Colorado

[coloradogal]

I go through a 75# a week for my flock. I suspect a good portion of that is in the pigs with wings ducks. Ducks eat a very, very, very, very lot of food. I am looking into doing a fodder system to try to bring the costs under control until I can open up the back field for them to free-range. Once they start doing that, feed costs should go back down significantly. The year they were always ranging, I think I maybe bought 2 bags but the flock was only 11 at that time. I had posted a couple of time before just accepting my concerns that they weren't eating any of their food.

 

[coloradogal]

Soooo, I read on another thread that my black rooster with a barred rock chicken gives offspring that are sex linked. So the barred pattern are males and the black ones are female. That could explain why I have black ones from maran eggs and barred pattern. True to form, from my hatch last year, the sweet little one that jumps into my arms when I go out and eats out of my hand is indeed a rooster. He isn't crowing yet but I can see the secondary characteristic. That makes sense on this second to last hatch too. I only have one barred pattern and he's clearly a rooster and I can tell that now and the rest, other than the ivory ones, are black.

Of the ones still brooder, they will not be as easily sexed as they are phoenix/silkie/maran crosses.

So I'm a little disappointed as my favorite and sweet one is a rooster. I knew the day for my black beauty would come eventually. Hmmm... grandma was wanting another flock guardian as her current rooster has started pecking...perhaps she'll take him after she culls her mean roo.

I have a friend taking the two little frizzles to smoke. She'll cull gently and respect their dignity. I'm tired of them and just want them gone as they aren't very nice to the girls. They are rapist roosters and I won't put up with a rooster who doesn't know how to courtship and roosters who are other rooster aggressive. Stupid little things.

 

[krcchickens]

That's good

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.

That's good to know because my speckled Sussex is really skittish and won't let me hold her. But the last couple days she hasn't been as bad

 

[Mtn Margie]

My 2 Speckled Sussex are lap sitters. Very sweet. I have my entire flock trained to come in to the word "treats". That way, if they are out free-ranging and something comes up and I need to go, I can get them all back in the coop/run area.

If you were closer, I would buy ten bags but I think I will not break even with the fuel cost.

 

[coloradogal]

My 2 Speckled Sussex are lap sitters. Very sweet. I have my entire flock trained to come in to the word "treats". That way, if they are out free-ranging and something comes up and I need to go, I can get them all back in the coop/run area.

If you were closer, I would buy ten bags but I think I will not break even with the fuel cost.

I'm be working in Denver soon. I still have kefir grains to get to you too. I'm not sure when I'll be in Golden again. Where do you live?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Halfway between Boulder and Estes Park.

 

[coloradogal]

Halfway between Boulder and Estes Park.

So meeting off of 36 still doesnt help much.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Adam, everything eats chicken. They are just trying to make it to the next day and you shouldn't take it personally. They will calm down when they get bigger and then you will have a herd of chickens following you everywhere.
I like to use the term herd because that is what they are more like when they haul butt down the hill and make a huge amount of noise.

 

[krcchickens]

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.

So where are you going to keep your earth worms? In your compost bin? If you don't mind explaining your set up.

 

[krcchickens]

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 bought some for my girls yesterday. Only a 100 though. I really want to raise them for my girls too. How much did 3000 cost? I have a heated room in my garage that I think I could use. What kind of bins do you keep them in and how many bins for that many worms? You have to wait a year u can use them or before they're established enough to use them?