Consolidated Kansas

[notiones]

Good to know about the scratch. Yes, they go crazy over the cracked corn and then all of the little sparrows come down and clean out the rest, which I don't particularly like. I generally add some black sunflower seeds in too. Guess I'll need to cut back a little and get a little more protein added. I have specifically shied away from throwing out meat scraps and the like because of the coyotes and coons. One of my neighbours is having a heck of a time with predators killing his chickens and he throws out scraps. I do feed them a layer crumble so maybe I don't need to add protein?

So what is BOSS?

I've resisted getting any barn cats because my wife is allergic, but maybe it's time to entertain the idea again.

 

[Ivywoods]

Quote:
BOSS=Black oil sunflower seeds

I never throw out meat, but check out the protien level of cat food and catfish food. You really don't need to give them very much. For a large fowl 2 tablespoons a day is more than enough. My birds all go crazy over the catfood, but it's taken them a little longer to become as fond of the catfish food.

Most layer crumbles are approximately 17% protien. Any time you give them corn or scratch you are decreasing from that. Corn protien is only 2-3%. Chickens need higher than that. Free range chickens often increase their protien intake by eating bugs, and like you said, small birds and mice.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Quote:
WOW Darin!!! Those birds are GORGEOUS!!! I don't even know what half of them are!! I recognized ducks.. LOL!! SO pretty, and great colors. Totally drooling! How are your birds doing? Are they all healthy? My chicks out of no where decided to get sneezes. They haven't been in contact with anyone.

Hope you are all well over there! PS-- your pens are really wonderful, too!

Thanks!
We been workin hard on them. There will be some new arrivels very soon.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
WOW Darin!!! Those birds are GORGEOUS!!! I don't even know what half of them are!! I recognized ducks.. LOL!! SO pretty, and great colors. Totally drooling! How are your birds doing? Are they all healthy? My chicks out of no where decided to get sneezes. They haven't been in contact with anyone.

Hope you are all well over there! PS-- your pens are really wonderful, too!

Thanks!
We been workin hard on them. There will be some new arrivels very soon.

Oooh, new arrivals!! Fun! You'll have to post more pics! So, who is the photographer? Those pictures are sharp and tight.

 

[Hawkeye95]

BTW, the chicks have not come out of the coop. Will they??? Or do I have to drag them out of there?? I left them in for a few days to be sure they knew what home way. Now I'm thinking they REALLY love their digs-- they aren't coming out. Been thinking of putting treats right on the edge to see who goes for it..?? Oh, and they KNOW the pop door is up. I mean, I know it's plexi and clear, but whenever I open it, they eyeball it and act all weird. One or two of them have even poked their heads out. It's getting late in the day today. I hate for them to all decide to come out right when it's time to go back in. Sheesh.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Quote:
Thanks!
We been workin hard on them. There will be some new arrivels very soon.

Oooh, new arrivals!! Fun! You'll have to post more pics! So, who is the photographer? Those pictures are sharp and tight.

That would be I. Yep gettin some chiloe widgeons, Bahama pintails, and a pair of cinnimon teal.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye, They'll venture out one by one. It's a whole new scary world to them out there. Just give them time. It's also pretty chilly.
Notiones, Let's not forget about feeding warm mash in the winter. Last winter I would clean out my freezer of any old frozen out of date veggies, leftovers from the fridge, long cook rice(cheap), maybe boil a bone or two to get some meat flavor, throw in bird seed, throw in dried cat or dog food, you name it. Peanut butter is also a winner with them. I always put some cayenne pepper in there too. They love it. Basically anything with some nutrition. I do feed mine some meat scraps now and then but not so much they won't eat it up really quickly. There isn't any left laying around. I make a point to burn any left over bones and things that might attract predators.
I feed outer leaves of veggies and lettuce, I scramble eggs when I have way too many. I buy cabbage because it is cheap and hang it in the pen so they can pick at it. Any kind of nuts that go stale. You name it. Chickens also love diary products.
For the rest of you. This rooster I have in the house and one other one I suspect also has a cold has lots of black on their face. Looks sort of like frost burn but darker and is around their eyes, on their comb and their wattles. Is this just part of having a cold? I can't believe I am having this crap after all this time. There is too much to be the result of a cock fight. Other than congestion they are acting fine.
To top it off I've been sick all day. Running a fever and feeling like crap but can't really identify what is wrong.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Oooh, new arrivals!! Fun! You'll have to post more pics! So, who is the photographer? Those pictures are sharp and tight.

That would be I. Yep gettin some chiloe widgeons, Bahama pintails, and a pair of cinnimon teal.

I'm too much of a bird newbie to know what all of that is! ha! But they sound kind of exotic! Can't wait to see pics when you get them! Great job on the photos.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
Thanks Danz-- we'll try again tomorrow! They never came out today at all. I just went out there and locked down their pop door. I looked in and they were all far away from the pop door and some of them were already roosting. Sigh. I hope they decide to get a little braver tomorrow.

 

[Ivywoods]

Daren-The black isn't blood, isn't? Maybe the roosters have been in a little rooster altercation mood.