Eastern Tennessee Thread

[dncarr09]

Ok. First, oyster shells and grit are not something they eat regularly... once in a blue moon, so to speak. Put it this way... in all these years I have had chickens I have had to give oyster shells maybe twice. I only give them if the shells get thin.

Now, as for laying... you got everything going against you. Too much scratch, tomatoes, then they are moulting.... all these things lead to lower egg rates. I, personally, would stop the scratch in the feed. You'd save alot of money. They just toss the feed out and look for the goodies in the mix. I feed mine a scoop of scratch per 10 birds or so every other day... on the ground, not in their feeder. It's a treat, not a staple in their diet.

For their moult, you should amp up the protien in their diet. Maybe mix chick starter in with the layer feed... or you can feed scrambled eggs or browned beef. I have never done either of those... just doesn't sit well with me for some reason. I usually give crickets or mealworms out more durring moults and also add "nutri-drench" to their water... "kickin chicken" would be my second choice. But the point is to help them with their next set of feathers. As they come out of moult, egg production should pick right up again.

Thanks, I am sure it is a mix of all these things that have caused the decrease. I will do that with the chick starter. I do feed them dried mealworms as a treat. This is my first experience with alot of this stuff. I have only had chickens about 7 or 8 months now. Thanks for the advice. I also have some rooster booster that goes in the water. I will start mixing in some of that was well.

 

[dncarr09]

Since we are on a little of a goat kick lately I need so advice on mine. I know that chicken feed is not good for them, but I am having trouble keeping them away. Everywhere I move the feed the goats can get to. Any advice? I have 2 female pygmy goats. They aren't really eating the feed as much as they are trying to eat the scratch grain in it.

 

[chigger bait]

I got a reply today from someone at Washington Farmers Coop, when I got up and checked my email.


Quote:
I wrote back and told them I would bring the bad sack back in tomorrow when I get up off of night shift.

Hopefully they will clean their act up and it will benefit every one in the region and make things more competitive all the way around.

Not only on quality, but price also.

Maybe poultry feed will not take a back seat anymore, in their line of products.

 

[rockinrandall]

So I FINALLY got my coop and fence built. It took all summer, but I've taken all the measures I can to ensure we're predator proof. So it's fall time and I'm looking for chickens to start my first flock, well, my son's first flock. This is going to be his responsibility. I'm looking for hens (4-6 to start) that are laying or very soon will be because my son won't understand, or like, all the work we've put into this and not have eggs anytime soon. Does anyone have a few hens they would be willing to sell to a good home? Would preferr orpingtons, barred rock or americana's...

Thanks so much!!!!!

 

[tnchickenut]

Since we are on a little of a goat kick lately I need so advice on mine. I know that chicken feed is not good for them, but I am having trouble keeping them away. Everywhere I move the feed the goats can get to. Any advice? I have 2 female pygmy goats. They aren't really eating the feed as much as they are trying to eat the scratch grain in it.

Well my goat eats scratch (which is fine for him) and sometimes layer pellets. Again, he doesn't see why not since he is a laying hen. The vet told me, so long as he eats his hay and goat feed still and doesn't fill up on layer... it will be ok... not ideal, but ok. I managed to win for awhile by putting a funnel over the feeder on the chain it hangs on and then fixing it to the feeder. That worked for about a year before he broke it and still got his head in there. He eats only about a palm full of layer every day or so... not enough to really hurt him.

All the ingredients in scratch are also in his feed so he gets some scratch with the birds... but his has to be put in a nice pile. lol. And likewise, my biggest problem is keeping the chickens out of his feed.

 

[tnchickenut]

Maybe poultry feed will not take a back seat anymore, in their line of products.

And that is the real problem... we live in a region where chickens are not priority to farmers.

 

[tnchickenut]

Hi folks!
I am a newbie from northeast TN...in the Hawkins County area of TN. I am just starting to look for breeders of some specific breeds and thought I would join the site and ask around. I am looking for a place I might pick up my new birds instead of shipping them. The breeds I am looking for are Golden buffs, Partridge Silkies and possibly a Silver Duckwing Old English. I have been told in my area that they frown on roosters. So I will have to find some pullets to start with, I suppose. I am new to chickens, but have wanted to do them for several years now. We finally moved to the country and I have the space and time to put into them. So...anyone breeding these or up for some coaching a rookie, drop me a message.

Thanks!

HELLO!

I don't know anyone to help you off the top of my head... I'm much further south than you. Maybe someone else here can help?

 

[stanglover2001]

Hi folks!
I am a newbie from northeast TN...in the Hawkins County area of TN. I am just starting to look for breeders of some specific breeds and thought I would join the site and ask around. I am looking for a place I might pick up my new birds instead of shipping them. The breeds I am looking for are Golden buffs, Partridge Silkies and possibly a Silver Duckwing Old English. I have been told in my area that they frown on roosters. So I will have to find some pullets to start with, I suppose. I am new to chickens, but have wanted to do them for several years now. We finally moved to the country and I have the space and time to put into them. So...anyone breeding these or up for some coaching a rookie, drop me a message.

Thanks!

Welcome to ETN BYC!! When you say Golden buffs, do you mean Buff Orpingtons?

 

[tnchickenut]

So I FINALLY got my coop and fence built. It took all summer, but I've taken all the measures I can to ensure we're predator proof. So it's fall time and I'm looking for chickens to start my first flock, well, my son's first flock. This is going to be his responsibility. I'm looking for hens (4-6 to start) that are laying or very soon will be because my son won't understand, or like, all the work we've put into this and not have eggs anytime soon. Does anyone have a few hens they would be willing to sell to a good home? Would preferr orpingtons, barred rock or americana's...

Thanks so much!!!!!

You are in Ooltawah? Call "Snyder's Feed" in Athens... they sell their chicks every year... they may have pullets available from their farm, not in their store mind you, so try to get ahold of the owner.

It's kinda a bad time of year to find hens. Most people already sold off what they wanted by to sell by now.


In my opinion, if hens are all you can have, going with chicks from hatchery is the best way to get what you want and be sure they are all female. If you are a "chicken snob" and have to have high class, high quality birds and still be sure they are all female... better be prepared to pay more money and even be able to have them shipped in. Be advised... there are many on CL that sell spent hens and fib a bit about their laying rate. Again, if you can wait, get some from hatchery....... that said, there are great people here, but trying to get people to let go of hens is going to be hard.

 

[dncarr09]

Well my goat eats scratch (which is fine for him) and sometimes layer pellets. Again, he doesn't see why not since he is a laying hen. The vet told me, so long as he eats his hay and goat feed still and doesn't fill up on layer... it will be ok... not ideal, but ok. I managed to win for awhile by putting a funnel over the feeder on the chain it hangs on and then fixing it to the feeder. That worked for about a year before he broke it and still got his head in there. He eats only about a palm full of layer every day or so... not enough to really hurt him.

All the ingredients in scratch are also in his feed so he gets some scratch with the birds... but his has to be put in a nice pile. lol. And likewise, my biggest problem is keeping the chickens out of his feed.

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better about them getting into the feed. I also have the problem with the chickens getting into the goat feed too. I am so thankful for this thread, I have learned so much on here.