"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[PrimroseMom1]

Hi, all! I'm reading all the posts from today trying to escape real life for a minute lol.. Whew, it's been crazy around here. Both my boys (15 & 9) have the flu, my mom is in the hospital being monitored for an irregular heart rhythm, AND now I'm starting to feel a little crummy. It's hard to take care of anyone else when you're feeling bad yourself. Not much to do, but do it anyway.

On a happy note, I had a duckling hatch today - my very first one! My brother was incubating some of his mixed breed ducks, and his mallard started laying about a week later, so he threw the first egg in the bator. He brought the mallard egg to me when the others had to go on lockdown because he was worried what the high humidity would do that one so early. So I've been "babysitting" my brother's lone mallard egg. It wasn't even supposed to be put in lockdown til today, but the darned thing pipped in the turner yesterday and hatched today. It's such a sweet little thing!



And THIS is what happens when my border collie hangs out all day in the chicken yard after a downpour the previous night. My son didn't realize she snuck through the gate this morning. Nasty.

So sorry you guys aren't feeling well. Seems just when life gets hardest, a beautiful little duck (or the equivalent comes along).

What a beautiful baby!

Not so beautiful dog. LOL

 

[kuntrygirl]

Well, I took Kuntrygirls advise and tried the fish feed made by Land O'Lakes and the turkeys and chickens love it. It is 28% protein! Since all of my flocks free range together, it is impossible to feed them separate. I can not find all-flock in my  area and Game-bird feed has gotten very pricey, so I mixed the layer pellets with the fish pellets, and the fish pellets bring the protein up a lot and is only $1.50 more than the layer pellets and if anything is missing in the fish pellets, that the hens need for laying, the layer pellets will, I hope, make it up. Along with free range, I use 100#(1 sack of each ) daily. I don't know well I am meeting their needs, but they seam to love it and it cut the cost of feed by about 1/3 for the % of protein they require. Country Acres Layer pellets have 16% protein and Land O'Lakes pellets have 28% protein, so this averages out to be 22% protein, that the turkeys need. I also have these "Meyer's Special" meaties that are finally a nice fryer size at 4 1/2 months old! I am afraid at this age they will not make tender fryers, and it is so sloppy outside, I think they will be better broilers, next month! At least, they are well feathered out now and run around with the turkeys and layers! LOL

Glad to hear that they love the fish pellets. Mine love them as well.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Wait a second....talk to me about this Land O Lakes feed.  What all is in it and where do I get it?

It is actually used to feed fish in a fish farm, I think, Kuntrygirl said she used it and suggested that I try it. I think it's mainly soybean based, but Kuntrygirl can probably tell you more!

Yes, that's true. It provides that extra protein and oil that they need to look better than the next person's bird. Their overlook appearance (feathers, shine, etc) is noticeable and the birds just have an all around "healthy" look and the weight of the bird is awesome.

 

[kuntrygirl]

One of them was quite noisey last night. I had to pick it up and babysit for a few minutes. As soon as I picked the stinker up, she stopped chirping. I let her run around on my chest and legs for about 5 minutes in hopes that would tire her out and I think it did. I put her back in and she was calmer.

Ohhhhhh, Julie, so cute!  I want some babies so badly.  But, can't have any.  At least I can enjoy them vicariously through you.  I miss when Primrose was a baby and would walk all over me.  WAIT...she STILL does.  LOL  Really. 

Thank you. Let me know when you want some.

 

[kuntrygirl]

ITS HERE. I will get pics soon

Cute avatar!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Ok, somewhere several days ago, their was a discussion about pickled eggs. I have been trying to find my grandmother's pickled beet egg recipe to no avail. My dad always made them when I was a kid, and they are the BEST red pickled beet eggs I've ever had. Mom gave me all grandma's recipes after dad passed, but that one isn't written in the notebook. I am afraid that one went with him.

I have one I tried last year from All Recipes that was okay, but not exactly what I was looking for. I did like that it included onion, which was actually my favorite part when they were done.
Here is the link...http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pickled-Red-Beet-Eggs/Detail.aspx

If I were to try this one again, I would add a bit of the pickling spice, and garlic though, because I know I would like them better.

These two recipes looked interesting that I am going to try as well.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,2346,154181-233201,00.html
http://www.recipe.com/pickled-eggs/

Actually.....I got confused. Kuntrygirl was talking about the pickled eggs on the Turkey thread she started. Oh well.....guess it is just my early onset Alzheimer's kicking in again. Wrong thread, but at least they are the right recipes......geesh.

That's ok. Thanks for the links. We can talk pickled eggs here too.

 

[kuntrygirl]

mzstre, sorry to hear about your family and you. Hope everyone gets back to 100%.

CUTE BABY !!!!!!!!!


LOL @ the muddy dog. TOO CUTE.

So glad that you took time to escape away from the real world to visit ole Louisiana friends. You should do that more often.

 

[chickenbelle]

Where did you buy your fish pellets?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Now kuntrygirl---where are you to talk to me about this fish feed?

Here I am !!!!!!!!!

Ok about the fish feed..............

When I was concerned about protein and the questionable nutrition and ingredients in poultry feeds that I had purchased at local feed stores, I started reading about protein and learning about what I could do to increase their protein levels and allow them to have all of those extra goodies (oils, etc) in the feed that they ate in order to have what I would consider OVERALL proper health and development and also LOOK good as far as their feathers, combs, etc. So, I ran across information about feeding catfish pellets to them and I liked what I read, so I decided to try adding it to their feed at the time to see if I could tell any results. Well, I did this for a couple months and I took weights of a test group of chickens and turkeys and I documented the overall appearance of the chickens and turkeys and the results yielded weight gains, larger eggs and shiny feathers. They just had an all around great look and that is the look that I was wanting. Although my animals are healthy and look healthy anyway, I just found that the extra protein worked even better for them.

I purchased the cat fish food at Tractor Supply. I have provided a link below with info. Everyone looks for a certain feed with certain ingredients and I liked the ingredients that I read.

Since then, I have stopped feeding the fish feed because I have found the ultimate feed that I am 100% satisfied with and that is Gamebird Pellets Feed at Petrus Feed in Alexandria in Terri's neck of the woods. They make their own feed and I get AMAZING results from ALL of my birds. But I would recommend fish feed to anyone if they can't find the perfect feed or not satisfied with the type of feed that they currently are feeding their birds. I would recommend mixing it with their other feed to yield the level of protein that they need. Each person would have decided what amount to add to their existing feed.

I hope this explanation helps.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/sportsman-s-choice-reg-floating-pond-and-catfish-feed-40-lb--1077725

Sportsman's Choice

Floating Pond and Catfish Feed is a 32% protein fish feed designed to be fed to catfish and other farm pond species in a recreational feeding program.

32% protein to support multiple farm pond species of fish
Highly palatable to maximize intake
Stabilized and high levels of vitamins to ensure correct nutrient balance to support rapid growth
Global Experience. Proprietary aquaculture technology. That's what you get with Sportsman's Choice

feeds. Our aquaculture lab, with state-of-the-art equipment and a world-renowned Ph.D. team, creates fish formulas that maximize performance.

Ingredients:
Grain Products, Plant Protein Products, Processed Grain By-Products, animal Protein Products, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Chloride, Zinc Oxide.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein 32% (min.), Crude Fat 4% (min.), Crude Fiber 7.5% (max.), Phosphorus .8% (min.), Vitamin B6 1.2 mg/lb. (min.), Ascorbic Acid - Vitamin C 20 mg/lb. (min.), Vitamin D 204 IU/lb. (min.), Vitamin E 30 IU/lb. (min.), Folic Acid 1 mg/lb. (min.).

Feeding Directions:
Sportsman's Choice

Catfish Feed can be hand fed or fed from automated feeders. Feeding should occur once per day and should be in a consistent location. Feeding rate should be such that volume is consumed in 5-7 minutes of activity. Adjust feed volume to fit this timeframe.

Feeding directions are dependent on many factors, such as aquatic species, production systems, stocking rates, environmental conditions (water temperature and water quality). Careful consideration should be given to the amount and quantity applied to the water.

For bigger trophy fish in your waters, feed Sportsman's Choice

formulas and catch some serious results.

 

[chickenbelle]

I will have to look. I haven't seen it. I do get to Alexandria every so often...maybe I will look into the gamebird feed there, too.