Dark Egg Breeds Thread

[kathyinmo]

I use ADM (Pen Pals) feed. It contains animal protein. I don't add any additional protein for molt. Can't recall where I read about it, but I read that too much protein is as bad as not enough, and that it affects the reproductive organs.

Heat lamp .... well, I decided to take of the top of the brooder, and use hardware cloth there. I can use heat lamps through the top. I will leave the bottom one for now, but I think I can use a heat lamp through the door I am putting on (wire). I do not really want to put the heat lamp inside the enclosure. I think they will work well for broodies, or other things other than brooding chicks. So, I hope!

 

[berkeleysprings]

Hi Kathy , great great multipurpose coop/and box for chicks and , breeder boxes, all kinds of things ,,,,,a heat pad like for pets out doors might work or a metal waterier that use a light bulb might take the edge off the cold winter nights …I don’t normally heat the 2 and ½ coops we have but we sometimes treat them with some heat on the coldest nights ,holidays and special occasions lol .we have a lot of trouble with the large combs and specially the wattles freezing on the Marans roosters when they drink they soak there face and freeze . I have a wide roost so their toes are covered by the body when sleeping …I think my birds like cold weather rather than warm but I hope we don’t get another 4 ft at once snow storm this winter ,last winter I shoveled the snow off the shed and coop roofs (connected) and just walked right off the shed roof 12 FT UP … we ran low on fire wood and family threatened to burn my nonsense mushroom logs for heat because they are close to the house but I stopped them
,,,my sister the silent partner in my Wheaten Marans ventures and feeds30 or so different chickens hot oat meal a few times a week in the winter And also she has a baby monitor to hear what’s going on at night
lol were not crazy

 

[kathyinmo]

I don't heat my coops either. I do use different things to keep the water from freezing though. I made some of those home-made heaters out of cookie tins last year. They worked pretty well. I read about another kind of home made one that uses a flower pot and light bulb inside of a big old cinder block. I might try that this year. I have at least 16 pens of water to keep liquid. Fortunately I do have electricity in the coops.

That's a great Idea, Berk, for heat .... a puppy pad heater. I never thought of that. I am just trying to figure a way to have heat available if I do brood chicks in these hutches. Broody hens on demand would be nice, wouldn't they?

So, about dark eggs .......... most of my girls are molting. Today I got only 3 dark eggs. I also have a couple that are about 20 weeks old, so I don't know when to expect them to start laying. I suppose I should set them up with a nest soon. My Delaware girls lay right through molt. They amaze me. My egg production is way down the past week or so. I think it is because I moved them all around into new pens. Chickens are so easily stressed.

 

[drom]

Quote:
Everyone who knows anything about poultry and dark egg layers always says that animal protein is the way to go. I think the Purina product is soy-based.

And I use all Purina; the Start and Grow, Flock Raiser, Layena and the Game Bird Chow. I think it is all soy. But it really does put good weight on them.
I suspect you are right about the protein. I hadn't heard about reproductive organs but I would guess excessive protein wouldn't be good for general organ functions.
I just figure they need a little more amino acids when they are growing pin feathers.

 

[kathyinmo]

I wish I knew more about poultry nutrition. I started spritzing their feed with wheat germ oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil, after I read about that being beneficial. I used Purina for a year, and I agree that the birds looks great. When I found out that my feed store would order ADM feed for me, I just started using that. I do that simply because of the animal protein. I do like the Purinal Game Bird Chow, as it does have animal by-products, and I do still use that on occassion. I would be absolutely thrilled if I could find Soy-free Organic feed. I have checked every possible source I could think of. Best I could find would have to ship to me, at a tremendous cost.

 

[geebs]

Berk Ababy monitor???!!! That is a GREAT idea!!!

 

[kathyinmo]

Where do you buy Koi pellets, and how often do you feed them? Koi as in fish?

 

[drom]

You know you can get cameras with night vision and wireless connectivity pretty cheap at Radio Shack. Not IP cameras, which are a great way to go but just plain old closed circuit cameras that you can connect from a wireless signal box to your TV. I've used them in the past as foaling monitors for my mare. If I ever put up a big chicken barn I might set that up so I can see what's going on at night.

 

[geebs]

I get the ones that are made from fish meal.. They are sold at Wilco and other pet stores.. You will have to read the label... A 5 pound bag will run about 9 dollars but last a really long time for my flock of 40 chickens

I am tempted to do the camera thing.. I am afraid they will knock them down like they do to the light... (drom)

 

[geebs]

it is emptier