Colorado

[coloradogal]

Hatch Update:

of the 6 eggs I places, the final one hatched about a half hour ago, going into day 24. i was tempted, very tempted, to help out but this time just kept waving at the chickies in there and waited.... and waited.... and waited.

None of the CL hatched but mine did. They are adorable... of course. I'll take pictures when I get them into the brooder. I did put some wet mash in the incubator for the older ones but will keep them in there for a few more hours until they are all dried off.

 

[dennarahl]

My little girl was pecked by Mimi, a speckled sussex rooster that was rehomed to a flock of other speckled sussexes ( I did let the flock keeper know to watch him with kids and to carry stick).    She's great but still gets nervous if she sees them running after her.  Mimi almost lost his life that day as he pecked her about 4 times and then when I interceded, he came after me.  He had a very bad day after that and settled down and we never had another problem but that fear remained.   She knows now to kick and kick hard or hit if she has the rubber bat.  She plays with the chickens all day long but she's never far from something as she is still only about 35#  soak and wet. 

Sometimes when we visit other people with chickens, she gets a little afraid if they come up to her and still has that instinct to kick.  I get it because that **** roo chased her around the yard  and wouldn't stop pecking her until I went out there with a broom and then hit and chased him around for a very, very long time. 
   

if it werent for the geese, the kicking lesson would probably have been fine. but my geese are so big and loud they forget what to do. my geese are gentle giants who nibble hard. if you approach them slow, youll get bit, if your confident and fast, they'll run. the roos saw the girls running and screaming (they're total drama queens) from the geese and took it as a threat.

 

[wsmith]

So the other day. Hannah (my almost 17 year old) is out in the chicken yard. For some reason she walks to the far corner of the chicken yard. She hears a noise behind her, she turns around and sees all the chickens following her. So she runs to the other corner, and the chickens run after her. She does this for about 5 minutes, with the chickens trying to catch up each time she runs to a different corner. Too funny! Yes, she was laughing the whole time!

 

[gardendufus]

Wendel, Is it just mine, or are Doms among the quietest chickens in the world. These girls, and the EEs too, hardly ever make a sound. Sometimes a kinda gutteral ummm crooning sound. All my other birds have this real irritating scolding thing they do. But not the Doms or the EEs.

 

[Pozees]

Hatch Update:

of the 6 eggs I places, the final one hatched about a half hour ago, going into day 24. i was tempted, very tempted, to help out but this time just kept waving at the chickies in there and waited.... and waited.... and waited.

None of the CL hatched but mine did. They are adorable... of course. I'll take pictures when I get them into the brooder. I did put some wet mash in the incubator for the older ones but will keep them in there for a few more hours until they are all dried off.

Yippee, can't wait for baby pictures! Sorry about the CLs, I sure was hoping for you.

 

[wsmith]

Wendel, Is it just mine, or are Doms among the quietest chickens in the world. These girls, and the EEs too, hardly ever make a sound. Sometimes a kinda gutteral ummm crooning sound. All my other birds have this real irritating scolding thing they do. But not the Doms or the EEs.

It's the breed............. And the fact that I have chicken powers..........

 

[pichuris]

I have been giving Ff for 8 days now and although it takes more time I wont be going back to dry. Everyone is getting ff layers, 5wk pullets and 3 day old broilers.

Layers: 34% less feed !
I was getting 10-11 eggs consistently per day and the last 3 days I've gotten 12-14. They have harder shells and could be why I have more eggs because of accidental breakage before? Now I'm worried chicks wont be able to pip out. ;-) I saw one of my older hens lay an egg yesterday and today. Wow.

5 week pullets
Less feed but havent done the calculations. They dont smell! Yipee

4 day broilers (25 little buggers)
From day one they have been on ff. I started with 4 cups dry then fermented that. They are still working on finishing that up since Thursday.

 

[Pozees]

I have been giving Ff for 8 days now and although it takes more time I wont be going back to dry. Everyone is getting ff layers, 5wk pullets and 3 day old broilers.
Layers: 34% less feed !
I was getting 10-11 eggs consistently per day and the last 3 days I've gotten 12-14. They have harder shells and could be why I have more eggs because of accidental breakage before? Now I'm worried chicks wont be able to pip out. ;-) I saw one of my older hens lay an egg yesterday and today. Wow.
5 week pullets
Less feed but havent done the calculations. They dont smell! Yipee
4 day broilers (25 little buggers)
From day one they have been on ff. I started with 4 cups dry then fermented that. They are still working on finishing that up since Thursday.

I would really like to hear more about this, I started to read a couple of different threads on it last night but I'm unclear on whether one ferments the crumble or whole grains or cracked/ground grains or some combination. I got the sense everyone does things a bit differently, save that they let food, water and ACV sit in a bucket for a couple of days or more. If one of you could point me to the thread you read to select your method I would appreciate it. You folks are keeping me learning, for sure!

 

[dennarahl]

I would really like to hear more about this, I started to read a couple of different threads on it last night but I'm unclear on whether one ferments the crumble or whole grains or cracked/ground grains or some combination.  I got the sense everyone does things a bit differently, save that they let food, water and ACV sit in a bucket for a couple of days or more.  If one of you could point me to the thread you read to select your method I would appreciate it.  You folks are keeping me learning, for sure!

Ditto.

 

[Ashdoes]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds
I took four days and read the entire thread. This can be used for meats or layers, its helpful to all of them.
I started with just the crumble, so I could get used to it. I do three or four scoops food and use enough water that it's easily stirred but not soup, and one glug ACV. Then let it sit for two days or so. I'm also not using the two bucket straining system, just one bucket and dumping the slop into the little chickie trough my FIL made for me. Now that I'm used to it I've started adding a scoop of scratch as a treat. And I have a second bucket going now, that way each batch can got for longer.
The thread is very helpful and informative. Good luck!