akron, NY...just wanted to say hello

Hello !!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Thanks Bee. I gave them some watermelon before I left & put it under the waterer in the hopes they boink their head on it and when it gets wet they realize there is water in there lol
I will try holding one of them to show them the water when I get home. Those girls are quick runners tho

If you have chicks, don't ever give them anything but a nipple waterer and they catch on right away. That's what finally taught my knotheads how to drink from those - a bunch of little ones that had been drinking from them from day 1. Course mine had access to other water and this was just in the coop for convenience so it's not like the only water they had. But now, if they're there and thirsty they do use it. Cause the young 'uns showed them how.

Atwoods Farm and Ranch are now carrying a bucket nipple waterer. Its instructions are to remove all other sources of water from the pen but it. Withing a few minutes all chickens in the pen will learn how tom drink from it. Here is the photo.

http://cheerychicks.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_reviews_info&products_id=3&reviews_id=2
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FYI: We do not sue these, but just looked at them the other day. Found them interesting.

 

[loanwizard]

That looks just like my buckets only I make them myself. I was wondering if the one who was having trouble had red nipples? Er...... that came out wrong.... Anyhow, I have seen yellow ones too, and chickens are supposed to be attracted to red.

I haven't had that problem, but I assume if they are thirsty enough, they will find it. I will only haul so much water.... I would assume that if you spill a little while filling the bucket it will draw their attention and they will find it.

 

[Beekissed]

I made my own that resemble this one closely and chicks took to it within seconds of their arrival here. I also had a 5 mo. old rooster here that had never used one....and couldn't seem to learn. I think having no peers or birds his age or size in that paddock/coop really hindered his progress. Also, he had other sources of water that I couldn't really remove as he free ranged with the dog...and the dog's bucket of water.

I think if he had had other birds his own age(drinking from his waterer, who was the same height as him) he might have picked it up by example, but I don't think watching the chicks had the same effect for him. I killed him before I ever felt the need to train him to the system but it's sort of a monkey see, monkey do prospect. If you can get one hen to peck at the nipple and receive a drink, the others seem to join right in.

 

[galanie]

That looks just like my buckets only I make them myself. I was wondering if the one who was having trouble had red nipples? Er...... that came out wrong.... Anyhow, I have seen yellow ones too, and chickens are supposed to be attracted to red.

I haven't had that problem, but I assume if they are thirsty enough, they will find it. I will only haul so much water.... I would assume that if you spill a little while filling the bucket it will draw their attention and they will find it.

Well I have red nipples (ON MY WATERER!) and no problems.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine had red nipples also

...supposed to attract that curiosity pecking that chickens do.