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

[fowlman01]

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.

Only a small percentage of roosters get these needle sharp spurs. You don't keep yours long enough to see it happen. It is not all roosters, just a few and they are as sharp as a needle. Go back and take a look at that leghorn hens spurs a few pages back. I would guess they are sharper than anything you have seen in your flock. Get one like that in the palm of your hand and you will believe it.......hahaha

Walt

 

[armorfirelady]

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.

I have red nipples on the water bucket. I did splash the top of the bucket this morning so they could hear the water in the bucket. I also hit the nipples so there were drops of water on them. Fingers crossed when I get home I will see the girls using it.

Trying to get them to use a roost at night turned out to be much easier lol

 

[JulieNKC]

Well, thank God. I've got enough to do. There are a couple threads on this site and a few more on my facebook page that were talking about it. And I noticed my chickens nails are a bit long, but so what. Really got me aggravated, so I came here for a real answer. Feel free to laugh...doesn't bother me in the least. Thanks.

I have never trimmed a toenail. I have seen some awful looking toenails on chickens that would cause pain to the bird and an inability to walk though, and I've usually seen them in heavily booted breeds who don't wear their nails down or birds kept on wire. Most chickens out running around doing chicken things will trim their own nails, same as most outdoor dogs don't need their toenails clipped but inside dogs do.

Only a small percentage of roosters get these needle sharp spurs. You don't keep yours long enough to see it happen. It is not all roosters, just a few and they are as sharp as a needle. Go back and take a look at that leghorn hens spurs a few pages back. I would guess they are sharper than anything you have seen in your flock. Get one like that in the palm of your hand and you will believe it.......hahaha

Walt

Very sharp. And strong too. My rooster's spurs are rounder, she's got some mean ones. She's my "matriarch" hen. Not quite a pet, lol, but she gets to stay until she dies of old age because she is good at teaching the younger birds where to roost, where to nest, forage, manners to the young roos, etc.

So I'm curious to see how those spurs are going to grow over the next few years.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I just got back from the feed store and since last month the feed I use has gone from 14.95 / 40# to 16.50. I use a 18% All Flock by Nutrena. Can anyone tell me how to cut this to 16% to make it go farther and what to cut it with. The option of going to a local mill is out of the question because since Cargil has moved in they have all gone out of business.

 

[bruceh]

what kind of birds are you raising. layers use 16 percent. you can cut with plain scratch, however not that much maybe 20 percent total. do they free range? also supplement with calcium free choice. you can ferment feed that will up the protein some. they also won't go through as much food.

 

[Beekissed]

For me, locally, barley is the cheapest grain with good protein percentages, coming in second to corn...but my chickens seem to avoid corn now unless ground up with other grains. Due to all the corn being GMO? May be the cause, don't know. All I know is that many years ago the chickens couldn't get enough corn and loved it like candy but now will avoid it unless it is cracked or ground in with other grains.

I cut my layer rations with barley and, sometimes wheat and oats, when times are tight.

You could also ferment your grains/feeds. Makes the nutrients more available for monogastric animals, meaning your chickens will get more benefit from the feeds you are currently feeding and will be expelling less in their feces. No sense wasting all that money you are spending on feed by sending it out the other end under utilized.


Oops! Sorry, Bruce...cross posted the same info as you.

 

[bruceh]

it's ok bee i still love you

 

[Beekissed]

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I started in chickens 4 years ago. I got to the point I am now cause chicken math kicked in and there was a demand for my eggs. I have approximately over a hundred chickens. My barn has eight 12 x 12 stalls with runs on both sides 48 x 20 divided into individual runs for each stall. My barnyard flock has a double stall with a attached run 24 x 20. They free range during the day on 5 acres but usually don't range that far. My EE flock has a single stall with a run 20 x18. They also free range. My Black Aussies, White Rocks and Brown Leghorns each have their own stalls with attached 12 x 20 run. I do not free range the Aussies, Rocks or Leghorns as I was planning on hatching some chicks in the spring to sell because none of these breeds are available locally. I feed All Flock with oyster shell and egg shells on the side. Once a day they get a treat which consists of 1/3 scratch 1/3 wild bird seed and 1/3 BOSS. Once a week or when I feel like it they get scrambled eggs with any kitchen scraps, which isn't much because it's just me and my daughter. We don't have a lot of left overs. The chain type feed stores around here carry the usual processed feeds and as far as getting grains the only thing I've seen is rolled oats, bran, whole or cracked corn and scratch. I guess I picked the wrong part of the country to raise chickens. If you look at my profile there are some pictures of my set up. Sorry this was so long. But the question is the ratio of feed to added grains. I was told the increase in price was because of the drought but I think the feed company's are taking advantage of the situation.

 

[unkadan]

would someone explain their "fermenting" formula?