INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ChicagoClucker]

Definitely prayers coming your way. Healing prayers for Dad and you! The next few months will be hard to deal with but stay strong, say your prayers and get lots of Chicken therapy!

Thoughts and prayers coming your way!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I made this feeder last year and as soon as the chicks got bigger they were able to scratch the food out of it. I was feeling like it was such a waste but I get to use it again with the new babies!! It makes such a difference. These little guys aren't big enough to scratch the food out yet so they aren't wasting as much.

nice feeder

We have several homemade feeders as well. We use a gutter and add some 2x4 legs and endcaps. They can still scratch some food out but it would have to be a lot of food to even come close to adding up to the cost of some of the fancy feeders out there. I have also noticed it tends to be a specific age or size range that will try and scratch the food out of our gutter feeders. For the most part the small ones don't and the adults don't but that in between size when they are large enough to hop into the feeder but not so large to feel squished, they like to scratch.

 

[raisinemright]

Should I pull my CornX off pasture these last few weeks and feed them out indoors? Or should they stay on pasture for the remainder of time.
I don't want them to fat/large but would indoors produce better marbling in the meat?
And if you do pull them off pasture do you use a milk fattening process or just high % grain?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I made this feeder last year and as soon as the chicks got bigger they were able to scratch the food out of it. I was feeling like it was such a waste but I get to use it again with the new babies!! It makes such a difference. These little guys aren't big enough to scratch the food out yet so they aren't wasting as much.

great idea!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Should I pull my CornX off pasture these last few weeks and feed them out indoors? Or should they stay on pasture for the remainder of time.
I don't want them to fat/large but would indoors produce better marbling in the meat?
And if you do pull them off pasture do you use a milk fattening process or just high % grain?

I left mine on pasture, actually free ranged them until the 1 bad day came. The end result spoke for itself, glad I did! Much better results that grocery store chicken. They were still plenty big enough, these birds grow fast!
I did ferment feed for them, and that really seemed to help too. Are you doing the deed, or taking them to have it done?

 

[kittydoc]

Here is a heart-breaking article about one commercial turkey operation's owner whose flock was affected by AI. There are some unpleasant details in here that I had wondered about, but didn't know how they were dealt with. Now I know, and I almost wish I didn't. Still, better we know what to expect and keep hoping and praying that we don't!!

Of course, there were more farms affected today, as there have been every single day for weeks. Still no new states beyond the current 16, which is more than enough.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/301289151.html

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Some other things I noticed.. Since they were free ranged, there was little fat, almost none. That's what I aim for, since its better for my parents health. But, if you want marbling keep them contained! Fermented feed especially the last few weeks, will really help with odors while processing also.
I haven't been fermenting, and we had some drakes that "HAD to go!" and eww, odors! That was my

gag moment, and remembered thats why I started fermenting to begin with, lol!

 

[kittydoc]

OK, questions for the feed fermenters out there!

(1) Can you ferment starter-grower and grower-finisher feeds?

(2) What is the most bone-head easy way to do it? I'm thinking of trying this for my Bielefelder group just since they are notorious for blowing a food budget, and then maybe expanding it. I think we have too many birds to make it practical for everyone, but for 9, I think it's worth trying. I know there are posts out there, but I'd like the Reader's Digest version from those of you who are doing it sucessfully, including @flyladyrocks

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here is a heart-breaking article about one commercial turkey operation's owner whose flock was affected by AI. There are some unpleasant details in here that I had wondered about, but didn't know how they were dealt with. Now I know, and I almost wish I didn't. Still, better we know what to expect and keep hoping and praying that we don't!!

Of course, there were more farms affected today, as there have been every single day for weeks. Still no new states beyond the current 16, which is more than enough.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/301289151.html

Oh my, how horrible. Thanks for sharing this, lets keep the information coming.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

OK, questions for the feed fermenters out there!

(1) Can you ferment starter-grower and grower-finisher feeds?

(2) What is the most bone-head easy way to do it? I'm thinking of trying this for my Bielefelder group just since they are notorious for blowing a food budget, and then maybe expanding it. I think we have too many birds to make it practical for everyone, but for 9, I think it's worth trying. I know there are posts out there, but I'd like the Reader's Digest version from those of you who are doing it sucessfully, including @flyladyrocks

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/no-strain-hot-water-easy-fermented-feed-method-w-video
@Sally Sunshine has a video included!
You can use chick starter, whole grain feeds, etc