Colorado

[Adam7]

Update.  According to Nutrena.  Theirs can be stored for up to six months if stored in a cool dry place.  I think colorado durring the winter and early spring qualifies as cool and dry. Except the past two weeks.  Unusually wet would be the correct answer.

Update.  According to Nutrena.  Theirs can be stored for up to six months if stored in a cool dry place.  I think colorado durring the winter and early spring qualifies as cool and dry. Except the past two weeks.  Unusually wet would be the correct answer.

This sounds promising. I am currently 14.5-16.5 weeks away from needing layer pellets... I wonder how fast a 50# bag will go with 10 hens?

Mark me down for 2 please.

 

[Adam7]

So the pasty butt continues... It's just the two cuckoo Marans now. The bc Marans is ok now though. The severity has also decreased on the cuckoo. Hopefully they will stop soon too. I have been cleaning it off 2 times a day every day for 3 days now..

I have come to the conclusion that most of my chicks hate me. One even bit me today! I try to hold each one for at least a few minutes every day.. Well they have been so flighty these last few days. The only ones that still love me are my 2 gold stars. The Marans tolerate me, the EE run from me and the welsummers must think I am chicken satan because they just flip out when I want to hold them! It was a Welsummer that chomped my finger. It didn't really hurt.. But it's the principle of the matter.

 

[samsr]

This sounds promising. I am currently 14.5-16.5 weeks away from needing layer pellets... I wonder how fast a 50# bag will go with 10 hens?

Mark me down for 2 please.

My 6 hens and two roos go through about 3/4 of a bag a month.

 

[dennarahl]

So the pasty butt continues... It's just the two cuckoo Marans now. The bc Marans is ok now though. The severity has also decreased on the cuckoo. Hopefully they will stop soon too. I have been cleaning it off 2 times a day every day for 3 days now..

I have come to the conclusion that most of my chicks hate me. One even bit me today! I try to hold each one for at least a few minutes every day.. Well they have been so flighty these last few days. The only ones that still love me are my 2 gold stars. The Marans tolerate me, the EE run from me and the welsummers must think I am chicken satan because they just flip out when I want to hold them! It was a Welsummer that chomped my finger. It didn't really hurt.. But it's the principle of the matter.

The one that bit you could be a boy. The boys are the only ones who have bit me. The skittishness is normal and likely won't go away but keep holding them anyway.

 

[Pozees]

I let the chickens catch their own grasshoppers in the summer. It is great fun to watch. This keeps the grasshoppers out of the garden as well as the chickens.

Oh yes, one of the highest forms of entertainment in existence

 

[Pozees]

The one that bit you could be a boy. The boys are the only ones who have bit me. The skittishness is normal and likely won't go away but keep holding them anyway.

Huh, I'll be darned, I never noticed that! Skittishness I just expect while they're growing up, they should be running for cover anytime a potential predator approaches, and as much as you love your chicks and take scrupulous care of them, their instincts will continue to tell them that things approaching from overhead may be deadly. I find that once I have my hand in the brooder and keep it still for a few moments, they relax and usually come to peck it and see if it's food, since it didn't eat them My Speckled Sussex hens were about 4 or 5 weeks old when I got them, and were flighty as heck, but I had had them before so I knew it was just a matter of waiting them out, and sure enough, one day it was like someone flipped a switch and they settled down - in relative terms. They free range just about every day, so they remain predator-savvy and will run away if they are in any doubt, but walk out there with an apple and it's a mob scene. I had a visitor yesterday who got here before me, and it was so funny the way they stood back and took his measure, but within 10 minutes they were all gathered at his feet asking whether he had brought an apple with him LOL.

 

[Pozees]

So, someone was asking about meal worms. I bought starter stock of 3000 meal worms last summer. I keep them in bins in my (away at college) son's bedroom, and have yet to feed out any of the offspring, although it should not be much longer before I can, at least I'm hoping. I keep hearing that I just need to be patient, and once they get a little older they will provide a steady supply of protein-rich treats. I have bought them from PetsMart to feed as treats, and they go CRAZY for them. So, if you are patient and have room you can grow your own, all they need is a bin with wheat bran and a few slices of apple or carrot a few times a week. They like it warm and dark.

 

[Ashdoes]

So the pasty butt continues... It's just the two cuckoo Marans now. The bc Marans is ok now though. The severity has also decreased on the cuckoo. Hopefully they will stop soon too. I have been cleaning it off 2 times a day every day for 3 days now..

I have come to the conclusion that most of my chicks hate me. One even bit me today! I try to hold each one for at least a few minutes every day.. Well they have been so flighty these last few days. The only ones that still love me are my 2 gold stars. The Marans tolerate me, the EE run from me and the welsummers must think I am chicken satan because they just flip out when I want to hold them! It was a Welsummer that chomped my finger. It didn't really hurt.. But it's the principle of the matter.

Later on, when you have treats in your hand, they won't see your hand as "evil that comes from above". When my chickens run at me in the backyard I swear they're all screaming "Food!!" We barely open the sliding glass door, and they come from all directions, it's very entertaining.

 

[coloradogal]

This sounds promising. I am currently 14.5-16.5 weeks away from needing layer pellets... I wonder how fast a 50# bag will go with 10 hens?

Mark me down for 2 please.

I keep mine on starter mash for 2 weeks that have probiotics, then regular starter but with poultry vitamins in the water for 3 weeks, then grower/finisher until they are 3 months-ish old and then they get 16% if I have that or 20% layer feed. But at first, I do a mixture of the grower/layer feed.

 

[Ashdoes]

So, someone was asking about meal worms.  I bought starter stock of 3000 meal worms last summer.  I keep them in bins in my (away at college) son's bedroom, and have yet to feed out any of the offspring, although it should not be much longer before I can, at least I'm hoping.  I keep hearing that I just need to be patient, and once they get a little older they will provide a steady supply of protein-rich treats.  I have bought them from PetsMart to feed as treats, and they go CRAZY for them.  So, if you are patient and have room you can grow your own, all they need is a bin with wheat bran and a few slices of apple or carrot a few times a week.  They like it warm and dark.

I started my own bins as well, but for earth worms, instead of mealworms. That way the chickens, gardens and my husband can use them. I get my worms next week, I'm really hoping the poor things don't freeze to death.