Maine

[hoppy]

I need to update my for sale list. I sold so many birds at the swap, not many left.
3 wyandottes (white& splash, maybe a black), 1 black with red highlights cockeral silkie, 1 white 6 wk old silkie (of course not sexed),
adult wheaton marans laying hen
pm if interested.

 

[JenEric Farms]

Quote:
How are those Polish doing? Also, you were TOTALLY RIGHT about the peas! When I got home I looked it up and this is what I found:

Grain legumes such as peas and beans contain Trypsin inhibitors that not only reduce the availability of protein in the feed, but can also damage the bird’s pancreas causing chronic illthrift.

To use grain legumes you must first prepare beans or peas in such a way that you destroy the Trypsin inhibitors. This is usually done using heat – keeping them at or above 180°F (82°C) for at least 15 minutes.

The most effective method is:

1. Soak enough legumes to feed your chickens for a few days overnight in water.

2. Bring the whole lot to the boil then simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Cool and refrigerate.

4. Feed directly to your chickens (e.g. a heaped tablespoon of boiled soybeans per bird per day).

(I'm thinking I'll cook mine before giving as a treat from now on!) Thanks so much for the heads up, I had NO IDEA that peas might not be good for them!

 

[spook]

I'm glad you confirmed what I read someplace. After my girls ATE my whole pea vines, I only hoped they would choke! Dang chickens!
The polish are doing well, in quarantine, didn't know what to do with pellets so Bob gave them crumbles and they gobbled them down like they were starving! Idk if I got 2 gals or not!!! Soon we will know!!!

 

[hoppy]

Quote:
How are those Polish doing? Also, you were TOTALLY RIGHT about the peas! When I got home I looked it up and this is what I found:

Grain legumes such as peas and beans contain Trypsin inhibitors that not only reduce the availability of protein in the feed, but can also damage the bird’s pancreas causing chronic illthrift.

To use grain legumes you must first prepare beans or peas in such a way that you destroy the Trypsin inhibitors. This is usually done using heat – keeping them at or above 180°F (82°C) for at least 15 minutes.

The most effective method is:

1. Soak enough legumes to feed your chickens for a few days overnight in water.

2. Bring the whole lot to the boil then simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Cool and refrigerate.

4. Feed directly to your chickens (e.g. a heaped tablespoon of boiled soybeans per bird per day).

(I'm thinking I'll cook mine before giving as a treat from now on!) Thanks so much for the heads up, I had NO IDEA that peas might not be good for them!

funny that in companion birds raw fruits and veggies including peas and beans are a main part of their diet, I wonder why chickens would be different being they are birds too.

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

Quote:
How are those Polish doing? Also, you were TOTALLY RIGHT about the peas! When I got home I looked it up and this is what I found:

Grain legumes such as peas and beans contain Trypsin inhibitors that not only reduce the availability of protein in the feed, but can also damage the bird’s pancreas causing chronic illthrift.

To use grain legumes you must first prepare beans or peas in such a way that you destroy the Trypsin inhibitors. This is usually done using heat – keeping them at or above 180°F (82°C) for at least 15 minutes.

The most effective method is:

1. Soak enough legumes to feed your chickens for a few days overnight in water.

2. Bring the whole lot to the boil then simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Cool and refrigerate.

4. Feed directly to your chickens (e.g. a heaped tablespoon of boiled soybeans per bird per day).

(I'm thinking I'll cook mine before giving as a treat from now on!) Thanks so much for the heads up, I had NO IDEA that peas might not be good for them!

funny that in companion birds raw fruits and veggies including peas and beans are a main part of their diet, I wonder why chickens would be different being they are birds too.

Maybe it is in the quantity? (a treat verses component of their staple feed?) This is an awesome site on plant toxins, but it's heavy reading! http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/

 

[chicketychickchick]

Quote:
Where did the couple go for 3 hours? I take it this particular swap was not located @ a Tractor Supply? There's no way they could have been shopping inside the store all that time.

 

[hoppy]

I need to update my for sale list. my next swap will probably be augusta sept 11th.
4 wyandottes (2 white & splash, maybe a black), 1 black with red highlights cockeral silkie, 1 white 6 wk old silkie (of course not sexed), 1 black silkie carries the frizzle gene and is slightly frizzled. 1 adult buff silkie hen.
1 adult wheaton marans laying hen
pm if interested. I'm weeding out for winter.

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

im just thinking how many chickens can i winter in a 8x12 coop because i know about the time the snow starts falling they will most likely stay inside the coop most of the time ive got a 10x16 run for them attached to the pop door so it will be open for them if they do want to go out next spring they are getting a 12x45 foot run and the 10x16 foot run will be for the dogs again or it might be a home for a bunch of meat chickens im still working on my wife about that one every animal we seem to get she names and it becomes a pet ive been told already that the birds we have now are going to die of old age and they wont be going to the freezer camp id like to beable to use the other 8x12 coop for a brooder house next spring so far that one isent finished yet and the way things are looking it might not be done till late winter or early spring anyways to many projects going on here and not enuff money to buy every thing at one time so it just pick up a few things when we have the extra money and now most of the money is going to the oil company to heat the house and hot water this comming winter even with enuff wood for the wood stove we still have to fill up the oil drum so that the house stays heated when we arent home

 

[bwockbwock]

Farmer swap in Winthrop this Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM
R T Farms 2208 US Route 202 Winthrop, ME
It is a grain and farm supply store, he is trying a swap for the first time Saturday. I get my grain there, he has great customer service and if he does not have something you want he is happy to get it for you.
It is located with a few other businesses on the top of a hill so it may be hard to spot for the first time, Caprara Food Service Equipment is in the same complex, DR Struck, a landscape an nursery is across the street.

I went home with 3 Black Orps and three new Muscovy ducks last week...still no Barred Rock hens. I do hope a few of my early spring purchases start laying soon.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Quote:
It's hard to read/understand your post due to lack of punctuation, but I'll try to respond:

Mine were out first thing in the morning (even when it was mostly dark) as long as I kept the run (or parts of it) shoveled faithfully. The only days they spent in the coop were days that it was actively snowing as they don't like anything on the ground more than a dusting. If they've never seen snow before they may be a bit timid at first... throwing some shavings or hay on top of the area you shoveled entices them to come out. And mine came out even when it was well below zero.

One thing I learned was that you want to shovel a much wider path than you anticipate needing, cause the snowbanks grow and grow with each storm, making it difficult to continue to shovel or snow blow. I was glad I gave it a few extra feet so in February I could still open the run door and shovel as needed.

We had very mild frostbite: