Hatching with 2 broodies

[tommysgirl]

TG, I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this, but I have been meaning to ask you about this. I have feed, I have acv with the mother… I am just afraid to take the jump. So many different styles on the FF threads… add this, add that, don't need this, don't need that. What do YOU do? I like to keep it simple, and this may not be a 24/7 kinda thing for me. Maybe every couple days? I do put a little glug of ACV in their water already. Will you share your knowledge?

Jump in at will!!! I have not gone on the BYC fermenting threads but instead pinned this http://ohlardy.com/fermented-chicken-feed and follow her ultra simple rules.

Really all you need is a bucket, a place to keep it, water, feed and a stirring stick. I glug in some ACV and that is all as far as extras go. I was intimidated too until I started doing it and found how easy it is. BYC sometimes has too many helpful people and too much information.

I think it was this woman who said you increase the nutritional value of the feed even by just soaking it overnight so now I just add feed and water to it when it gets low, don't worry about how fermented it is on a given day. I use a 5 lb bucket that I got from the cafeteria at school.

@ItalyChickie you asked me if I am a teacher and yes I am. I am so glad my layman's description of making sex links worked for you.

 

[16 paws]

So now my question is how long should I wait to introduce these little fuzzy butts to the rest of the flock ??? As of now I have the coop separated with a divider made of 1/4 inch wire so they are side by side and in full view of each other. Any thoughts on this would be so helpful!

Hi Lesa Mae,
I have sectioned Penny and her babies off with a wire dog pen that makes different configurations. The openings make it so the big chicks cant easily get in but the babies can dart in and out. As long as you have mommy with them they should be well protected. I noticed that one of my barred rocks got over the gate( to get the food)and Penny proceeded to teach her a lesson she wont soon forget. Didnt hurt her but let her know you dont EVER mess with my munchkins! haha
They also carry a feed called flock raiser that you can give to everyone.
Marie

 

[Lesa Mae]

TG, I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this, but I have been meaning to ask you about this. I have feed, I have acv with the mother… I am just afraid to take the jump. So many different styles on the FF threads… add this, add that, don't need this, don't need that. What do YOU do? I like to keep it simple, and this may not be a 24/7 kinda thing for me. Maybe every couple days? I do put a little glug of ACV in their water already. Will you share your knowledge?

I have never heard of fermenting so any info you have on the pros and cons as well as how his is done would be really appreciated. All of this is so new to me and every little bit of knowledge people share sure helps in deciding what works best for all of us !

 

[tommysgirl]

I have never heard of fermenting

so any info you have on the pros and cons as well as how his is done would be really appreciated. All of this is so new to me and every little bit of knowledge people share sure helps in deciding what works best for all of us !

I am happy to share with you but if you follow the link you will find more information than I could give you.

 

[Teila]

Thank you TG!

I have also been wondering about FF and also wanting to try it but like MM, it all seemed a bit daunting .. buckets and stirring so many times, add this, don't add that etc, watch for this, watch for that etc.

I have read the link you provided a couple of times and bookmarked it also. Her method sounds nice and simple and just right for 5 little bantams (I don't want buckets of the stuff). I have my three jars ready to go, just waiting for the boiled water to cool and I am so going to give this a try

 

[ItalyChickie]

Hi team! Sorry for disappearing - long weekend, gorgeous weather, so haven't been on the computer very much. I still follow your updates on the phone, but trying to type a reply on that is a bit of a pain.

Thank you for that link TG, great info on fermented feed, I have also been wondering but it seemed overwhelming reading other instructions.. this one sounds easy!

Gorgeous gorgeous pictures everyone!!! Petunia with her "classroom" is priceless!

And love seeing all the Saras and Ariel together with mom, what cute little fuzzballs! MM, so sorry you lost one... I guess some trouble is to be expected with shipped chicks, but it still hurts.

Hope everyone else is doing well, and love seeing the pics. (especially cochins... I am partial to cochins, I blame Cenere for that.

)

So.. with all the chicken math, and the fact that this hatch didn't work out quite as expected, and the fact that I have been whining to my husband how I wish I had some extra chickies that I could have slipped in with my amazing co-parents, and how we should have gone with more eggs for better chances, etc.... guess what I got for my birthday? That's right, an incubator!

Which means there will be a next hatch sometime soon! (I still plan to let a broody raise them... thankfully it seems I have an unending supply of those. The broody triplet is full-on broody, and the twins are looking for new places, and Bonnie is still doing her puffer fish act, though she won't stay on nest if I remove the eggs.)

I guess I'll be arranging to get those Cochin eggs soon... will keep you posted!

In the meantime, some updated pics of the family:

















Edited to add Cenere who insists on being included.

 

[16 paws]

Hi team! Sorry for disappearing - long weekend, gorgeous weather, so haven't been on the computer very much. I still follow your updates on the phone, but trying to type a reply on that is a bit of a pain.

Thank you for that link TG, great info on fermented feed, I have also been wondering but it seemed overwhelming reading other instructions.. this one sounds easy!

Gorgeous gorgeous pictures everyone!!! Petunia with her "classroom" is priceless!

And love seeing all the Saras and Ariel together with mom, what cute little fuzzballs! MM, so sorry you lost one... I guess some trouble is to be expected with shipped chicks, but it still hurts.

Hope everyone else is doing well, and love seeing the pics. (especially cochins... I am partial to cochins, I blame Cenere for that.

)

So.. with all the chicken math, and the fact that this hatch didn't work out quite as expected, and the fact that I have been whining to my husband how I wish I had some extra chickies that I could have slipped in with my amazing co-parents, and how we should have gone with more eggs for better chances, etc.... guess what I got for my birthday? That's right, an incubator!

Which means there will be a next hatch sometime soon! (I still plan to let a broody raise them... thankfully it seems I have an unending supply of those. The broody triplet is full-on broody, and the twins are looking for new places, and Bonnie is still doing her puffer fish act, though she won't stay on nest if I remove the eggs.)

I guess I'll be arranging to get those Cochin eggs soon... will keep you posted!

In the meantime, some updated pics of the family:

















Edited to add Cenere who insists on being included.

Oh ItalyChickie,
Don't get me wrong I love the pictures of all the fuzzies but Cenere stole the show for me. She is absolutely adorable!

I wish I could get some of my bantam cochin eggs over to you, I would love to test them out on your new birthday present!
By the way, have a wonderful birthday week!
Marie

 

[MistyMountain]

Jump in at will!!! I have not gone on the BYC fermenting threads but instead pinned this http://ohlardy.com/fermented-chicken-feed and follow her ultra simple rules.

Really all you need is a bucket, a place to keep it, water, feed and a stirring stick. I glug in some ACV and that is all as far as extras go. I was intimidated too until I started doing it and found how easy it is. BYC sometimes has too many helpful people and too much information.

I think it was this woman who said you increase the nutritional value of the feed even by just soaking it overnight so now I just add feed and water to it when it gets low, don't worry about how fermented it is on a given day. I use a 5 lb bucket that I got from the cafeteria at school.

@ItalyChickie you asked me if I am a teacher and yes I am. I am so glad my layman's description of making sex links worked for you.

Now the wheels are turning. Hubby and I talked about the future of our homestead and where we want to take things. That included adding other animals (in addition to my horse, once things are set up or if his pasture mate goes down hill. He shares his pasture with a 30+ year old Arab/quarter horse that has very few teeth left and needs to be supplemented heavily to maintain weight. We won't move my Valentine until after the other horse's time, since we will not move the other horse in his condition and would never leave him without a "herd"). Anyhow, getting long winded here. I think FF will help a ton to stretch out our dollar not to mention the benefits they say come from it. Excited to see where all of this takes us.

Now. Anyone got a broody I can borrow? I am… kinda ready to wean my chicks and I am only 3 days into it!!! I am much more lax about this group, but they are doing so well! I can not wait to get them outside, though!

 

[MistyMountain]

Oh ItalyChickie,
Don't get me wrong I love the pictures of all the fuzzies but Cenere stole the show for me. She is absolutely adorable!

I wish I could get some of my bantam cochin eggs over to you, I would love to test them out on your new birthday present!
By the way, have a wonderful birthday week!
Marie

IC, I must agree with 16paws!!

 

[16 paws]

Now the wheels are turning. Hubby and I talked about the future of our homestead and where we want to take things. That included adding other animals (in addition to my horse, once things are set up or if his pasture mate goes down hill. He shares his pasture with a 30+ year old Arab/quarter horse that has very few teeth left and needs to be supplemented heavily to maintain weight. We won't move my Valentine until after the other horse's time, since we will not move the other horse in his condition and would never leave him without a "herd"). Anyhow, getting long winded here. I think FF will help a ton to stretch out our dollar not to mention the benefits they say come from it. Excited to see where all of this takes us.

Now. Anyone got a broody I can borrow? I am… kinda ready to wean my chicks and I am only 3 days into it!!! I am much more lax about this group, but they are doing so well! I can not wait to get them outside, though!

I am sure ItalyChickie has a few, twins or triplets? Lol
I would let you borrow Penny but she is busy at the moment....Lol I am actually thinking of slipping a couple silkie chicks in with her tonight. They have some at the feed store right now and I DO have to go there for something else

Darn chicken math