Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

I have net over the run, too, but my problem is with the sparrows that fly in the pop-door to hang out in the coop. They are small enough to navigate the net just fine. They are destroying my insulation in the upper corners where they can reach it (the pink foam stuff) and it isn't covered with plywood. I hope the little b&^%$%& choke on it. They poop all over and make a mess. I've tried putting strips of cloth over the pop-door opening, but that doesn't seem to stop them.

 

[notiones]

I have a few questions which are all related to one another.

1) I use home made bait stations to control the mice in and about my place. They are constructed out of pvc, do a wonderful job, and about the only thing that can get in is a mouse. The bait cannot be removed by the mouse either. I became a little concerned after watching some of my hens devour a small bird though. Would they do the same to a sick mouse? Hopefully the mice will go off somewhere other than my coop or run to die, but I do have one of these bait stations in my coop. Thoughts?

2) So, my hens devoured a small bird like it was filet mignon. Are they missing something in their diet? I feed a layer crumble, throw scratch out daily, and treat them to left over fruits veggies from the kitchen. No meat or anything that will attract the coyotes!

3) I am wanting to go with a more organic feed than what I am using now, but it has to be priced within reason. This goes for the scratch grains too. Can anyone recommend a feed store or brand I can purchase locally that might be more organic? Or at least get me close? I try and stay away from too much GMO and over processed foods in our house and it would stand to reason I wouldn't want any of that coming in via the eggs.

Any tips on what kind of treats you feed your chickens that you find locally would be appreciated too. During the winter I would like to supplement their diet with something that's easy and affordable but not made or engineered by Monsanto.

All of the pullets and cockerels seem healthy, in good spirits and are laying very well.

 

[chicken danz]

First off yes chickens will eat mice and birds etc. But the bait solution is so minute in what they consume it will not hurt other animals that eat the mice.
Eating other things like small birds isn't an indication of anything other than they are hungry. Once they taste it they want it. Chickens consume meat as well as veggies. That's why they love bugs and stuff.
I have my feed custom mixed but I order at least a half ton at a time. I think Chooks has a custom mixed feed as well and she lives in Lawrence so she may be able to help you. There are companies that make a non GMO feed but I have no idea where you can buy it.
I know this wasn't much help. Just wanted to let you know not to worry if your chickens eat mice. It might be helpful to place some water outside of the area where the chickens can get to it but close enough for the mice to run to.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

 

[Ivywoods]

WoW! Very nice pictures!

 

[chicken danz]

Nice pictures Darin.

 

[Ivywoods]

If you are giving them scratch every day, be careful of how much you give them. The scratch is usually a little low in protien, especially if it has a lot of cracked corn in it, which is usually what they like the best. You might want to give them some higher protien snacks. Some suggestions are BOSS, cat food and catfish food in small amounts. I know some people will argue with me about it, but I just recently spoke with the director of the poultry department at KSU and he thought that those were really good for snacks for chickens, especially when you want to give them something that will increase their protien, and believe me, they love it!

I used to bait the mice we had in our shop. We are surrounded by corn and soybean fields and woods, and the mice population is never ending. I was buying bucket after bucket of bait. The shop was still smelling like mice. I finally gave up the bait stations and got some cats from the local shelter. Now, if we see a mouse it is RARE and the shop no longer smells like mice. I'm not a big "cat person" but these barn cats do their job well.

Chickens are omnivores, so they will eat just about anything, and a mouse or small bird is just as tempting as a big june bug to them. I worried about them eating mice that had consumed the poison (warfarin, isn't it?) and that is one of the reasons I quit using the bait.

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[chicken danz]

I've checked this out with several sources. The mouse/rat bait acts as a blood thinner. It is one of the identical medicines prescribed to heart patients to thin their blood. It causes internal hemorrhaging when the mouse drinks water. There is not enough ingested that it can hurt another animal that eats a mouse that has eaten the bait. Just don't leave the bait where your chickens or your pets can eat it and all will be fine. You can verify this out in numerous places. I also confirmed it with my vet.
I have cats but I also keep bait out to keep the numbers down.
Also in agreement with IVY. Never feed scratch alone as it doesn't contain enough feed value for a bird to thrive on alone. It is great for a treat but not alone. I feed very little corn, but I do add some corn to their diet in the winter because it will help them put on more fat.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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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!

 

[Hawkeye95]

OKay, so I just got back home from running errands. My youngest boy had another eye appt and he will be getting his next set of lenses as soon as they make them.

I went to Atwoods and bought a scratch Block for entertainment. (hoping the bossy barred rocks will give up their rein of terror) and then bought a bag of black oil sunflower seeds. We'll see how all of this goes over.