Maine

[MKandtheforce]

The girls stuffed their crops with sprouts today. it was nice to see them so filled up. Even low girl on the totem pole had her fill. I'd like to think that we're over the worst of the winter. Oh the naievete of that thought!

What do you sprout? I really want to feed sprouts to my chickens (especially at this time of year) but I have no idea where to start! I've got the basic idea of how, but I don't know if there are special seeds to buy, and what kind of seed has the most success...

I have yet to visit. Perhaps once the weather warms up a bit. If I had to go on just looks for the mom I like Stella, Moonspot and Greta. Mine are getting de-budded. One of my new goats, also named Stella, has horns and they are already probing to be a pain. They are not long nor is she aggressive with them but they do catch on things like the handles on the 2 gallon pails I use for grain and water.

Hoof trimming is really easy with goats. They do not always cooperate of course but the trimming itself is not that complicated.

I'm going to keep the horns on my goats. I hope they don't end up being too problematic... then again, if I end up with a polled goat, it eliminates that question altogether! And the trimming doesn't seem to be too complicated, but I would like to try it myself first rather than just winging it on my own when I get my goats.

I agree but disagree. With my larger goats it is definitely a 2 person job. If my goats are separated (meaning one is still in the pen) they are inconsolable and it makes it that much harder. So both are out and while one gets trimmed the other is... pulling my underwear out of my pants, eating my gloves, eating my hair, jumping on me, head butting BF...

So I wouldn't say "really easy" - I'd say it's challenging to do the act fully but easy to trim the actual toenails, once you get in there and get at them.

I'm glad I'm getting Nigerians, then! They'll still probably try to wreak havoc, but I'd like my underwear to stay in my pants, thank you very much.


I think I'm going to make a cold frame this spring. I'm just dying to be able to grow my own greens through most of the year. Growing lettuce on my window sill was a total bust-- they just didn't get enough sun. I also plan on trying to start my own seeds for the first time, but I don't know where. My mom doesn't want my closet to become a germination room. It's times like this where I wish I had enough money to buy my own land. But with bills and saving for a new car and goats, it's difficult to pack money away. Thank god I have a job that actually pays me something decent now.

 

[lazy gardener]

I sprout a combination of lentils and wheat and barley (with the hull intact) from the health store and BOSS from my bag of bird seed. Use a 1 qt mason jar with a needle point plastic canvas mesh under the canning ring. It takes about 3 days to get a good sprout going with a good soak to start the process followed by several rinses/day. When the sprouts get the size you want, give a final rinse and either feed directly or store in the refrigerator. I'm finding that when the temp is below 20 degrees the sprouts freeze as soon as they hit the ground, so the girls aren't as apt to eat them. I can't blame them there! If I had a larger flock, I'd buy the grains by the 50# bag, but with 5 girls, that does not seem feasible.

SCG: Priceless word picture!

 

[buckabucka]

Our first snow day here. I guess the automated phone system is down. I didn't find out I could have slept a little longer until I checked the email, -post coffee.

I can't figure out my lavender Ameraucanas. The one I thought had sour crop was eating out of my hand this morning, not acting sluggish like before. Then I saw a second one drink from the water, and when she went to peck at the ground, a small amount of the water drooled out of her mouth, almost like she spit it up. I thought maybe I had the two confused. I threw some scratch, and the drooler ran around scratching and pecking, while the one that ate out of my hand just stood around.

The only other time one had sour crop, she made it obvious, -stood at the water forever, dunking her whole head in. When I picked her up, she vomited a quart of water. I don't know if I am being paranoid with these other two. I thought I might start by giving probiotics, mixing a little of their food with kefir, and hold off on the monistat for now. They do have grit free-choice. Any other ideas?

 

[anyasmifya]

In regards to mites. Luckily, (knock on wood) I have not had a mite/lice problem. We liberally put food grade diatenacious earth all over the coop. Even in the nest boxes.

p.s. It's 49 here! My birds are out in the rain. I hope they dry off before the temperature starts to drop!

 

[Mainechick168]

What do you sprout? I really want to feed sprouts to my chickens (especially at this time of year) but I have no idea where to start! I've got the basic idea of how, but I don't know if there are special seeds to buy, and what kind of seed has the most success...

I'm going to keep the horns on my goats. I hope they don't end up being too problematic... then again, if I end up with a polled goat, it eliminates that question altogether! And the trimming doesn't seem to be too complicated, but I would like to try it myself first rather than just winging it on my own when I get my goats.


I'm glad I'm getting Nigerians, then! They'll still probably try to wreak havoc, but I'd like my underwear to stay in my pants, thank you very much.


I think I'm going to make a cold frame this spring. I'm just dying to be able to grow my own greens through most of the year. Growing lettuce on my window sill was a total bust-- they just didn't get enough sun. I also plan on trying to start my own seeds for the first time, but I don't know where. My mom doesn't want my closet to become a germination room. It's times like this where I wish I had enough money to buy my own land. But with bills and saving for a new car and goats, it's difficult to pack money away. Thank god I have a job that actually pays me something decent now.

Growing lettuce on the window sill has not worked well for me either!

Cold frames are very easy to build, and pretty cheap too- you don't need much lumber, and there are always windows somewhere for free- either on the side or the road, or maybe on craigslist. I had a great little one that got snowed on and then destroyed by the plow man last year.

And lucky you on the Nigerians! I've been stuck on the idea of Nigerians for years now- husband is finally saying "when we get goats" instead of " we are not getting goats."!! Maybe in another year or two!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

In regards to mites. Luckily, (knock on wood) I have not had a mite/lice problem. We liberally put food grade diatenacious earth all over the coop. Even in the nest boxes.

p.s. It's 49 here! My birds are out in the rain. I hope they dry off before the temperature starts to drop!

Mine are out, too... they are soaked! I'm worried about the temp drop now, too. I didn't open the pop door until it stopped raining, but we've gotten a few random downpours. I swear they are just so sick of being in the coop that they didn't even care.

 

[CoopChick719]

SCG Thank you for the laugh on the goat nail trimming!! I needed that!!

MaineChick nice work on planting the goat seed! Pretty soon J will think it was his idea

No luck on straight DE for mites. Frontline is the way to go! Am using wood ash/DE combo in nesting boxes & dusting box. My poor Sizzle, Janice, is getting her head feathers plucked out. Was thinking of putting NuStock on her but didn't dare for fear of frostbite. Any thoughts?

 

[lazy gardener]

It's a wise wife who can plant an idea and nurture it until DH comes to the conclusion that he's just come up with the most brilliant idea! Saves a lot of time and frustration!

 

[IZZYBELLA]

SCG Thank you for the laugh on the goat nail trimming!! I needed that!!

MaineChick nice work on planting the goat seed! Pretty soon J will think it was his idea

No luck on straight DE for mites. Frontline is the way to go! Am using wood ash/DE combo in nesting boxes & dusting box. My poor Sizzle, Janice, is getting her head feathers plucked out. Was thinking of putting NuStock on her but didn't dare for fear of frostbite. Any thoughts?

How do you keep them from getting the ash/DE in the dusting box actually *in* the dusting box, as opposed to all over the rest of the coop? (Or is keeping things neat and orderly just a fallacy in my head?)

I use Frontline, too. (Thank you, Ashandvine!) I'm not thrilled with the chemicals, but application is so easy and I'm planning to do it twice a year only... the way I see it, I probably get more chemicals from snuggling my dog.

It's a wise wife who can plant an idea and nurture it until DH comes to the conclusion that he's just come up with the most brilliant idea! Saves a lot of time and frustration!

I second this! It took me about a decade to realize it and embrace it.

 

[Jazor]

In regards to mites. Luckily, (knock on wood) I have not had a mite/lice problem. We liberally put food grade diatenacious earth all over the coop. Even in the nest boxes.

p.s. It's 49 here! My birds are out in the rain. I hope they dry off before the temperature starts to drop!

Didn't let mine out today because I have a feeling I'd find 20 frozen chickens in a walk-in freezer (aka my barn) when I came home from work!