Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[Beekissed]

Thank you for your response Beekissed, I agree that 4 spaces is probably a safer solution~ my "flex" space (on paper) is big enough to be sub-divided.
Further, in my imaginings, I'd prefer to have broody hens (I really have no intention of buying an incubator) and so fully appreciate the advice re chicks~ I'd like them to have "boots on the ground" from day one and integrate into the hen flock when it seems time.
As for developing a breed versus breeding for meat I feel I might pursue both ends of the spectrum, even if for only my personal enjoyment at seeing a beautiful uniform flock that serves both my eye and my table
I'm still months away from actuation and sometimes feel foolish asking questions so far in advance but then I think at least I won't fail for lack of planning, lol!

I do admire your musings, skills and husbandry. Currently I'm enjoying the road less traveled

Cheers,
M

You can never really be TOO prepared, IMO.

I like it when people plan extensively before taking on an animal as opposed to impulsively obtaining chicks before they even have a coop. I call it smart, rather than foolish, to ask questions now, instead of looking foolish by asking questions later that you could have found in prior research.

When you find yourself without a broody and would wish for replacement chicks but don't want to use incubators, the next best thing could be the experiment I am currently doing on using a heating pad in a natural nest situation to hatch eggs. I've been working on streamlining it and it's getting better....due to hatch 18 eggs on the 17th and they are looking good. There is a thread about it in the hatching section of the forum.

I've often contemplated getting a couple of birds from a broody breed to fulfill that job and lately I've had my eye on Silver Pencil Rocks....beautiful birds, my favorite kind of chicken(Plymouth Rocks) and folks are saying they have great broody tendencies.

 

[pigsflyacres]

I hatched all eggs large end up.

My ration contains fish meal, and for a time, I added cod liver oil, but no difference in hatch rate. Other breeders are getting excellent hatch rates with the same ration, so I think this is a Dorking-specific problem.

Kim (capayvalleychick) has tried outcrossing to different strains to improve vigor.

Joseph at Yellow House Farms has posted about the commercial formula he uses, I don't recall the brand, but it was not a brand I have ever seen offered in Texas. Last year he posted that he would like to switch from incubators to broodies, and he has not answered the pm I sent him regarding this topic. However, one of his most recent posts mentioned illness, so he may not have been on this forum lately.

BGMatt shared his "feed tag" with me, and his breeder ration has twice the lysine and methionine stated on my " feed tag"- so far, I have found fish meal, dried milk, and brewers yeast to be good sources of lysine and methionine. The milk and yeast are available on amazon, I will check with my local feed store to see if they can get either of those at a better price.

I am very open to suggestions.
Angela

I'm coming back to you with a food suggestion. I had an interesting conversation w the vet today while holding a horse for tubing (not mine, but nothing like variable weather to make a horse colic!). We were talking feed. I'm always looking to improve my feeding regimen for the ponies, especially the one I was holding who is metabolic (Darn Welsh Cobs!). Anyway, he said that alfalfa had high Vitamin D levels and was rich in B vitamins. I thought of you! I don't know if your birds are getting access to enough clover type forage. I feed soaked hay cubes in the winter to my pair of geese and let the chickens share. I'm thinking that I'll start mixing it into my fermented grains on a regular basis. I know that the commercial foods are supposed to be balanced for all nutrients, but how can that apply to all breeds of chickens? Especially some of the ancient breeds. These birds were expected to forage for most if not all of their needs. And they did it well for a very long time. This was not the case with some of the newer breeds. Most poultry foods are balanced for a commercial chicken. Even the game bird mixes are designed for high production. Just a thought.

I usually adhere to the KISS method. Lots of forage is best I think for Dorkings, but we can't always give them forage without losing them. I think offering them alfalfa free choice might answer that question. Chickens usually eat what they need unless you offer them too many dessert items. I go easy on the corn except when its cold.

Jennifer

 

[Arielle]

Here is a peice that might fit in. Understand that this will be human based, but I have no reason to beleive that the same priciple was not used in designing animal feeds.

The amount of vitamins and minerals in vitamins pills was picked to eliminate the deseased state that is associated with each specific vitamin when it is lacking in the diet. IT does not however, provide the maximum that is needed for maximum health.

Granted there is a maximum level that causes a diesase state for many of the vitamins, especially the oil saluable kinds, but for the most part I have started to suspect that most of us are rather lacking in the vit amin catagories, and I suspect our animals are also effected by this way of thinking.

Food for thought.

 

[LindaB220]

Here is a peice that might fit in. Understand that this will be human based, but I have no reason to beleive that the same priciple was not used in designing animal feeds.

The amount of vitamins and minerals in vitamins pills was picked to eliminate the deseased state that is associated with each specific vitamin when it is lacking in the diet. IT does not however, provide the maximum that is needed for maximum health.

Granted there is a maximum level that causes a diesase state for many of the vitamins, especially the oil saluable kinds, but for the most part I have started to suspect that most of us are rather lacking in the vit amin catagories, and I suspect our animals are also effected by this way of thinking.

Food for thought.

I bought rock dust Azomite which has like 70 something minerals. They feed it to chickens. Azomite's website can give you info on it. I bought it originally for my plants. I put it on my houseplants last week and they are so healthy already.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Very intersting-- is there a human food grade product available too?

 

[LindaB220]

Very intersting-- is there a human food grade product available too?

As far as I know there is only one kind. It's dust just like DE. No additives like clay so I guess its food grade. I've been feeding it to my babies 3 days now. I added 1 T to a gallon bucket of fermented feed. I googled Azomite and feeding chickens and it's there.

 

[Zanna]

As far as I know there is only one kind. It's dust just like DE. No additives like clay so I guess its food grade. I've been feeding it to my babies 3 days now. I added 1 T to a gallon bucket of fermented feed. I googled Azomite and feeding chickens and it's there.

Azomite is one of the ingredients in some of the homemade chicken feed recipes. Where do you get it?

 

[LindaB220]

Azomite is one of the ingredients in some of the homemade chicken feed recipes. Where do you get it?

I ordered from Amazon. I bought 35 lbs for $44 shipped free. It will work in my garden as well as for the chick feed for several years.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Very intersting-- is there a human food grade product available too?

I've read, somewhere online, that people will take a teaspoon and mix it into a glass of water to drink it.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THats very telling . . . thank you for that tidbit.