Eastern Tennessee Thread

[Showvol]

I went by Maryville CO-OP this morning and bought 3 bags of KTA pellets. It was $ 9.60 for a 50 # bag (16% protein). You have to ask for it though.

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Speaking of feed. Does anyone use Morristown milling. Are they cheaper than co-op or TSC ?

I buy all my feed except for the Purina Medicated chick feed there. The thing about co-op is theirs are primarily their own brand. I have tried their horse, chicken and goat feed and did not like any of it. The chicken feed had about 12 inches of dust in the bottom and it is hard to feed dust. Also the milling company will mix feeds for you if you add anything to your feed, grower, scratch...etc and bag it. They have the largest selection of feeds for both common animals to parrots and monkeys I have ever seen. If you want good shavings....get them there. they are, I think, 5.25 a bag and it is 7 cubic feet compared to 5.6 that you get with TSC and co-op. There is no dust..they are fine but not like the really fine TSC has. The last bag I got there was like sawdust. It looks like what the old men use to whittle off. If you go there and meet Charles, the older gentleman there, tell him Ravens Run sent you. He is such a pleasure to just jaw around with and you will understand why so many go there. He runs it with his son David. It is the kind of place where older farmers go to sit around and talk about farming. I am sure you will like it.

 

[bairo]

Terry,

sent you a PM. it was a mess of a situation and I still have yet to evaluate that gelding.

On a different note. Is that brooder working for you? I set up something a little different and don't really need it. You are welcome to it if it works good for you. I know the sucker is heavy, but that 3/4 treated with the metal top should last a pretty long time, lol

Just fill the top section with shavings if you brood this fall and winter, and it will hold the temp (I tested it down to 40 I think)

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Terry,

sent you a PM. it was a mess of a situation and I still have yet to evaluate that gelding.

On a different note. Is that brooder working for you? I set up something a little different and don't really need it. You are welcome to it if it works good for you. I know the sucker is heavy, but that 3/4 treated with the metal top should last a pretty long time, lol

Just fill the top section with shavings if you brood this fall and winter, and it will hold the temp (I tested it down to 40 I think)

The young chicks love it. When I feed in the other feeders and get to the brooder I see little feet standing there waiting. It has been good for some of the younger ones that the adults want to run. Gives them a hideyhole.
I have a dozen crele polish in the incubator. For some reason I am really having a problem keeping my humidity stable. Never had that problem before. I really need these to hatch so keeping fingers crossed!

 

[TNBarnQueen]

I was talking to a friend about a couple chicks I was having problems getting them to eat. She suggested getting baby parrot food. It is around $8 for a small bag but it goes a long way. I got some and just sprinkled it on top of the food. They all ate like little pigs. After that they would stand back and wait for me to put it on. So..if you have a picky eater...try it.

 

[bairo]

I was talking to a friend about a couple chicks I was having problems getting them to eat. She suggested getting baby parrot food. It is around $8 for a small bag but it goes a long way. I got some and just sprinkled it on top of the food. They all ate like little pigs. After that they would stand back and wait for me to put it on. So..if you have a picky eater...try it.

thats good to know.....the hens have their crack, i guess the babies can have some too.

i pulled a "you" with a staggered hatch. the 4 that went in on 8/1, two were not fertile and two are out in the brooder now. I set the other 16 between 8/5 and 8/7, so i'll let you know how they come along.

 

[TNBarnQueen]

thats good to know.....the hens have their crack, i guess the babies can have some too.

i pulled a "you" with a staggered hatch. the 4 that went in on 8/1, two were not fertile and two are out in the brooder now. I set the other 16 between 8/5 and 8/7, so i'll let you know how they come along.

Yes...I be the queen of staggered hatching.

I still have to get some wheatie eggs from Daphne. I am getting ready to do some test hatch...IF someone will start laying consistent. This 6 one day and 1 the next is not getting it. I haven't had a D'Uccle egg in almost 2 months. I will be so glad when I get some of these sold...I am desperate for room.
Well....we have got to decide on Chick-A-Paloosa for Oct. I need to start advertising soon if we are going to have it. I just want to get an idea how many members here would attend. I don't want to get in too deep and only have several people show up. I know TSC in Morristown will help with advertising...maybe someone could check with the others. I would also have to get a port-a-potty. So...feedback people!!

 

[hobbychicken]

Thanks barnqueen, I will head down tomorrow and check it out. We use to buy our show cattle feed there years ago.

 

[littlechicklet]

Okay I am trying to be a good chicken keeper and am looking at different ways for worming, mite/lice control & overall health. I follow this thread and am learning a great deal. I have read Bairo's coop page (and just want to say thank you for all the helpful information) and I have been scouring the web and have some questions about some things I have found:

1. Frontline spray for mites/lice? One drop applied to the back of the head and under the vent? If I am not mistaken this is used monthly & is off label use. I use Frontline spray for all my dogs & cats. I have never used the once a month vials and so far so good at our house. I also spray rugs, carpets and any pet bedding. I only use it about 3 to 4 times a year.

2. Ivomec Injectable for worms? Ivomec injectable 1% at the rate of 4cc per gallon of water for 2 days (change daily) and do this 4 times per year. I have never used this. I have only used Wazine purchased from local TS.

3. Bedding Cedar vs Pine? I have used both. In the brooders I have only used pine and in my coops I have used both.

4. PDZ under roosts? I have read about this and it sounds very promising. I am thinking of lowering the perch in the coop & adding a "tray" under the roost & using the PDZ in it and using regular bedding in the remaining coop.

5. Pros & Cons of inside feeders? I have been feeding my chickens outside by hanging their feeder in an old dog house to protect it from the elements. It may not make enough difference but seems like less poop in the house.

If anyone has any experiences with any of these things would you please share your opinions on them. Thanks everyone & much appreciation for all the information you have shared

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Okay I am trying to be a good chicken keeper and am looking at different ways for worming, mite/lice control & overall health. I follow this thread and am learning a great deal. I have read Bairo's coop page (and just want to say thank you for all the helpful information) and I have been scouring the web and have some questions about some things I have found:

1. Frontline spray for mites/lice? One drop applied to the back of the head and under the vent? If I am not mistaken this is used monthly & is off label use. I use Frontline spray for all my dogs & cats. I have never used the once a month vials and so far so good at our house. I also spray rugs, carpets and any pet bedding. I only use it about 3 to 4 times a year.

2. Ivomec Injectable for worms? Ivomec injectable 1% at the rate of 4cc per gallon of water for 2 days (change daily) and do this 4 times per year. I have never used this. I have only used Wazine purchased from local TS.

3. Bedding Cedar vs Pine? I have used both. In the brooders I have only used pine and in my coops I have used both.

4. PDZ under roosts? I have read about this and it sounds very promising. I am thinking of lowering the perch in the coop & adding a "tray" under the roost & using the PDZ in it and using regular bedding in the remaining coop.

5. Pros & Cons of inside feeders? I have been feeding my chickens outside by hanging their feeder in an old dog house to protect it from the elements. It may not make enough difference but seems like less poop in the house.

If anyone has any experiences with any of these things would you please share your opinions on them. Thanks everyone & much appreciation for all the information you have shared

I would suggest going to Bario's homepage. Go to the link. He has a lot of information on some of the things you are asking especially on worming. Cedar is not ideal for chickens because of the oils in it. I use a little in the horses but as far as chickens..may not be a good idea. I use shredded paper for the first week with my hatchlings because, and this has happen to me more than once, when the chicks are learning to peck around and eat....if you watch close many times they are eating the small bits of shavings and a lot of times it will end up with dry poopy butts.
Hanging your food indoors, I feel, is a good idea because it discourages wild birds, who may carry disease or mites... from coming and eating. There are a few of mine I feed outside but I give them just enough that they have it all eat when they leave the pan.
If you put down a layer of Sevin dust before your shavings and do the same in your cages and nesting boxes that will help a great deal with mites. You can even dust the young chickens with it. I use to use it on my dogs. I use frontline if I find mites spraying around the vent and under the wings.
I use ivomectin pour on during the summer and in the fall I use valbizene.
Keep in mind these are all my preferences and what has worked for me. Your set up may be different. I would check with Bario on the nipple waterers. I love mine and it has really cut down on my cleaning time!!
I don't know if you saw the list on a First Aid kit for your chickens...it was probably 10 pages or so back. In mine I have Polyvisol vitamins, B-Complex and Vitamin E..blue kote, OXINE (many good uses) Corid, Electrolites, a syringe, neosporine and one important thing...Provodine. It is the orange stuff drs. use before surgery to kill germs and what they swab the surgical area. I keep a large (50cc) syringe filled. I know there are more things...I will try to find that list someone posted.