First Time Chick Parents, Spring 2016

[AmandaMBG]

Hmm hopefully he learned his lesson. My bantam Roo strutted up to me when I was sitting in the run one time threatening me. I back handed him across the run and he hasn't done it again

At least your silky is small enough to not be a threat before learning a lesson.

Sigh. Well I was attacked by my first roo today. Something hit me in the calves from behind and I turned, expecting that one of the chickens had accidentally run into me, but there was Cab Calloway, my white silkie roo looking altogether too pleased with himself. So I chased him around and kicked his fluffy little butt.

Everyone is allowed a "mistake" but if they don't learn from them...aggressive roos do not get rehomed and are not put up with here. :/

 

[Jensownzoo]

Yeah, he's only about basketball-sized...and shaped like one too. Just wish I could communicate with him about my non-interest in his girls without having to resort to "bullying". If it happens again, I'll net him and carry him for a while, I think. Three strikes and he's out though.

 

[dlaplume2]

I was on vacation last week and came home to my first dozen eggs. They started laying Tuesday at eggsactly 19 weeks.

 

[AmandaMBG]

Got our first little egg yesterday from one of my True Blue Whiting gals

Here is the hen!

So glad the wait for at least the first one is over. They are just under 19 weeks tho so I'm expecting it to take a while longer for all of them to be laying.

 

[mamatink7]

Ok...first set of flock (16 chickens would 1 being a Roo) are 17wks, been on layer feed since 16 wks. BEFORE they lay I want to get the Omega 3+ oyster shell. Right now, they are on Country Road basic layer feed from Rural King. This is very basic so I don't want to have them on it for eggs.
So I'm trying to figure out between 2 brands:
NUTRENA or PURINA
They have only had Crumbles so far. One feed store says purina layers omega 3 only has pellets. Is this an issue? I'm thinking about mixing both the Omega 3 and the layer oyster together. I'd have to switch to pellets if I do this.
Thanks for any words of advice...we are getting fully ready now

 

[mamatink7]

Got our first little egg yesterday from one of my True Blue Whiting gals

Here is the hen!

So glad the wait for at least the first one is over. They are just under 19 weeks tho so I'm expecting it to take a while longer for all of them to be laying.

beautiful egg and chicken!! Ours are a tad younger lol

 

[AmandaMBG]

They are 19 weeks today. So she laid pretty early compared to some chickens but she's a true blue whiting so they are supposed to be high production birds. How old are yours?

beautiful egg and chicken!! Ours are a tad younger lol

 

[mamatink7]

They are 19 weeks today. So she laid pretty early compared to some chickens but she's a true blue whiting so they are supposed to be high production birds. How old are yours?

older ones are 18 wks on this Wednesday and younger ones are 15 weeks now. Ours are 6black austrolorps, 5golden comets, 4buff orpingtons, 3Easter Eggers and 1golden laced wyandotte.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Ok...first set of flock (16 chickens would 1 being a Roo) are 17wks, been on layer feed since 16 wks. BEFORE they lay I want to get the Omega 3+ oyster shell. Right now, they are on Country Road basic layer feed from Rural King. This is very basic so I don't want to have them on it for eggs.
So I'm trying to figure out between 2 brands:
NUTRENA or PURINA
They have only had Crumbles so far. One feed store says purina layers omega 3 only has pellets. Is this an issue? I'm thinking about mixing both the Omega 3 and the layer oyster together. I'd have to switch to pellets if I do this.
Thanks for any words of advice...we are getting fully ready now

Crumbles are just pellets that have been...well...crumbled. They'll adjust to eating the bigger pieces and their bodies won't know the difference.

Either Nutrena or Purina make a decent product. If you're providing oyster shell (or egg shell or calcitic limestone bits) in a separate container for your pullets to snack on as needed, the calcium content of the feed is less important as they will supplement themselves as needed. It's more important to keep an eye on the milling date as you purchase the bag of feed...make sure you feed it out within a few weeks of that or nutrition starts to drop.

 

[AmandaMBG]

I would have to agree with the above advice. Do not mix your calcium supplement like oyster shells with the food. Use a container on the side. I found the small around 1/2 gal size gravity feeders hung up of the ground by around 6" to work great for use with oyster shell. I have one for grit as well. It keeps them from scratching it out and wasting it.

I live in very high heat 100+ most of the summer so I've been feeding mine grower (I use scratch and peck feeds) still. It's 16 or 17% protein and they have been doing great. It take so much energy to keep up with the heat here I didn't want to drop their protein until the temps start to drop. Pretty positive the only dif between layer and grower is 1. Calcium and 2. Protein. Layer has 4% and 15% respectively and grower 1% and 17% typically. So if you do the calcium on the side protein is what really matters. I got my first egg and the shell is nice and firm even without the layer feed.

Ok...first set of flock (16 chickens would 1 being a Roo) are 17wks, been on layer feed since 16 wks. BEFORE they lay I want to get the Omega 3+ oyster shell. Right now, they are on Country Road basic layer feed from Rural King. This is very basic so I don't want to have them on it for eggs.
So I'm trying to figure out between 2 brands:
NUTRENA or PURINA
They have only had Crumbles so far. One feed store says purina layers omega 3 only has pellets. Is this an issue? I'm thinking about mixing both the Omega 3 and the layer oyster together. I'd have to switch to pellets if I do this.
Thanks for any words of advice...we are getting fully ready now