have to get rid of my chickens

[cknmom]

We don't have much kitchen scraps. Only what is waste from veggies. All meat scraps go to the dogs. We eat our leftovers and DGD finishes all that's on her plate.

DH called me from work today and said that we will keep the weird roo and probably the old hen, as neither one eats much. I think he's putting his foot down with this one. I choose my battles. I will continue to plan the new coop/run and get an incubator and plan for the spring. I figure if we get at least 3- hens then we should get enough eggs so that I can sell some or sell chicks. That's what I've been trying to get accomplished this year and it didn't work out.

Monica

 

[hcammack]

Instead of getting a bator or keeping the old hen why not just keep a few sexlinks that should lay up a storm? instead of a weird rooster that will not produce anything!

 

[iajewel]

I have never bought chicken feed.. ever.. there is to much crap in most of it, and the price is not something that makes eggs affordable for me either. I buy a bag of cracked corn (about 3.00 now) a bag of oats (about 4.00 now) thats 100lbs right there for under 8.00.. I also buy either bean meal, and mix some of that, or if thats to high, I feed a bit of dog food just a hand full or two in the feeder mixed with corn and oats. If I have meat scraps, in they go.. to the birds. This is in the winter when they can't range. The local bread store and groshers also has old stuff they give away or sell cheap.. Love bread stores .. huge bag of stuff for 1.00.. I don't do that often, but.. Its a filler and not a bad one at that.
My birds are healthy, I do show, and the judges don't notice I don't buy fancy feed. Its about nutrition and knowing what they need, not colorful bags.. so you may be able to cut your feed bill in half with some creativity.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I had wanted to switch brands of feed awhile ago and DH (who works in a feedmill) said no. He said that switching feed can cause them to quit laying. So between the daylight, molting, and switching feed it's not a surprise they aren't laying much. Point this out to him and see if he will consent to sticking with one feed and giving them another chance.

 

[purr]

Quote:
I have always wondered what my grandmother fed her chickens.There was no commercial feed and she has been gone for many years.I used to feed them with her but was too small to know what was in the feed.
Thank you, I'll bet it was pretty close to what you do.

 

[iajewel]

With every aniamal I have ever had, and I have shown goats, cattle, horses, rabbits and poultry.. Everyone says don't change feed.. I however have had really good luck with changing feed.. I don't think it matters as much as stress.. as in moving them, changing thier enviroment etc.. I think you could get away with a feed change and do fine if nothing else is changed. Just me.. I have crazy good luck doing really weird stuff though.

 

[newchickenfarmer]

I would love to take your chickens, my hubby & I are wanting more. we have a coop that will house up to 50 birds. and were short a few. we live in Indiana and we have heat lights we keep on our birds at night. so before 11am we have 4-6 eggs and then by the end of the day we usually get 6-8 by the end of the day, the more light the more they lay. but need food and water for the nite cos they tend to want to eat threw the night with the lights. and we feed em layer crumbles and scratch feed threw the winter to keep them fat and just layers in the summer also they free range everyday, also treats they love treats, oats,corn flakes crackers and fruit loops!! our feed at our co op is $9:30 a 50 lb bag and 8 for the scratch. we are looking for hens to add to our chicken family, we r looking for barred rocks or comets.

 

[cknmom]

I talked to him yesterday about the change in feed, he had a point though, they haven't been laying for over two months and he just got the new feed three weeks ago. I will try the cracked corn, oats and beanmeal, I will compare the prices. I do see his point on feeding laying hens and still having to buy eggs. I use lots of eggs. We go through two 18pks in a week and a half, sometimes less. I do lots of baking, both DH and I usually have two eggs for breakfast. DGD doesn't eat much eggs, but with three more coming that's really going to boost our egg usage also.

He does know that in the winter they lay less. Last year we had three laying hens and got about 2 eggs a week. We don't have electricity to our coop as it is a temperary one so we can't put a light in it. With the weird roo we can't get any fertilized eggs to hatch more hens.

I'm still trying, maybe if I cut more grocery costs it would help.

Monica

 

[aiwetir]

there are cheap bright battery powered led lights out there now too. i typically see them in a 3 pack. maybe those and some rechargeable batteries would do the trick.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

gapeachy, they can really eat coffee grounds?

I wouldn't touch it but if I were a chicken??? I'll give it to them in their suets I make if it is a good treat rather than putting it in the compost pile. Let me know, Thanks