Ok, first impressions of the dual purpose flock....
They are nice birds (white rocks, a rir, a brahma and a delaware roo) but - They eat like PIGS!!!
I fill their food dish twice a day, and they'd probably want me to fill it three times a day. I have the roo and 6 hens in there. In my layer coop I have 10 hens and a roo, and they barely finish the first filling of the feed dish. They are smaller birds, but sheesh!!
So, definately need to get the dual purpose flock out and free ranging as soon as there is something out there for them to eat. Also, until there is something to munch on outside, gonna have to supplement their diet with other stuff, to cut back the feed bill.
Maybe part of it is because it is cold out, and they are trying to fatten themselves up for winter. Maybe they are freaking because instead of so many at the food dish (at Shelley's dad's) they have only 7 and they are trying to eat as much as they can before it is gone. Will a chicken eat til it is full and stop? or will it keep going as long as food is there, like a horse? My others only eat until they are full, and then they come back later for a snack.
btw - their food dish a long trough - homemade thing was used for pigs (appropriate, no?
) It will hold the same amount (slightly more at full capacity) as one of the gallon sized gravity feeders (the hanging type, plastic ones). They aren't scratching much of the food out onto the floor - I've stood and watched them (in awe), they are eating it
.
All I can say is - Come On Spring, give us some GRASS and BUGS!!!!
eta - Eleanor and Speckles want to go outside really badly, the others could care less about meeting me at the door and trying to sneak out.
meri
