Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[piglett]

Its been a quiet week in the Philippines after a rough month.

Following the madness with the quail, we also lost 5 chuckar. As soon as symptoms started we hit them with antibiotics and turned it around quickly.

Just as they cleared up, fowl pox hit just the chicks that we hatched from the locally laid eggs. The birds were about 30 days old. We isolated them quickly and they are on the road to recovery.

I was really hit hard by all of this. It makes me realize how determine one has to be to persevere.

So persevere we shall. We started incubating again. Plans are afoot to replace the quail and I am organizing my next shipment. I will be taking heritage class Silver Penciled Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Red Dorkings from Dick Horstman lines. I also plan to add to the Lemon Cuckoo Orps, Buff Orps and Marans so that we have a solid breeding flock of each.

Today (Monday) is election day in the Philippines. The local government units known as Barangays all across the country elect the officers that will hopefully look after the interests of the common folk for the next three years. Bernie and the guys working on the fence returned home to vote.

Bernie is still looking out for another doe and I have a good lead on a 50% Nubian buck.

Mrs Oz is back in the Philippines. She is looking forward to coming over here with the kids. It should be soon.

good to hear that you got the chicks back on the rite path OZ

no eggs ....nothing had to buy a 1/2 dozen so the wife could make a cake
we have been feeding fermented feed they sure do eat it fast
maybe i will have to also add a feeder inside the coop with pellets
i guess it could be that they are not getting enough to eat????
anyhow no one is laying at this point
i have this huge bator & nothing to put in it to test it out
things are going to have to change or i'll be having a whole flock of chickens in my big freezer out on the back porch

piglett

 

[Phage]

no eggs ....nothing had to buy a 1/2 dozen so the wife could make a cake
we have been feeding fermented feed they sure do eat it fast
maybe i will have to also add a feeder inside the coop with pellets
i guess it could be that they are not getting enough to eat????
anyhow no one is laying at this point
i have this huge bator & nothing to put in it to test it out
things are going to have to change or i'll be having a whole flock of chickens in my big freezer out on the back porch

piglett

I up protein content of the feed to 22% this time of year (28% if I can get hold of it) .

It gives the molters a needed boost and I think helps the tweenies put on weight for the winter/get ready for spring laying.

 

[ozexpat]

good to hear that you got the chicks back on the rite path OZ

no eggs ....nothing had to buy a 1/2 dozen so the wife could make a cake
we have been feeding fermented feed they sure do eat it fast
maybe i will have to also add a feeder inside the coop with pellets
i guess it could be that they are not getting enough to eat????
anyhow no one is laying at this point
i have this huge bator & nothing to put in it to test it out
things are going to have to change or i'll be having a whole flock of chickens in my big freezer out on the back porch

piglett

my layers have dropped way down with molting. I boosted the protein a week ago

I ordered feed today.

50KG soy (56% protein)
300kg Rice Bran (14% protein)

a total of 780lbs of feed for USD140.00

What are the going rates for various feeds in USA and Oz?

 

[ozexpat]

Normally I feed the layers 90% Rice Bran 10% Soy - making it 18%

at 30% soy its 26% Protein.

I add multivitamins add electrolytes.

A 110lb sack of pellets costs me $13.50 whereas blending my own runs $9.10

 

[Phage]

Around here I pay $20.50 -$22.50 for a 50lb bag.

As the feed is for "food" ****** you should never have to pay tax on it (US) ******

 

[ozexpat]

Around here I pay $20.50 -$22.50 for a 50lb bag.

As the feed is for "food" ****** you should never have to pay tax on it (US) ******

yikes. remind me to just have a few chickens when my family repatriates here

 

[Ashburnham]

Layers pellets are $13.50 here for a 20 kg bag,
Grower crumbles are $25.50 a 20 kg bag.
Wheat is $15.95 for a 20 kg bag.


xxxx M

 

[Tomtommom]

Purina Layena is $16.99 for 50lbs at the local Tractor Supply, but I think Oz' food might be better

I can get some stuff for around $15 for 50 lbs at the mill, but I hate to drive around needlessly, and I never have a reason to head out that way.

 

[piglett]

Purina Layena is $16.99 for 50lbs at the local Tractor Supply, but I think Oz' food might be better

I can get some stuff for around $15 for 50 lbs at the mill, but I hate to drive around needlessly, and I never have a reason to head out that way.

i pay $12.49 at blueseal for layer pellets
finish pellets for the meat birds runs a couple bucks more

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I pay between $20 and $25 for a 100lb bag of Layena at our Community Supplies place. More if I buy it from Tractor Supply or Country Max.


ETA: Actually...I'm not sure that it's Layena that I'm buying at Community. It's layer ration, but it comes in a giant white burlap bag sooo.....?????

We asked the mennonites where to buy chicken feed, lol....they know all the good cheap places. As it turns out, Community is Mennonite run.