Dixie Chicks

[hennible]

Yeah I've got a sub-pump so I can set up a system like that if I need too, but fingers crossed I can get enough plants to grow that I don't need it... Har har har, like the ducks will let anything live...

 

[BriardChickens]

Go easy on the ACV, I'd give it only once a week or so. It'll mess with calcium absorption. Peas and wheat in a 50-50 mix will give you about 17% protein. If you want to get more detailed about the nutrient breakup, I can share my feed calculation spreadsheet.

I'd love to see your spreadsheet. I think once we start getting snow I'd like to add a bit of corn to the mix.
The current mix isn't 50/50.. still looking for a good feed calculator so I know how much to use of each ingredient available here. I just started this journey of mixing my own feed so I am not feeling bad at the feeble attempts. Feeding ~90 ducks here. Thankfully I was able to get ~200kg of peas for $30 from the seed cleaning plant so they make a nice base.

A lot of the online recipes contain lentils and other ingredients that I can't get here.

Yeah I've got a sub-pump so I can set up a system like that if I need too, but fingers crossed I can get enough plants to grow that I don't need it... Har har har, like the ducks will let anything live...

Yay duckies! You aren't keeping it open over the winter? We will attempt to keep our pond thawed in one spot (too many ducks to carry water our twice a day). My plan is to fill it with snow if it gets low.. LOL. We shall see....

 

[hennible]

No not going to keep it open.
I think it would be a bit of a hazard once frozen. I want to get it empty and dig it out more. I'd like to put some fish in there for the ducks to eat next spring.

 

[hennible]

Ha ha ha
The first bit makes very little sense... Ignore me

 

[Beer can]

Got them in the coop. Turned out I only have two cockerels and two pullets of the white giants breedable. So I put the keeper sussex in also. One cockerel looks nice, another one does but his comb isn't standing up straight. Kept all three sussex pullets. The one that looks most 'correct' is on the small side. Then one is a little darker than it should be and one too light red. Maybe they'll even each other out. Paper bag worked great, no wiggling on my digital kitchen scale. Before they lay eggs I
will pick the keeper cockerels and separate the two breeds. Right now I just need more room in the big coop, and putting them to work clearing garden area. Hope to move it twice before hard freeze. Coop 4x8 run 14x50 feet. Coop not done but I had to get them in it. Adding a small window in both sides of the peak and trim and a couple nest boxes that open from outside. Roof comes off for easier moving. Going to add wheels and a hookup for the lawn tractor eventually.

 

[Beer can]

 

[BriardChickens]

Hennible, how much longer until you are expecting the white stuff?

Beer Can, looks good! Good luck with your breeding next year! I can't wait to start seperating mine into breeding groups. I have nice breeding trio for Partridge Chanteclers.

 

[Alaskan]

Beer Can, AWESOME!!!!!

 

[vehve]

Beer, looks good!

BC, here you go, its a work in progress, but you can just add whatever ingredients you've got handy (feedipedia.org is a great help). I try to use locally grown grains, so the nutrient makeup of some of the stuff on there will differ from what you would get in something grown further to the south. Also, I hope you like SI units =).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2-JYCQqMQ3jRmkweUMwY1FBWUk/view?usp=sharing

You should be able to download that from there, but if you're having trouble with it, PM me your e-mail and I'll send a copy to you.

 

[Beer can]

Seems like BC would think SI she's Canadian, but I think hennible said she uses the archaic system we do here, funny we were told the US was switching when I was a kid, they still haven't.
Those giants look huge, but I guess they are right when they say they grow their massive frame first and then fill out, the cockerels only weighed five pounds, sussex four. Giant pullets four and sussex three, the nicest looking sussex pullet was only two. Had to check the silkie rooster, over six pounds! And he's only a couple months older than them.