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

[Beekissed]

I just had a thought...first one all day! Lol. I think you should come up with a name to call the fermented stuff. Or maybe have a little contest to see what everyone comes up with so when we talk about it we can say something other than fermented stuff. I bet it would catch on and buzz around the Country in no time. I was thinking chicken kraut but that isnt a good marketable kind of name and doesnt really say anything evocative about what it is and does. esp for people who dont like kraut. sour dough mash? I am sure someone out htere has some really grfeat idea for a name for it. Anyway, just a though.
L

We just call it FF. I guess we could call it Mountain Mash, White Rock Lightning, Rooster Brew, or Poultry Porridge.

 

[Mountain Momma]

We just call it FF. I guess we could call it Mountain Mash, White Rock Lightning, Rooster Brew, or Poultry Porridge.

I really like poultry porridge! You know that the economy is such that all the Urban Chickeners are going to gradually pick up on things like this and its gonna stick. These people are going to keep their chicken thing going. I bet if someone put together a 1lb bag of scratch and a tiny bottle of ACV and a little cute calico note with the instructions they could sell it for 20 bucks. And I think it would sell off the shelves. Especially in winter with everyone worrying about how to keep their chickens warm etc. I can see the face book posts now...."I just gave my baby chicks the poultry porridge and they all started laying at 3 minutes!" I think you might have a little cottage industry here. Just sayin...

 

[chickenlover89]

I love that picture of the barred rock!
And the grey pullet is gorgeous BUT AL STOLE HER BUTT!

thanks I love her! she's so friendly!

 

[thedragonlady]

Chicken Kimchi maybe?

 

[galanie]

I am a leg man myself as you can tell by my birds, but I ain't opposed to a good vent inspection if the urge strikes me...... ROFLMAO I am kill myself sometimes.

Aw, come on, Al. Everyone knows the best thing about LF Cornish isn't the legs...

 

[Beekissed]

I really like poultry porridge! You know that the economy is such that all the Urban Chickeners are going to gradually pick up on things like this and its gonna stick. These people are going to keep their chicken thing going. I bet if someone put together a 1lb bag of scratch and a tiny bottle of ACV and a little cute calico note with the instructions they could sell it for 20 bucks. And I think it would sell off the shelves. Especially in winter with everyone worrying about how to keep their chickens warm etc. I can see the face book posts now...."I just gave my baby chicks the poultry porridge and they all started laying at 3 minutes!" I think you might have a little cottage industry here. Just sayin...

You are probably right!

And I would do that very thing if I felt it was right and proper to take advantage of the slow thinkers of this world...but I don't. Those poor folks have enough hurdles to cross in this ol' world without me "duping the city rubes" while they go along.

 

[loanwizard]

Not an OT but I thought it was an interesting topic- Culling- I have 85 free range birds of different lineage- Right now with the molt, time of year and about 50 pullets, not all of which are laying, I am getting 12-20 eggs per day. About every 2 days I get 12, 14-15 the next, then 19 or 20 then it repeats. As soon as the pullets stop, I have some raggedy 3-4 year old hens that will make their way to the honored pressure cooker. Other than that, I will cull for sickness, scruffiness, attitude, etc... but I rarely cull. Next year I will look at egg production and make the decision of whether to cull most of the flock for new ones. I have the big incubator thanks to Bruce, but I may not cull if the egg production is "good enuf". That said, being only in it for 3 years, and only having this many layers this year, I am not qualified to give advice, just starting the ball rolling and sitting back observing and learning.

Feed costs- I am not saying it is right, but it is what I do and I look forward to input. I have hogs, layers and meaties throughout the year. I feed one feed and buy it by the ton, from a feed mill about 40 minutes from the farm. Prices just went down a little. June, I paid $425.00 per ton, August a little less and last week $373.00 or $.19 lb.

The feed is a 16% hog feed. The layers like it, the meaties grow on it and of course the hogs like it. The animals get all of our scraps, the birds free range and get fed at night although they pick up the slack of the hogs too.

Just yesterday I picked up a 50lb bag of Calf Manna for $19.99. Birds seemed to like it. Bag says it should only be 1% of feed although I am feeding at about 20% that being 1 scoop Manna to 5 scoops feed.

I have considered going to restaurants for scraps but... people have sickness and eat out. Not sure I want to give that to my animals. I haven't stopped at the cheese makers or grocery for left over produce but it is on the list. Additionally I want to stop at a goat place and inquire as to the price of goats milk. We had goats but they were a nuisance. I have considered buying a milking doe that I can keep milking, but not waiting for one to kid. I have heard that raw goats milk is very beneficial to all the animals.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Quote:
If one can do it, buying by the ton is wise! Your feed is 16% hog feed, what's the other 84% or do you mean 16 % protien?
Manna is not madatory, it can be helpful, especially when buying pre-packaged commerical chicken feed and molting time.

 

[marty8587]

I,ve been mixing the calf manma into the chicken feed, and it isn't their favorite. I leave it in the feeders until I see redish poops around my yard then I know the feeders are empty and it's time to reload!

 

[loanwizard]

If one can do it, buying by the ton is wise! Your feed is 16% hog feed, what's the other 84% or do you mean 16 % protien?
.
Manna is not madatory, it can be helpful, especially when buying pre-packaged commerical chicken feed and molting time.

16% protein. I haven't compared the tags, I suppose that I should. I also have oyster shell in there, but am probably going to change to calcium carbonate or lime, thanks to Fred.
As far as by the ton, it's not that I want to, but I have to in order to keep costs down and it is fresh, milled the day I buy it.