Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[normanack]

The tall red one might not look quite so bad if you did something with the curtain .

I think everything looks great -- except that curtain.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Chickens love to peck at bones save your steak bones great boredom reducer for winter besides the flock block ive also been buying these sprout salads at whole foods for about $2.50 but i only have 20 birds

This is true about the bones, but make sure your pens are solid. My 94lb Black Lab rode the pens down to get in and steal the bones they left laying around.

And then had the nerve to look at me all innocent - "What?! I don't have any idea what happened to the chicken pens! Or where the bones went! (*urp*)"

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Thank you, texasmja, gjensen and lacy blues, I shall follow your recommendations. Brahmabreeder I think your recommendations are spot-on for a more popular breed, just not so much for the rare variety I chose. The "good" hen is already an adult, so I think her eggs are as large as they are likely to become. They are 55 grams/2oz, I would like to get them up to 60-65 grams.
Many are culled, few are chosen
Best wishes to all.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Are they Dorkings? Guess I could of looked down at your signature

.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Not a very scientific answer. If you kept one flock with DE & one w/o & the flock with no DE had parasite problems & the one with DE didn't then your statement would have more merit. As it is it's like saying I always wear red shirts & I don't have flat feet.

On the other side of that coin I have kept poultry for over 50 years, have nevr used so much as a spoonful of DE & don't have a problem with parasites either.

That's fine! What works for you is good and what works for me is better...lol

I never put out oyster shells or any other mineral source and never (knock wood) had soft shelled eggs. What works for one can be lethal to another.

Thanks for your reply!

Diatomaceous Earth is a wonderful way to help keep things like worms and mites away. It is not going to get rid of a infestation but will help keep the flock clean and adds calcium to the diet. its a mild abrasive powder that that scratches the worms and kills them and mites do not like to crawl over it for the same reason. Its 100% natural as well. Just my opinion

 

[hellbender]

Diatomaceous Earth is a wonderful way to help keep things like worms and mites away. It is not going to get rid of a infestation but will help keep the flock clean and adds calcium to the diet. its a mild abrasive powder that that scratches the worms and kills them and mites do not like to crawl over it for the same reason. Its 100% natural as well. Just my opinion

Excellent information for those who do not know. I would not depend upon DE to provide my layers with the requisite calcium but rather provide other natural sources that do a great job.

No, I'm NOT a health freak but part of my the layer diet consist of materials that bring calcium to their 'table'.

As for keeping vermin at bay, I use rather conventional methods until they are grown and enter the main flocks. Beyond that, I rely on excellent nutrition and DE to keep them clear enough to last their productive lives of four years, when, ready or not...a portion of the older birds that have been monitored and examined, will be plowed back into the flock.

 

[unkadan]

continued rambling,,,,


this is when I really miss Bob

 

[3riverschick]

continued rambling,,,,


this is when I really miss Bob

Got a topic in mind? Ready to chat.
Best,
karen

 

[Bluetick340]

Breeding pens...... Set ups, hatch goals, top three thing you plan on putting breeding pressure on and selecting for in offspring this year?

 

[BGMatt]

Another very important thing to discuss is if anyone is looking for birds (any lurkers out there?). Y'all need to be contacting breeders now. I'm sure many already have fairly full waiting lists. I know I do. This is the time of year to call folks and let them know what you're looking for so when it's available you get it.

Many newcomers try to get started with eggs, my advice is to get on a list for some juvenile birds instead. You'll pay a bit more in shipping, but it will make up for it by knowing what you're getting. Even dang near professional hatchers get lousy rates with shipped eggs, then gender ratios and quality are still unknown. You'll be money and time ahead in long run to get older birds. Chicks are a good second option, at least you know how many you'll have to select from.