Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

I rarely buy corn but when I do, I only get whole corn for the animals, not cracked. Like many things, corn starts to oxidize as soon as it is cracked. By the time it is bagged and sits on a store shelf for awhile, it has lost what little nutritional content it ever had. Corn doesn't offer great nutrition at the best of times but once its cracked, it is just a waste of money IMO.

When I do buy corn, a 50-pound sack will last about a year as I only throw out a handful here and there as a treat or to get them scratching through the bedding to turn it over.

 

[chicken danz]

My chickens won't eat whole corn. But I go through feed really fast here and I have my corn crimped for the birds. HEChicken is right. Corn has little nutritional value but it does contain a lot of fat. I give more corn in winter because it helps build up fat and takes more energy to digest..... which in turn helps them stay warm. I reduce corn content when the weather warms up. Sunflower seeds however, are an excellent source of protein and some fat for birds, plus the birds love it. Any mix of seeds and grains that you can get is great for the chickens, other than soybean.

 

[Trish44]

I have given wild bird seed to my chickens if I just wanted to use it up but otherwise I don't. I don't feed the wild birds any more either after the AI scare. I do however feed black oil sunflower seeds at times for a treat just to boost protein. My FF has scratch grains in it from my CO-OP & there is corn in it but they also put in wheat & milo. My chickens love it & gobble it all down. I do mix in more scratch in the winter for the reason danz said to add the extra fat for the cold. I decrease the amount of scratch in warm weather, so my mix changes with seasons.

I hurt a muscle in my upper back going to my neck yesterday out moving a bigger dog igloo into the dog run for Zander & then I carried a bale of straw up from the barn. My DH had the wheelbarrow loading wood into the woodshed so I didn't have that to bring it up in. I sure paid for that last night, it was really hurting. It's some better today so I hope it resolves quickly. I can't turn my head to the left very well right now.

The chicks I moved outside a few days ago seem to be doing fine out there & have figured out getting into their shelter, which is an upside down half of a dog house. It makes for a good shelter for them to go in at night & cuddle together. Oh & I've been trying out some new heated waterers for the two pens of chicks. They're the Rite Farm Heated plastic waterers. I had to find something besides heated dog bowls to use for my chicks because I was afraid they would fall in those & drown. So far these seem to be working out OK. They are a bit more tricky to fill & turn over but it's manageable. You have to fill up the top & then put the base on & then flip them over. I find it still easier than dealing with those metal waterers trying to match up the little slot with the pin in the cold. I have problems getting those loose if they have a suction too to fill them.

 

[chicklover56]

Any rabbit breeders out there? Having some problems with a doe and wanted some advice

 

[sharol]

I butchered 4 cockerels on Friday. I can't tell you how much I hate doing it, but it is part of raising chicks. A friend helped and kept me company, so it went pretty fast, but I really hate the process.

On the upside, the coops and runs are much more quiet and content today. Those boys were driving the head roos nuts and pestering the hens more than I realized.

Happy new year everyone. I won't make it to midnight (or even close) tonight. I rarely do. There is nothing I loathe more than being in a confined space with a bunch of smoking drunks, so I avoid NY parties at all costs.

 

[chicken danz]

I hurt a muscle in my upper back going to my neck yesterday out moving a bigger dog igloo into the dog run for Zander & then I carried a bale of straw up from the barn. My DH had the wheelbarrow loading wood into the woodshed so I didn't have that to bring it up in. I sure paid for that last night, it was really hurting. It's some better today so I hope it resolves quickly. I can't turn my head to the left very well right now.
Me too! I was working on the floor in my building yesterday and can barely move my left shoulder and it hurts into my neck. I was moving lots of stuff around so I'm not even sure when I hurt it.
The chicks I moved outside a few days ago seem to be doing fine out there & have figured out getting into their shelter, which is an upside down half of a dog house. It makes for a good shelter for them to go in at night & cuddle together. Oh & I've been trying out some new heated waterers for the two pens of chicks. They're the Rite Farm Heated plastic waterers. I had to find something besides heated dog bowls to use for my chicks because I was afraid they would fall in those & drown. So far these seem to be working out OK. They are a bit more tricky to fill & turn over but it's manageable. You have to fill up the top & then put the base on & then flip them over. I find it still easier than dealing with those metal waterers trying to match up the little slot with the pin in the cold. I have problems getting those loose if they have a suction too to fill them.

I spent a lot of time cleaning out one of the hoop coops yesterday and setting it up to move some chickens out there. They are way too big to be in the brooder house but I didn't really have a good place to move them. I really wanted to leave that area empty this winter but I have to move these birds somewhere.
Originally Posted by sharol
I've got a pen of about 15 more cockerels I need butchered. Just no decent time or weather to do it in. Hopefully we'll have a break in the weather before long and I can dispatch all of these birds soon. I have another pen of ones I kept for possible breeders as well. Too many birds for sure.
I've slowly been cooking up some in the freezer just to make more room for the ones that are already in there. My hog is getting butchered on Friday as well so I need to make even more room.

 

[Trish44]

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope this next year is a good one for everybody.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Happy New Years Day everyone!!! Danz you know if you need a few more hands to butcher let us know and we will come down at like 10am so we have time to get everyone done for you also anyone have input on if Torpedo eggs can be put into a incubator and hatched? I have a new to me 8 month old hen who has laid two Torpedo eggs in the last 3 days and as Im wanting to try out my "new" incubator I picked up from Owls for $5 with Turkey and those new hens. On our NYE hatch at Heather's so far 5 out of the 15 eggs that had moving chicks on day 18 have hatched. We have 1 Easter Egger, 1 Barred Rock no white/yellow head spot so guessing male but since its a barnyard mix not sure that sex link applies and 3 from Danz lines those crossed with our roosters so can't wait to see them grow. One has silver tint to his feathers. Pictures attached of some of the hatched chicks and torpedo eggs.

 

[chicken danz]

Dani I really need to butcher these guys but it's just too cold right now...Even using the building like last time. Thanks for the offer. I sure hope after January it warms some.
Yesterday I did some major moving and disinfecting around here. I sure hope everyone does okay. I'm always afraid that a move will stress birds and they'll get sick. Plus of course we have this cold front moving in which is going to present it's own problems.
I've got a busy week ahead. Sure would prefer to just stay home all week and stay inside and keep warm.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Never a problem Danz anytime but Feb 8-25 we are available just let us know.