Colorado

[Latestarter]

As this storm rolled in over colorado springs today. My daughter and i had a pretty good vantage point watching it come in. The wind picked up and the chickens started walking around as it cooled off. My daughter said to me. "You know it is windy when the chickens start to walk sideways". I found this quite a funny observation. They were walking sideways. Lol. I just thought i would share. It sure is funny what kids will say and observe.

Geeze... kids are great to have around, aren't they? They see things so differently than we adults do. And it isn't always "wrong."

 

[Aacre]

I hatched 5, they are now living with Euarto gullible, I just saw them a couple of weeks ago and they look terrific.  He wound up with, I think, 2 males and 3 females, and wants to breed them next year

Very likely will lay an olive colored egg.

That is what I'm hoping for!

 

[corancher]

So I have been reading all about fodder for chicken and noticed a couple people from this board on those threads. So who all here is growing fodder? I am very interested it and am going to be growing Barley fodder as we have a huge bag of it. I am very curious on the cost saving aspect. So what are people's experiences? Thanks

I don't post often on the thread but I do watch it. I did fodder for several months and found mold to be a problem in the summer months. I grew mostly wheat with some black sunflower seeds in it. I do plan to set the system back up in the fall since it was a nice way to provide green stuff during winter months. The system was pretty easy to set up and I found that a timed flood and tickle down system worked better than a sprinkler system. I think this was able to keep more moisture throughout which prevented mold from growing. Since bleach is one of the items mentioned to use to make purified water. it is safe in the small amounts that are recommended but I still did not feel I wanted to use it. I think I will try small amounts of vinegar first and see how that works. The birds love the fermented feed made with vinegar so I don't think they will have a problem eating vinegar tasting fodder.

 

[corancher]

Also on the mite question. We have over 300 birds which consists of chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, and turkeys. I treat all chickens and turkeys once a year with Ivermectin pour-on for cattle. We have cattle also and we use it on them once a year. It takes care of internal and external parasites. I put .10cc on the back of the neck per bird with a syringe without a needle. There is a 10 day withdraw after application for slaughter. I can treat a lot of birds in a short amount of time using this method and have been using it for 7+ years with no problems with a reaction in any birds. I have not used it on the waterfowl since chemicals affect them differently and the guineas are just too hard to catch.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Beautiful rains lately! We went to the Rooftop Rodeo last night to watch a family member saddlebronc ride and my oldest boy helped out in the chutes once again. That is a great venue for a rodeo! Just rain and mud going on up there last evening and I feel sorry that lightning has taken two lives up around treeline in the past two days. At least it has been pretty decent at our elevation and the chickens are thriving.

 

[Aacre]

Also on the mite question. We have over 300 birds which consists of chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, and turkeys. I treat all chickens and turkeys once a year with Ivermectin pour-on for cattle. We have cattle also and we use it on them once a year. It takes care of internal and external parasites. I put 10cc on the back of the neck per bird with a syringe without a needle. There is a 10 day withdraw after application for slaughter. I can treat a lot of birds in a short amount of time using this method and have been using it for 7+ years with no problems with a reaction in any birds. I have not used it on the waterfowl since chemicals affect them differently and the guineas are just too hard to catch.

Thank you! This also seems like a good option. I have about 70 birds that I would need to treat, so this might be a better option for me.

 

[COChix]

I don't post often on the thread but I do watch it.  I did fodder for several months and found mold to be a problem in the summer months.  I grew mostly wheat with some black sunflower seeds in it.  I do plan to set the system back up in the fall since it was a nice way to provide green stuff during winter months.  The system was pretty easy to set up and I found that a timed flood and tickle down system worked better than a sprinkler system.  I think this was able to keep more moisture throughout which prevented mold from growing.   Since bleach is one of the items mentioned to use to make purified water. it is safe in the small amounts that are recommended but I still did not feel I wanted to use it.  I think I will try small amounts of vinegar first and see how that works.  The birds love the fermented feed made with vinegar so I don't think they will have a problem eating vinegar tasting fodder.

I don't post often on the thread but I do watch it.  I did fodder for several months and found mold to be a problem in the summer months.  I grew mostly wheat with some black sunflower seeds in it.  I do plan to set the system back up in the fall since it was a nice way to provide green stuff during winter months.  The system was pretty easy to set up and I found that a timed flood and tickle down system worked better than a sprinkler system.  I think this was able to keep more moisture throughout which prevented mold from growing.   Since bleach is one of the items mentioned to use to make purified water. it is safe in the small amounts that are recommended but I still did not feel I wanted to use it.  I think I will try small amounts of vinegar first and see how that works.  The birds love the fermented feed made with vinegar so I don't think they will have a problem eating vinegar tasting fodder.

Thanks for jumping in, I believe I am going to stick to fodder in the fall/winter and continue my regimen with the birds, fermenting food, sprouts, garden and table scraps and of course free ranging. I will be curious if you have success using vinegar rather than bleach. The bleach thing concerns me, so will be researching that more. As far as an actual fodder set up, my bf will build a hydro type set up, he can build anything! Thanks again for jumping in and I assume based on the number for birds you have that you run a commercial operation? You have your hands full!

 

[COChix]

Sorry for last message not sure what happened, still learning the boards.

Also I know this isn't chicken related but a few shots from yesterday. I love summer and gardening!

 

[Percheron chick]

I treat all chickens and turkeys once a year with Ivermectin pour-on for cattle. We have cattle also and we use it on them once a year. I put 10cc on the back of the neck per bird with a syringe without a needle.

I hope you missed a decimal point on that one. 10 ml is 220# of cattle.

 

[maggiemo]

Great conversations going on. Thanks everyone for all the great chicken talk.
Cochix great pictures. I got clobbered with hail Monday night and my garden got smooshed for the most part.

Percheron chick, I was wondering the same thing. 10mil seemed like an awful lot but I have never used it so I don't know. I'll be interested to hear how that works for others.

Right when I said I had never had a mean bird my bantam rooster (1 year old) starts to mount the big girls and is pecking their heads bald!!! He has only mounted the 4 bantams girls before now and has always been very nice and never hurt any of them. Now I have probably 6 bald heads and shoulders on some of my big birds.
I separated him into a little coop I usually keep for broodies. I don't know what to do. Will he always do this? I really don't want bald chickens.
If separating him might work, how long do I keep him in time out?
What would you guys do?
Thanks.
mo