INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ChickCrazed]

I am curious if anyone has done any research on feed. It was mentioned on another thread that the bagged feed is designed with only 20 vitamins/nutrients instead of the 40 that chickens actually need because they are designed for production birds with a life span of only a couple years. Also, with Gregor's issues and my research on vitamin deficiency, many people suggest adding brewers yeast to the feed to help add Thiamin and it got me wondering what else my feed is lacking. Has anyone actually researched this? Is there such a thing as a COMPLETE feed or what is the simplest way to supplement? I can see here where fermenting the feed helps with nutrient absorption, but if the feed you are using doesn't actually contain all the necessary nutrients it could cause problems. I'm hoping this won't turn into an Organic or GMO v non debate, but I would like to make sure I am adequately taking care of my bird's nutritional needs and figured the feed "designed" for them was doing it. Now I am concerned. Could a vitamin deficiency have caused my pullet to be more susceptible to coccidosis? Makes sense.

I feed all 30 birds (various ages) flock raisor with grit and oyster shell on the side. 10 of the birds "free-range" (quotes because all they do is dust bathe and sit under a tree, and only eat feed from their feeder. Sure not saving any feed by free-ranging that group!).

 

[bradselig]

Can anyone tell me what the best way to keep temps stable in a syrofoam incubator is. I have 2 different models and it seems the temps change all the time. I have them in a closet where the temp stays warm and doesn't fluctuate much. Help, I think I killed some of my eggs because the temps keep changing.

are they forced air or still air? Adding a fan if still air will help a lot.

 

[mandersn]

Hello!! I live 20 miles southwest of Lafayette. I am new to raising chickens, I have 12 hens and 1 rooster. I absolutely love my birds, I was so excited to finally get them! Now I cant wait for them to start laying eggs. I also intend to raise some meat birds also. But a little to scared to start that just yet. I've only had my birds 2 weeks! The guy I bought them from said they were about 5 weeks away from laying!! This is all new to me, I was a city girl turned country and now I would love nothing more than to be self sustainable, going off grid would be great!

 

[ChickCrazed]

Hello!! I live 20 miles southwest of Lafayette. I am new to raising chickens, I have 12 hens and 1 rooster. I absolutely love my birds, I was so excited to finally get them! Now I cant wait for them to start laying eggs. I also intend to raise some meat birds also. But a little to scared to start that just yet. I've only had my birds 2 weeks! The guy I bought them from said they were about 5 weeks away from laying!! This is all new to me, I was a city girl turned country and now I would love nothing more than to be self sustainable, going off grid would be great!

Welcome!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

That's exactly what I'm telling myself.


It will be tough to choose which one to keep if the two I suspect in addition to Otis turn out to be boys.  Which would be better? A silkie rooster or a Barred Rock?  I love BRs and she/he has the best personality of the bunch, but the Silkies are so sweet and docile. I don't dislike the EE Otis as much as DH does, but I foresee he will be kind of aggressive. He just not as chillaxed as the other birds. Never was.


I told hubs that if I end up short hens, I will seek out a frizzle cochin pullet from someone to adopt & who knows what else (whatever I want, I guess!). The chicks were super fun (with the exception of our casualty), but since we now for sure have a rooster, the kids and I will be raising our own barnyard mixes in the future, I'm sure. 

 
Another lesson in chicken math!  It's as tough as calculus.  

Haha, very true! I think even after 9 years with these birds, I still don't have chicken math down. I've got the basics, though! (Take this year, in which I ordered 4 chicks because that was the max I wanted, added an extra, and then bought 2 more from Brad and adopted a hen from Leahs mom. )

Your babies are 4-5 weeks old? Post a picture of your barred Rock and I can probably tell you if you have a boy or not. Boys are double-factor barred, so they will be lighter colored, and by then you'd be seeing a pretty obvious comb, I would think.

As far as which to keep IF you have another boy, I have heard good things about Silkie boys. Barred Rocks, I think it depends on the line, as I have heard of them going either direction from hatchery lines. My EE bantam boy was INSANE no matter what I did with him, so you may be right about yours. Of course, just one experience doesn't mean that all will turn out the same way, so just watch him every day and observe for yourself.

PS I'm staring at these pics and feel that same thing. Are they or aren't they?


We don't have any cuddly chicks, darn it!

I know! Oi! But it is what it is.

And I think it's the breeds I have. Elda, in particular, is very cuddly. She and Kit are Dorkings, and everything I've read about them has indicated they are very friendly. The others aren't quite as friendly, but the Marans and Mabel do hop into my lap and let me pick them up, anyway. The Legbars were older when I got them, so it's understandable that they're a bit shy.

 

[CRSelvey]

Welcome to the site!

On the bug topic, I used my own brain instead of borrowing everyone else's and found the answer. The flock should be pest free soon!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Hey all, are the super tiny reddish tan bugs a chicken can get in their feathers mites or lice? I just found some on my sick chicken, so I'm hoping that is her issue this time. If so, I'm putting Frontline on the flock...unless that is totally crazy.

mites
Frontline is not crazy. I read about it on a different thread. I use it for my breeders or birds in a tractor that can't duct bath. I use about 5 drops fro a rooster. There are you tube videos that show you how to apply it to a chicken.


Any great ideas for treating a rash from a poisonous plant like poison ivy or poison oak? I think our cat found some and the rash is from holding the cat.

 

[leslea]

Haha, very true!

I think even after 9 years with these birds, I still don't have chicken math down. I've got the basics, though! (Take this year, in which I ordered 4 chicks because that was the max I wanted, added an extra, and then bought 2 more from Brad and adopted a hen from Leahs mom.

)

Your babies are 4-5 weeks old? Post a picture of your barred Rock and I can probably tell you if you have a boy or not. Boys are double-factor barred, so they will be lighter colored, and by then you'd be seeing a pretty obvious comb, I would think.

As far as which to keep IF you have another boy, I have heard good things about Silkie boys. Barred Rocks, I think it depends on the line, as I have heard of them going either direction from hatchery lines. My EE bantam boy was INSANE no matter what I did with him, so you may be right about yours. Of course, just one experience doesn't mean that all will turn out the same way, so just watch him every day and observe for yourself.

I know! Oi!

But it is what it is.

And I think it's the breeds I have.

Elda, in particular, is very cuddly. She and Kit are Dorkings, and everything I've read about them has indicated they are very friendly. The others aren't quite as friendly, but the Marans and Mabel do hop into my lap and let me pick them up, anyway. The Legbars were older when I got them, so it's understandable that they're a bit shy.

Yeah, a Silkie roo seems like it would be fun for barnyard mixes, too. Pretty mutt babies.

Photos! Of course I have photos.

This is from yesterday. It might be too dark...



Let's see...2 days ago





I don't have a good pic of her face, but I can get one if you can't see what you're looking for in these 3.

The EE roo is the only one whose comb is turning red. Amy has ridges on hers, but you might not be able to see from the pic. The only thing that makes me question her sex is that she went from being docile and "low man" on the totem pole to not taking any crap from Otis, the EE. he chest bumps her and she does him back. She's like "up yours" to him. She's also caught up to the other bantams in terms of size, really fast.

The silkie I question is just an oddball. She/he doesn't hang with the rest of the flock and he/she is twice the size of the other Silkie. That's how it is with the EEs, in terms of size. Otis is twice the size of Gayle.

Yes, everyone is 5 weeks old as of yesterday



Oh, and my white silkie looks like she has some black splashes!



She looks so dirty here, poor thing. She looks much better in person.

 

[leslea]

I am curious if anyone has done any research on feed. It was mentioned on another thread that the bagged feed is designed with only 20 vitamins/nutrients instead of the 40 that chickens actually need because they are designed for production birds with a life span of only a couple years. Also, with Gregor's issues and my research on vitamin deficiency, many people suggest adding brewers yeast to the feed to help add Thiamin and it got me wondering what else my feed is lacking. Has anyone actually researched this? Is there such a thing as a COMPLETE feed or what is the simplest way to supplement? I can see here where fermenting the feed helps with nutrient absorption, but if the feed you are using doesn't actually contain all the necessary nutrients it could cause problems. I'm hoping this won't turn into an Organic or GMO v non debate, but I would like to make sure I am adequately taking care of my bird's nutritional needs and figured the feed "designed" for them was doing it. Now I am concerned. Could a vitamin deficiency have caused my pullet to be more susceptible to coccidosis? Makes sense.

I feed all 30 birds (various ages) flock raisor with grit and oyster shell on the side. 10 of the birds "free-range" (quotes because all they do is dust bathe and sit under a tree, and only eat feed from their feeder. Sure not saving any feed by free-ranging that group!).

I'm not sure, but if they're free-ranging, I bet they have access to whatever their little bodies crave. I give my chicks a lot of weeds in the brooder and they are MAD hungry for them. They must get a lot of nutrition from greens.

I'm no expert, though. I will hand the mic over to more experienced chicken moms/dads.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Yeah, a Silkie roo seems like it would be fun for barnyard mixes, too. Pretty mutt babies.

Photos! Of course I have photos.

This is from yesterday. It might be too dark...



Let's see...2 days ago





I don't have a good pic of her face, but I can get one if you can't see what you're looking for in these 3.

The EE roo is the only one whose comb is turning red. Amy has ridges on hers, but you might not be able to see from the pic. The only thing that makes me question her sex is that she went from being docile and "low man" on the totem pole to not taking any crap from Otis, the EE. he chest bumps her and she does him back. She's like "up yours" to him. She's also caught up to the other bantams in terms of size, really fast.

The silkie I question is just an oddball. She/he doesn't hang with the rest of the flock and he/she is twice the size of the other Silkie. That's how it is with the EEs, in terms of size. Otis is twice the size of Gayle.

Yes, everyone is 5 weeks old as of yesterday



Oh, and my white silkie looks like she has some black splashes!



She looks so dirty here, poor thing. She looks much better in person.

I think she is a her. The barred rock males have lighter coloring and tighter barring. Plus they do tend to get HUGE combs early and I'm not seeing it in the pics, definitely the color is not there. Also, to make you feel better, barred rocks tend to be risk takers, thrill seekers and don't take any crap! So I think you are already seeing that come out in her. It is a breed thing, not a gender thing!