grannys gone and done it

[ChickenLady2014]

The protein level is mainly the difference in those feeds except for the layer feed. That has added calcium which is unhealthy for chicks

Alfalfa is easy for me with the horses. I always keep a "flake" in the run for them. They LOVE the leaves and flowers. It does make such a pretty yolk too! 

I'm going to try some this winter as a greens supplement. My birds are so used to getting garden scraps that winter can be very lacking. I usually buy cabbage for them, because its cheaper than some of the other greens available in the grocery store. I would really love to have a root cellar that I could store a lot of the fall crops for my family & for the birds.

 

[napdognewfie]

There are a lot of different ways to make a root cellar. And a lot of sizes.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Question are chickens smart enough to not eat what won't "go thru" them. Like pumpkin seeds??

 

[ChickenLady2014]

 

The protein level is mainly the difference in those feeds except for the layer feed. That has added calcium which is unhealthy for chicks

Alfalfa is easy for me with the horses. I always keep a "flake" in the run for them. They LOVE the leaves and flowers. It does make such a pretty yolk too! 

thankfully I haven't had to buy alpha for the hens but  I know there is some (not Much) in the prarrie hay that I put up every year.  Mainly brome.   Horses love brome and sure makes for a nice shinny coat.  The hens have a high old time rooting thru the extra hay that gets thrown around in the coop when I change out the hay in the next boxes. 

I don't have a place to store hay or fields to grow it, so I use wood shavings in my nest boxes. Usually on the coop floor as well, but I'm going to try to keep the contractors sand on my coop floors for as long as I can this year. Buying bales of wood shavings gets costly & this year I will have 4 coops running thru the winter.

 

[napdognewfie]

I feed mine pumpkin guts and seeds. They love it.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Question  are chickens smart enough to not eat what won't "go thru" them.   Like pumpkin seeds??  

Mine love pumpkins seeds, they just break them down to small pieces. In fact pumpkin seeds are one of their favorite treats.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Mutt if you have birds molting or have a cold winter weather the All Flock Raiser is your best choice. The extra protien helps feathers grow faster & here in the winter it gets very cold. The birds spend more time in the coop & can get ornery. The extra protein helps protect your birds during stressful times, less chance of feather pickers (feather eaters)

You have me thinking (rarity) I have all pullets under 1 yr. On grower w/ oyster shell 10/15 laying now. My youngert 5 are only a week or 2 from laying. I was going to switch to layer. Winter here is not at all cold. We can dip below 30 rarely, but...we have sudden drops, and my hens are NOT acclimated below 60. We're in for a historically wet winter. They predict 200% of normal rainfall. Think I'd be better to switch to Flock Raiser for added protein?

 

[ChickenLady2014]

There are a lot of different ways to make a root cellar. And a lot of sizes.

I need to check into that. I'm sure there are tons of ideas on U-Tube.

 

[napdognewfie]

That's why they have a gizzard. The rocks grind up the food.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Mutt if you have birds molting or have a cold winter weather the All Flock Raiser is your best choice. The extra protien helps feathers grow faster

You have me thinking (rarity) I have all pullets under 1 yr. On grower w/ oyster shell 10/15 laying now. My youngert 5 are only a week or 2 from laying. I was going to switch to layer. Winter here is not at all cold. We can dip below 30 rarely, but...we have sudden drops, and my hens are NOT acclimated below 60. We're in for a historically wet winter. They predict 200% of normal rainfall. Think I'd be better to switch to Flock Raiser for added protein?  

It does help, I also give them boss before bed time. I normally toss about a cup on the floor of the coop for 25 hens. Gives them that little bit of extra protein to keep them warm at night.

Just be certain to have grit free choice in their coop in the winter if their run is snow covered. They will need that to break down the boss. I'm sure you know this though if you are already feeding them oats.