Eastern Tennessee Thread

[dncarr09]

Stang, they are adorable. Do they move around any yet or just nesting with mom?

We got two of the guineas out yesterday. They were smaller than the others, and we realized they were getting bullied and couldn't eat. Put them in with the Goldens overnight. They freaked for about three hours, then they embraced it. They ate. And the roosted last night. I let them out today to free range with the chickens. They kept circling the other guineas looking for a way to get back in. But after about 30 minutes they quit and starting grazing. Check out the other guineas following them around.

That looks like a picture from my house. I have 5 pearl guineas and 2 coral blue ones. Are yours coral blue or lavender? The are so noisy, and crack me up because they will randomly take off and fly everywhere like somethings after them. They never go far. I do enjoy my chickens more beceause guineas seem much harder to make them friendly.

 

[amenfarm]

Sounds good! Maybe try new hampshires on the deleware? I've had a new hampshire rooster, he grew the fastest! I've never had deleware besides the one I bought from bairo... also, when you say feed one FF you mean one group right? Because only having 1 in a control group can skew the results... you have to have a control group and a test group.

hi stanglover, yes, I did mean 1st group of chicks 1 type of feed, and 2nd group of the same age, same type, same food- just feeding FF(-instead of leaving the food in the dry state). Seems the closest to scientific way to see if there is indeed a difference and how it will improve to chicks. I like new Hampshire's and Delawares, from what I've read the deleware was the broiler of choice before the CX's,and a prolific layer meeting both my requirements. Any reason to add a new Hampshire into the mix?? I don't plan to keep roosters--my donkey is already quite loud. I am a light sleeper, and a hate to put my friends next door through more noise-- Now to beg my husband to make 2 hoop tractors next spring

 

[stanglover2001]

hi stanglover, yes, I did mean 1st group of chicks 1 type of feed, and 2nd group of the same age, same type, same food- just feeding FF(-instead of leaving the food in the dry state). Seems the closest to scientific way to see if there is indeed a difference and how it will improve to chicks. I like new Hampshire's and Delawares, from what I've read the deleware was the broiler of choice before the CX's,and a prolific layer meeting both my requirements. Any reason to add a new Hampshire into the mix?? I don't plan to keep roosters--my donkey is already quite loud. I am a light sleeper, and a hate to put my friends next door through more noise-- Now to beg my husband to make 2 hoop tractors next spring

I dunno if the genetics are right, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the New hampshire on the deleware going to make the chicks sexed at birth? I dunno, it's funny, I hear a lot of breeds were the choice bird of eating before cornishx... I think New Hampshires are pretty, if you get a true one... lol the hatchery one I got grew like a week and wasn't all that to look at.

 

[stanglover2001]

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire were developed from the Rhode Island Red around 1915 in New Hampshire.
Farmers in New Hampshire continued breeding and came up with a hen that matures early, has large brown eggs, feathers quickly and has lots of strength and vigor. The New Hampshire was recognized by the Standard of Perfection in 1935

Here's what the info is on New Hampshires on this site.

 

[stanglover2001]

amenfarm - I guess the best question is what is it you would like to achieve? Do you want a self-sustaining flock? One where you just get a breed you can continue to breed and just cull the roosters at butchering size? do you want meat like you'd get at a grocery store (cornishx is the closest)? If you're not squeamish bairo is suppose to show us all how to caponize (a close to lost art of removing the testicles from the birds at a young age to have a nice large tender bird)... lol there are many options!

 

[amenfarm]

A lot of people I know feed fermented feed to their horses...it helps keep weight on and good conditioning. I don't know if the fermenting process would be the same as with chicken feed. Incidently I am having trouble getting more weight on some of my chickens. I don't know if it is due to so many of them molting.. They get plenty of feed but I noticed they are not eating as heartly as they usually do. Any recommendations on what I can add or other alternatives I can add to their diet?

Sorry it soo long since I replyed. 65 posts since I was on yesterday. The FF is extremely high in probodics,and the post i was talking about, the OT is bring back her flock from the brink of death. I could not believe the pictures after only 3 weeks on the FF. It's also used a lot for hogs from what I've read-1st time I have heard of it with equines, it was not until I was reading this,https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/newestpost/709707, that I found out I also works on chickens. when I was reading here at E TN that japs sometimes starve because the feed was too large, I thought that It would be a perfect solution to the problem, that combined with all those lovely probodics formed at the same time--sounds like kefir for birds.

 

[tnchickenut]

Um...I have a stupid question that needs answering. I just came from a thread on ventilation/insulation and heating a coop and it turned into 6 pages of rookie bashing so I am coming to you guys in the hopes that I don't get a repeat performance. It wasn't my thread, so I just didn't have the nerve to jump in and ask my little questions for fear of being cabbaged by the pro's.

I am wondering about my new coop and ventilating/heating it this winter. This is my coop in the 4x6 size. It is insulated and wired for power. It also has a little chicken door on the far side you can't see with a ramp.
http://www.leonardusa.com/browse.cfm/2,293.html




It has a long window in the back that is about 4" high for ventilation. Should I heat the coop and slightly prop that window open? Or should I just close it up good at night and not heat. Or close it with no heat and keep that window closed? I will only have a few bantams in it at the most this first winter. And they will be young bantams at that.

Sorry to be such a newbie, I just want to make sure they are ok. We don't get horrible winters...but cold snaps can get down in the teens or lower for a few days at a time. They will have a run that has the walls covered when cold weather comes to keep the direct wind off the coop. So should I just open the door and let them choose whether to come out on cold days, or leave them inside and keep a check on water and temp?

Thank you for any/all info and advice.

I answered your PM but for the sake of all to hear it....

Heat is not needed at best and bad for them at worst... going from hot to cold is bad for anyone. (not mentioning the fire hazzards) In TN, we don't get cold enough to worry except for that one day we might have every year that is extremely cold.
I have never lost a bird to cold and I don't baby them in the least. Some are in dog kennels and I tarp them up about 90% of the way and that is that.... bantams included. They are chickens... they fair better in the weather than you do. Nature made them that way. Not trying to be a smarty pants but they have feathers... one of the best insulators.

For vents... yes, they need air flow, without it they will be victim to their own ammonia and that is fatal. In the winter, durring the day, I open coops up, prop doors open and let it air out unless it is a nasty day with rain and snow. Come winter you will find alot of posts about runny noses and sneezing and sicknesses in flocks all over this site.... that said, it is also recommended to do a good clean before winter. You got lucky with a brand new coop. JEALOUS!

As long as the wind isn't hitting them directly they are going to be fine. Some breeds even thrive in it.

 

[bairo]

ok, the roost perches are running along the wall under that vent window, but should be well under for the chickens to not have direct airflow on them. I guess I was worried it might blow in and that is aimed at the nest box wall, but it is even farther below. I cannot remember right off if there are small gaps where the roof meets the long walls for ventilation or not. I am having it painted and don't pick it up until next Friday. But will check that out first thing. If not, my dad/I might be able to put something in with a screen cover in case I had to close that small window in the back. It runs about 3feet long and 4" high and is lockable.

The small run door on the right side is about a foot square and will be turned away from the wind direction. I plan on putting them all up at night as we have a few predators and I will let them out in the morning. But it is looking like I am only gonna have baby, baby chicks and eggs right now, so they probably won't be in it this winter unless I find some pullets/hens anyway. If they need to wait until they are 6 mths old then they can just stay inside.

thank you for your advice, Bairo

6 months is a bit old....but I was just worried about freezing temps with young ones. Im probably more careful giving advice on bantams because I am not as familiar with them. It may be that they are fine with the cold weather at 3 months old?

 

[tnchickenut]

hi stanglover, yes, I did mean 1st group of chicks 1 type of feed, and 2nd group of the same age, same type, same food- just feeding FF(-instead of leaving the food in the dry state). Seems the closest to scientific way to see if there is indeed a difference and how it will improve to chicks. I like new Hampshire's and Delawares, from what I've read the deleware was the broiler of choice before the CX's,and a prolific layer meeting both my requirements. Any reason to add a new Hampshire into the mix?? I don't plan to keep roosters--my donkey is already quite loud. I am a light sleeper, and a hate to put my friends next door through more noise-- Now to beg my husband to make 2 hoop tractors next spring

You will be disappointed in Delawares... they aren't what they used to be. I probably shouldn't be saying that seeing I'm supposed to be promoting Dels, but the truth is, that there are better meat choices and Delawares are not the same now as they were in 1952

 

[amenfarm]

amenfarm - I guess the best question is what is it you would like to achieve? Do you want a self-sustaining flock? One where you just get a breed you can continue to breed and just cull the roosters at butchering size? do you want meat like you'd get at a grocery store (cornishx is the closest)? If you're not squeamish bairo is suppose to show us all how to caponize (a close to lost art of removing the testicles from the birds at a young age to have a nice large tender bird)... lol there are many options!

I would be great to have a self sustaning flock, but the noise is out of bounds for now. All roos here will go to Freezer camp-if we ever getany(sign). I might do one run of chicks using dry feed, take notes--then run the same type of everything just change to FF with the next. Then poor DH will only have to build us one tractor. Don't care if it looks like a store bird, just after a safer, hopefully better tasting choice. I am so over recalls on food. Acouple of years ago, we recieved a notice from Sam's that something we bought had been recalled. Problem was the notice came after we had eaten it all at least 2 weeks beforehand--at least no one got sick. So mant options on chicks--and so little space .