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

[qball53]

I haven't used marble dust, but anything hard/heavy goes to China to never be seen again. In my covered pens I can use anything, but these large flight pens are open to the elements. There is no smell or flies. I have it down on how often to add straw etc. By summer it is the nicest soil you would ever want for a garden.
I had tons of sand and pea gravel put in this place at the beginning and it is all done after the first good rain. The only thing that comes UP is large rocks for some reason. They also come from China I expect since I don't have any here until they push up out of the ground. All the gates have an adjustment of at least a 1/4" to compensate for the ground swelling and contracting. Right now you would need a jackhammer to dig in this stuff but when it rains it will literally pull your boot off.

Walt

Sounds just like the black gumbo we have here south of Houston. Folks put out truck loads of sand in their yard every year and it never makes a lasting difference.

 

[thedragonlady]

I haven't used marble dust, but anything hard/heavy goes to China to never be seen again. In my covered pens I can use anything, but these large flight pens are open to the elements. There is no smell or flies. I have it down on how often to add straw etc. By summer it is the nicest soil you would ever want for a garden.
I had tons of sand and pea gravel put in this place at the beginning and it is all done after the first good rain. The only thing that comes UP is large rocks for some reason. They also come from China I expect since I don't have any here until they push up out of the ground. All the gates have an adjustment of at least a 1/4" to compensate for the ground swelling and contracting. Right now you would need a jackhammer to dig in this stuff but when it rains it will literally pull your boot off.

Walt

We had that problem in GA red clay mud too with gravel. It swallowed pea gravel,and even rip rap chunk gravel as big as my fist, and heaved up rocks. When I tried crusher run, it floated on the top, and did not go to China as I expected it to. I put 6" in all the runs , and problem solved. Try a pick up load in a small run.A lot less work, and we ain't getting any younger!

 

[fowlman01]

We had that problem in GA red clay mud too with gravel. It swallowed pea gravel,and even rip rap chunk gravel as big as my fist, and heaved up rocks. When I tried crusher run, it floated on the top, and did not go to China as I expected it to. I put 6" in all the runs , and problem solved. Try a pick up load in a small run.A lot less work, and we ain't getting any younger!

The straw works fine and gives me back great soil. I do this kind of thing instead of paying to go to a gym. I'm not sure why the bales are getting heavier though.

Walt

 

[Ridgerunner]

here is a question on feed. most people buy layer feed, starter, grower, flock raiser because that is what is told to them to use. so what is the difference ?  

I'm only talking about feed for flocks that will become Layers. I don't raise Broiler chicks and have no experience with that feed regimen.

Each feed bag from the regular companies comes with a tag that shows the analysis. This is the percent or percent range of protein, salt, calcium, and some other stuff. The ones that sound like they came out of a chemistry class are amino acids they need. The basic difference between layer and all the others is the percent range for calcium. That calcium is for the egg shells, as you probably know.

The basic difference in the others is the percent protein. You'll get some minor differences in the other analysis ingredients, but it is generally mainly protein. I'll give some general ranges but this will vary as Galanie just proved. The names will be different for different brands names too.

Starter - 20% to 22% (Some goes to 24% and this is fine but if you check, it is probably for game birds. I used it for a few weeks it when I had a turkey chick with the chicks. No problems)
Grower - 16%
Layer - 16%
Combined Starter/Grower - 20%
Flock Raiser - 20%
Finisher - 15%

You can get it in mash (powder), crumbles, or pellets. There is no difference in percent of the basic ingredients. These differences are mainly to do with how you feed it. Some automatic systems especially are set up for one form or the other. Even if we hand feed, some of us have a preference for one or the other, but there is essentially no difference other than form.

Starter may or may not come "medicated". From any of the major brands of feed for flocks that will be Layers that I am aware of, this is Amprolium. I don't raise meaties but I've heard some of their feed may come with something else. You feed the broilers different than you do flocks that will be layers.

Also on that tag is a list of ingredients, the different grains and things that go in it. This is really important to some people but personally I'm not that concerned about it. I don't freak out about corn, soy, or animal products. To some people that's important. That's their business.

My basic philosophy is to feed a higher protein product when the chicks are first starting out. Whenever that bag runs out after 4 weeks, I switch to a lower protein feed until it is time for Layer. If I have a mixed age where some chicks are too young for Layer, I use Grower or Finisher. I always keep oyster shell offered on the side. After they get a good start, I want to slow down their growth some to give their internal organs and skeleton time to grow and mature to keep up with their weight gain, but that is just a personal preference. Others do it totally differently and do fine.

 

[loanwizard]

I am always late to the fray! I have already been told in no uncertain terms, that I shouldn't own dogs, so now it is probably time for me to be booed out of chickens. I am certainly no old timer, but by chicken math, I have been busy.
I have done a lot of things wrong, but my chickens seem happy.

I currently have over 300 chickens on my farm. 250 Freedom Rangers, and now 84 layers/ roosters.... not sure how many roosters, but I would guess 5 or 6.

I just bought 50 10-12 week old pullets and 10 1 year old layers because I have a big steady order of eggs that I was unprepared for, in other words I marketed before I had the product.

I did the wrong thing by not quarantining, put them all together in the morning, and after the first night of corralling them into the correct stalls, they adapted well.

I don't know what a scaly mite looks like, nor any of the other maladies that can occur. They get layer feed or 16% hog feed with oyster shell on the side. I may pick up some Calf Manna. I have 2 or 3 3-4 year olds with bare backs but they still lay strong.

They seem happy and come a running when I feed mostly before 7 am, sometimes in the evening. I close the barn up at night and open it for them to range during the day. Gotta get more DE. Wondering now if the bare backedness is from parasites, or in breeding. Mine are all mutts and that is what I will raise. I suspect my Roosters are all Reds although I do have a Cochin Roo that is quite randy.

I have enjoyed this thread immensely, although I may be castigated fordoing things improperly.

I was going to just order 100 RIR pullets next spring, but am not going to wipe out an entire flock of mutts to do so. Can't believe the chicken racism in here lol!

 

[HappyHenMama]

I seldom post on this thread anymore as it went all fru fru quite a while back, but when you "old timers" get tired of being ignored and having the newbies argue with the things you say, please remember this;

There might be 49,000 who aren't listening... but there are a few of us that are.

Thank you OTs. (As quoted by MississippiFarmBoy)

Here, Here! Love it...let's get back to good advice and no nonsense from the OT's!

 

[RileyB]

I seldom post on this thread anymore as it went all fru fru quite a while back, but when you "old timers" get tired of being ignored and having the newbies argue with the things you say, please remember this;

There might be 49,000 who aren't listening... but there are a few of us that are.

Thank you OTs. (As quoted by MississippiFarmBoy)

Here, Here! Love it...let's get back to good advice and no nonsense from the OT's!

Totally agree!

 

[stonykill]

I am always late to the fray! I have already been told in no uncertain terms, that I shouldn't own dogs, so now it is probably time for me to be booed out of chickens. I am certainly no old timer, but by chicken math, I have been busy.
I have done a lot of things wrong, but my chickens seem happy.

I currently have over 300 chickens on my farm. 250 Freedom Rangers, and now 84 layers/ roosters.... not sure how many roosters, but I would guess 5 or 6.

I just bought 50 10-12 week old pullets and 10 1 year old layers because I have a big steady order of eggs that I was unprepared for, in other words I marketed before I had the product.

I did the wrong thing by not quarantining, put them all together in the morning, and after the first night of corralling them into the correct stalls, they adapted well.

I don't know what a scaly mite looks like, nor any of the other maladies that can occur. They get layer feed or 16% hog feed with oyster shell on the side. I may pick up some Calf Manna. I have 2 or 3 3-4 year olds with bare backs but they still lay strong.

They seem happy and come a running when I feed mostly before 7 am, sometimes in the evening. I close the barn up at night and open it for them to range during the day. Gotta get more DE. Wondering now if the bare backedness is from parasites, or in breeding. Mine are all mutts and that is what I will raise. I suspect my Roosters are all Reds although I do have a Cochin Roo that is quite randy.

I have enjoyed this thread immensely, although I may be castigated fordoing things improperly.

I was going to just order 100 RIR pullets next spring, but am not going to wipe out an entire flock of mutts to do so. Can't believe the chicken racism in here lol!

that's a lot of chickens. You got lucky not quaranteeing them. But we all have made mistakes. 8 years ago when i started the chicken endevor I did the same and got lucky. And you aren't kidding!

. There is, but some of us here have mutts and have happy healthy birds. Good luck with your chickens! If you are going to breed your mutts you need more roosters.

 

[NotAFarm]

True on all fronts Walt and sound advice................... I agree also on being wary of picking breeds that are extremely challenging to raise, like the pure Cornish for example. take your time talk to some folks you know and trust for their advice and give it to you straight. then make your choice and go from there. It's the prudent way to go here and you will feel better in the long run.

Walt as usaul is the voice of reason.

Quote: Walt, It's great to know that, at 74, you are still cleaning pens and toting bales of straw! I aspire to be just like you when I "grow up"! Thank you for all your great input here, and like MississippiFarmBoy said, "There might be 49,000 who aren't listening...but there a few of us that are." Thank you are participating on BYC. There is too much to be lost if not shared. I wish more of your colleagues had your willingness to put-up with us.

This also goes for the other OT's that are here and helping to educate us.

Now for my feed question....I have a farmer neighbor who gets feed ground at a mill and delivered by the ton. He has children that he is teaching "business" lessons to by raising Cornish x and selling them to family and friends (keeping track of costs, time/labor, losses,etc type lessons). The feed is 23% protein and has the nutritional additives in it. I can get Purina/Dumor/Homestead Etc products but am wondering about saving some money by get feed from the kids while helping with their "lesson" (feed sales = revenues without labor). My assumption is that the commercial feeds are very consistent/regular and that a mill ground feed would have more variation. Is my assumption wrong? If I'm right, can a bit of a supplement like Calf Manna (loved this as a conditioner for horses many moons ago) make up for any small variations? What is your recommendation of the length of time such feed could be stored?

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, It's great to know that, at 74, you are still cleaning pens and toting bales of straw! I aspire to be just like you when I "grow up"! Thank you for all your great input here, and like MississippiFarmBoy said, "There might be 49,000 who aren't listening...but there a few of us that are." Thank you are participating on BYC. There is too much to be lost if not shared. I wish more of your colleagues had your willingness to put-up with us.

This also goes for the other OT's that are here and helping to educate us.

Now for my feed question....I have a farmer neighbor who gets feed ground at a mill and delivered by the ton. He has children that he is teaching "business" lessons to by raising Cornish x and selling them to family and friends (keeping track of costs, time/labor, losses,etc type lessons). The feed is 23% protein and has the nutritional additives in it. I can get Purina/Dumor/Homestead Etc products but am wondering about saving some money by get feed from the kids while helping with their "lesson" (feed sales = revenues without labor). My assumption is that the commercial feeds are very consistent/regular and that a mill ground feed would have more variation. Is my assumption wrong? If I'm right, can a bit of a supplement like Calf Manna (loved this as a conditioner for horses many moons ago) make up for any small variations? What is your recommendation of the length of time such feed could be stored?

Well thank you for the kind words. Some folks think I come across as a kind of a cranky old guy. BTW: I'm not 74 until Oct....so don't rush things. I think one of the keys to staying "young" is to think young and stay active. Most don't know this but I am also a big motorsports fan and actively race a car I have built at least twice a month from March to Nov. My biggest problem these days is doing something that seems like no big deal....like carrying a 50# sack of feed on my shoulder out to the back 40 and find a few days later that I have hurt some things. I have to figure out how to keep what I think I can do in perspective with what I can do.

I can't help you on the feed questions cuz I just feed stock in the bag off the shelf stuff. The one thing I can tell you from experience is that if the feed has too much salt or is old it can kill birds. In all these years that is all I have had happen with feed that is negative. I do feed medicated feed to the young chickens. If anyone here raises waterfowl.......do not feed them medicated feed....especially when young. It will kill them. It may not always kill them depending on the medication, but it is not good for waterfowl.

Walt