Colorado

[LizzK]

I got several inquiries from my Craigslist ad and gave him away early the next morning. The young man said he's had chickens for many years and showed me pictures of some bantam chicks he has.

Double Kindness: I didn't even think of those options. Great ideas. I could also have found someone who would process the bird for meat and I could give it away.

Gulible: I think you're telling me that I should have killed the rooster. However, that is against the Fort Collins ordinance. I don't know how to humanely kill a rooster either.

Ranchway Feed doesn't have a rooster guarantee. Next time I get checks I'll try to find a supplier that does. What does Northern Feed do with the roosters they take back?

 

[ddiaz922]

Thanks, yes it seems the other are taking getting into the coop before dusk a little more seriously. Who had Left Eye and Isis roost in the small coop(aka-chicken hospital) two nights ago, but last night the gang was all in the big coop by 7:30. I am hoping the flock dynamic and pecking order is dying down some.
Welcome to them CO board and enjoy your chickens. How many do you have and what breeds?6
I will be curious to see where you ended up.

@DK - sounds like things we moving right along for you.


For the group, has anyone ever gotten feed from Happy Hens out of Brighton? I was looking at their ingredient list and it seems like good organic feed with lots of beneficials in it as well. Here is what their pricing chart says. Just wanting feed back if anyone has used it.

BULK PRICES
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINER
(Prices are per pound)
Pick-up (with no weight minimum) = .53¢
Free Delivery (200 lb minimum) = .65¢
Delivery Fee (less than 200 lb) = $30.00
BE A HERO / FREE FEED
If you organize a group for a central drop-off for your friends and family you will get 50 lb of FREE FEED and all of you will receive a .10¢ per lb (.55¢ per lb) savings! We do require a minimum of 1000 lb for a central drop off.

Quite an addiction. I started with two a RIR and EE but have since picked up a Barred Rock, SLW, and a Buff.
My kids love it they will do 4H come spring.

 

[Mtn Margie]

The meaties are all resting comfortably....., we ( I) started at 8:30 because my water was hot (the others came at 9) and were finished and cleaned up by 12:30. One experienced and two learners and we did 24 birds. Not too bad. It was a great learning experience for my friends and yes, they are still my friends. LOL! Next Sunday, we will do a batch of 23 at my friend's house, which is why she needed to learn this process.
I have some lovely big boy roasters and some smaller hens, pretty typical range of sizes, and they all had some body cavity fat so I know they were getting plenty of feed. They were 11 weeks, just perfect. Can't wait.......

 

[maggiemo]

Ranchway Feed doesn't have a rooster guarantee. Next time I get checks I'll try to find a supplier that does. What does Northern Feed do with the roosters they take back?

Good question. I don't know. I bought bantams from them so the guarantee doesn't apply for the bantams.
I will ask next time I order chicks and let you know.

 

[maggiemo]

I have some lovely big boy roasters and some smaller hens, pretty typical range of sizes, and they all had some body cavity fat so I know they were getting plenty of feed. They were 11 weeks, just perfect. Can't wait.......

Yay! What a great feeling to have a freezer full of birds for the winter.
Were these red broilers, or CX? I can't remember now. RB right?
What is your friend raising?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Yes, RB. Hers are the same, we split an order of 50, they sent 49, 2 shipping stress casualties- one for each, I have 24 and she has 23. She raised hers on organic feed and so I am curious to see if there is any difference. I will figure out a weight for mine and see what they wound up costing.

 

[Double Kindness]

I'm interested in knowing your findings mtn margie! If anyone wanted to go and split an order of meaties I'd be open to it, but I wanted cornish x, as I'm already doing dp meaties.

And now quail, ugh.. b/c 6 weeks until they start laying is pretty appealing.

 

[Euarto Gullible]

I got several inquiries from my Craigslist ad and gave him away early the next morning. The young man said he's had chickens for many years and showed me pictures of some bantam chicks he has.

Double Kindness: I didn't even think of those options. Great ideas. I could also have found someone who would process the bird for meat and I could give it away.

Gulible: I think you're telling me that I should have killed the rooster. However, that is against the Fort Collins ordinance. I don't know how to humanely kill a rooster either.

Ranchway Feed doesn't have a rooster guarantee. Next time I get checks I'll try to find a supplier that does. What does Northern Feed do with the roosters they take back?

I'm glad you had such an easy time rehoming him. I am not sure how my advice was interpreted as advice to kill him, unless he was indeed aggressive toward people or a nocturnal crower.

 

[Ashdoes]

I have to worm my chickens. I hate saying that. I try to keep things natural, but I think this constant rain has really been perfect breeding ground for parasites.
So, we're going to do the first dose tonight, and I'm wondering if I absolutely need to do a second dose in ten days? I'd prefer not to, but realize I might have to. I'm using Valbezen, because it takes care of all worms. Any advice?

 

[Double Kindness]

Ashdoes- I finished worming my flock about 3 weeks ago. I used wazine for 24 hours followed by safeguard for 5 days and was told by other byc membersdawg54 & castportpony? & they said that would be enough.

It's been so wet, I have a lot of slugs in my gardens ewww.