Colorado

[FrogEggs]

just get a 30 or 50 gallon storage bin from wallmark, put pine shavings on the bottem with paper towels over the shavings. clip the heat lamp to the side faceing down in to it. add their water and food then your broodery is done. no bath tub mess.

when they get big enough they will want to jump out, so we cut a big hole in the middel of the lid and clamped hardwire cloth to it. it gives them air flow and a place to rest the heat lamp if you dont have a clip for it... it also kept the cat from staling one, until hubby was cleaning it out and forgote to replace the lid.  ...    

Problem is there are 14-15 of them I am good for the first bit, when they are tiny..... but from what I read, they grow fast. 6-8 weeks in a 50 gallon tote, they won't be able to turn around.

 

[pichuris]

Problem is there are 14-15 of them I am good for the first bit, when they are tiny..... but from what I read, they grow fast. 6-8 weeks in a 50 gallon tote, they won't be able to turn around.

By 6-8 weeks they can go outside. Weather permitting even sooner then that. You can also get away with splitting the group in 2 and using another tote.

 

[pichuris]

Anyone in the Longmont area that is interested in Serama's or Chinese Blue Breasted "Button" Quail?
I have an incubator that is just gathering dust and I would like to hatch either Serama's or Buttons if I can find anyone who would like the chicks. Please pm me if you are interested and in which bird and maybe we can talk about a great deal...super inexpensive chicks. Let me know.

also anyone having experience incubating Serama eggs that would like to offer a few tips?

thanks all

Gosh they are really pretty.... both. I have no idea how to care for quail though.

 

[644171]

That depends on a couple of things. Many people don't switch them off starter until the pullets are at the point of lay, which depending on the breed and the line, could be anywhere from 16-30 weeks. Some people just feed the chickens an "all flock" type, and forgo the starter/grower altogether. I prefer to feed them non-medicated starter/grower until about 10-12 weeks old, or there about and then, depending on the situation, get them ready to go in with the older birds in the main flock. The ones that aren't going to stay with the main flock will be transitioned to an all flock type feed until they go live somewhere else or are processed.

I would rather "place" pullets with someone's flock than to process them. Dominique pulets are on the smallish side when compared to the cockerels. Cockerels at my place are processed at about 24-26 weeks, and only a couple of them "make the cut" for potential breeding cocks. Everybody else gets eaten, unless someone wants to buy a cockerel.

I had bough purina medicated..It was just five dollars..at kiowa corner..However, the little greedy butts are almost out..So should I keep them on chick starter and just switch to non-medicate..What is the difference?
Will it be bad if I switch to regular food so soon...

Question..I have been giving my chicks boiled eggs and non flavored yogurt..but they seem not to be eating much of it..They ate it a few times...What are good and healthy things to add to their diet..Have not been paying attention to age but they are just now starting to grow their feathers and ('quils'?)

 

[644171]

Snow, snow..glad my chicks are not ready for the out doors yet.......Oh gosh, what is the latest I can keep them inside..there are only three..

Going to post pick soon..They are starting up that akward stage....

 

[Kitty990]

this is want i picked up from another site/person:

Chickens Diet
okay foods
Vegetables
Asparagus
Beets~ green tops too
Beans, must be cooked never raw
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cabbage~entire head
Carrots~green tops too
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic~ add raw cloves to drinking water to boost immune system
Peas
Bell Peppers
Pomegranate
Popped Popcorn
Potatoes~cooked avoid peels (see below)
Pumpkins
Squash
Tomatoes
Turnips~cooked
Sprouts

Fruits
Apples including seeds
Bananas without the peel
Berries~Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Cherries
Grapes~seedless
Melons~Cantelope, Watermelon, Honey Dew
Peaches
Raisins
Grain/Breads
Grits~cooked
Rice~cooked
Breads- all kinds
Sugar free cereal~Cheerios
Oatmeal~raw or cooked
Pasta~cooked
Dairy
All cheeses including Cottage Cheese
Plain yogurt
___________________________________________________________
Not okay foods
Do Not Eat
Avocado Skin and Pit~ toxic
Rhubarb~ poisonous
Citrus~ Some say it can cause feather pecking due to increased levels of Vitamin C. Others say it can interfere with Calcium absorption
Onions~Causes Heinz anemia
Uncooked beans~contain hemaglutin poisonous to birds
Raw potato skins~contain Solanine poisonous to bird
Sugar
Salt
Toxic Plants
Interestingly, chicken can eat meat, however some keepers believe it makes them more aggressive.

 

[pichuris]

this is want i picked up from another site/person:

Chickens Diet
okay foods
Vegetables
Asparagus
Beets~ green tops too
Beans, must be cooked never raw
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cabbage~entire head
Carrots~green tops too
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic~ add raw cloves to drinking water to boost immune system
Peas
Bell Peppers
Pomegranate
Popped Popcorn
Potatoes~cooked avoid peels (see below)
Pumpkins
Squash
Tomatoes
Turnips~cooked
Sprouts

Fruits
Apples including seeds
Bananas without the peel
Berries~Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Cherries
Grapes~seedless
Melons~Cantelope, Watermelon, Honey Dew
Peaches
Raisins
Grain/Breads
Grits~cooked
Rice~cooked
Breads- all kinds
Sugar free cereal~Cheerios
Oatmeal~raw or cooked
Pasta~cooked
Dairy
All cheeses including Cottage Cheese
Plain yogurt
___________________________________________________________
Not okay foods
Do Not Eat
Avocado Skin and Pit~ toxic
Rhubarb~ poisonous
Citrus~ Some say it can cause feather pecking due to increased levels of Vitamin C. Others say it can interfere with Calcium absorption
Onions~Causes Heinz anemia
Uncooked beans~contain hemaglutin poisonous to birds
Raw potato skins~contain Solanine poisonous to bird
Sugar
Salt
Toxic Plants
Interestingly, chicken can eat meat, however some keepers believe it makes them more aggressive.

Huh, I feed some on the not okay food list. Guess I need to do some reasearch. Never had any problems. Thanks for the list.

 

[Mtn Margie]

this is want i picked up from another site/person:____
Not okay foods
Do Not Eat
Avocado Skin and Pit~ toxic
Rhubarb~ poisonous
Citrus~ Some say it can cause feather pecking due to increased levels of Vitamin C. Others say it can interfere with Calcium absorption
Onions~Causes Heinz anemia
Uncooked beans~contain hemaglutin poisonous to birds
Raw potato skins~contain Solanine poisonous to bird
Sugar
Salt
Toxic Plants
Interestingly, chicken can eat meat, however some keepers believe it makes them more aggressive.

Huh x2? Chickens ARE omnivorous under natural conditions. That is a strange thing to say,.... watch out all you vegetarians!
I couldn't get my chickens to eat an orange if it was the last thing to eat. I am pretty sure they know what is and isn't okay.

 

[samsr]

Huh, I feed some on the not okay food list. Guess I need to do some reasearch. Never had any problems. Thanks for the list.

I have a couple of chickens that fight over onion tops. Like scallions. Disnt know it was bad for them. No problems yet though.

 

[Kitty990]

i gave my 7 to 10 week olds a hotdog snak an couple weeks ago, they loved it. we cooked them first tho. this list was from a site called tillys coop... or something like that. i should have gotten the link but she had links to BYC for referrances. I'll have to look for it.