Maine

[Mainechick168]

Love the pictures Kelly - those cucumbers are making my mouth water!

Congrats on the new ducks hoppy!
As for roosters - We didn't plan on getting them either. Then one of the females my son picked out turned into a boy. And then I saw Krista giving away a gorgeous Orp cockerel. Now we've got two, both orps (one english, one hatchery). They aren't affectionate, but they are friendly, pretty docile as far as roosters go. And get along with each other, though only one crows??? Actually, I haven't heard him crowing lately either... Maybe because he's settled in? Why would a rooster stop crowing? Or never start in the case of Spartacus?
We're spending our afternoon rearranging the panels for the chicken run. They will have more space, and I will have less I need to shovel come winter. Win win! I am so glad we went with chain link panels (think dog kennel). So easy to change it around, and easy to find cheap on CL so I can eventually fence off the whole yard.

We're on a smidge less than an acre, oh how I wish we had a farm!! Get some pigs, maybe a couple meat cows, a giant garden... I grew up without even a backyard, and here I am wanting to be a farmer mama.

I do have a question... Does anyone know a source I could find GMO free chicken feed? Soy free would be a plus. Had a DUH moment yesterday... I avoid eating GMOs, yet, here I am feeding it to these birds I plan on eventually eating!

(BTW, layer feed is fine for a flock with roosters yes?) I can't buy large quantities in bulk, so I'm not sure what sort of options there are? I can't imagine ever getting more than 200-250lbs at a time. Assuming it was bagged anyway, I don't have anywhere to store loose grain. Where should I look? I'm assuming that all of the easily available stuff in stores has GMOs.

Thanks!

ahhhhhh GMOs. bleck. I hope most of the store stuff does NOT have it/them. I am loosely following the topic- I don't think there is currently a law that says you must label if a food contains them???? My chickens are currently just for eggs- but still, what they do/do not eat is passed on in the egg.

sort of the same topic...anyone familair with the Weston A Price Foundation? Their practices/ideas make a lot of sense.

 

[gracejr]

While a producer CAN label their food if it contains GMO products, it is NOT required. (Hence why those "read your produce sticker" posts on FB aren't correct) Since GMOs have a stigma, you typically won't find a company labeling their product if it contains them. Just to clarify, I do not know if Purina/etc contain GMOs. I am just *assuming* they do since they are large commercial companies, kwim?


ETA - I've never heard of them, what are they about?

 

[longgrove]

I was at the Common Ground Fair on Saturday, too. Ditto on the HUGE roos! Wow, they were the size of small heritage tuurkeys! (or at least geese).lol. Noticed a difference in the poultry from last year, seemed to have less LF, more bantams; also fewer non chicken birds. (perhaps more hobby flocksters?) Interesting lecture by Harvey Ussery on growing feed on site for the flock.(they needed a bigger tent, lots more attendees than seats, even more than space out of the drizzle!) Does show the broad interest in chickens and integrated farming.

Thinking about winter feed. Is it a good idea to give alfalfa pellets (dry or rehydrated?) as a winter supplement (since they can't get the greens they are used too)? I bring them an armful of mixed weeds like dandylion, dock, lambsquarters, burdock, plantion, grass, clover, and (favorite of all, sorrel), etc. every day).

Hoppy, how about some pictures of the new ducks? I really like ducks. (had a great little flock of K. Campbell layers that I had to rehome when my husband passed as they took more care than I could manage from my wheelchair). Was toying with the idea that I might be able to sneak in a trio of a miniature breed? Anyone have ideas?

Can someone explain details of "huddle box?" I use two of those covered plastic boxes (sold for cat litter boxes) for nest boxes. The 3 that are currently laying seem to like them. Will my bantams use those for warmth once it gets really cold or is this something else?

Does anyone know where I could obtain grain (esp barley but also whole oats, corn and wheat (or anyone have suggestions of others) that is viable, to use in sprouting for feed in the winter? I have bought grain from 2 feed stores and even 3 health food stores that will only partly sprout (less than 50%). Even seed I bought at nearly $10/#, supposedly for making sprouts (for human consumption) only sprouted about 50%! Something really strange is going on. In days gone by, I could buy straight grain at the feed store (at feed prices) and most of it would sprout! I would prefer to buy from the farmer, (naturaly grown or organic, of course) if possible. I really believe in the CSA concept.

Thanks.

 

[hoppy]

my ducks have not arrived yet, in 2 weeks I'll pick them up at the poultry show in windsor.
as far as the feed for sprouting, you might check johnny's selected seeds. they offer some for sprouting for people, or paris farmers union might have something (any feed store probably can order it). just keep in mind that what you are buying now,may still be last fall''s leftover seed.
you can get bird seed and sprout that. i give my chickens black oil sunflower seeds and wild bird food in the winter. they love it and I give it to the birds that I don't want to turn yellow (corn in the scratch will change a white bird to yellow plumage)

I was at the Common Ground Fair on Saturday, too. Ditto on the HUGE roos! Wow, they were the size of small heritage tuurkeys! (or at least geese).lol. Noticed a difference in the poultry from last year, seemed to have less LF, more bantams; also fewer non chicken birds. (perhaps more hobby flocksters?) Interesting lecture by Harvey Ussery on growing feed on site for the flock.(they needed a bigger tent, lots more attendees than seats, even more than space out of the drizzle!) Does show the broad interest in chickens and integrated farming.

Thinking about winter feed. Is it a good idea to give alfalfa pellets (dry or rehydrated?) as a winter supplement (since they can't get the greens they are used too)? I bring them an armful of mixed weeds like dandylion, dock, lambsquarters, burdock, plantion, grass, clover, and (favorite of all, sorrel), etc. every day).

Hoppy, how about some pictures of the new ducks? I really like ducks. (had a great little flock of K. Campbell layers that I had to rehome when my husband passed as they took more care than I could manage from my wheelchair). Was toying with the idea that I might be able to sneak in a trio of a miniature breed? Anyone have ideas?

Can someone explain details of "huddle box?" I use two of those covered plastic boxes (sold for cat litter boxes) for nest boxes. The 3 that are currently laying seem to like them. Will my bantams use those for warmth once it gets really cold or is this something else?

Does anyone know where I could obtain grain (esp barley but also whole oats, corn and wheat (or anyone have suggestions of others) that is viable, to use in sprouting for feed in the winter? I have bought grain from 2 feed stores and even 3 health food stores that will only partly sprout (less than 50%). Even seed I bought at nearly $10/#, supposedly for making sprouts (for human consumption) only sprouted about 50%! Something really strange is going on. In days gone by, I could buy straight grain at the feed store (at feed prices) and most of it would sprout! I would prefer to buy from the farmer, (naturaly grown or organic, of course) if possible. I really believe in the CSA concept.

Thanks.

 

[buckabucka]

Love the pictures Kelly - those cucumbers are making my mouth water!

Congrats on the new ducks hoppy!

As for roosters - We didn't plan on getting them either. Then one of the females my son picked out turned into a boy. And then I saw Krista giving away a gorgeous Orp cockerel. Now we've got two, both orps (one english, one hatchery). They aren't affectionate, but they are friendly, pretty docile as far as roosters go. And get along with each other, though only one crows??? Actually, I haven't heard him crowing lately either... Maybe because he's settled in? Why would a rooster stop crowing? Or never start in the case of Spartacus?


We're spending our afternoon rearranging the panels for the chicken run. They will have more space, and I will have less I need to shovel come winter. Win win! I am so glad we went with chain link panels (think dog kennel). So easy to change it around, and easy to find cheap on CL so I can eventually fence off the whole yard. We're on a smidge less than an acre, oh how I wish we had a farm!! Get some pigs, maybe a couple meat cows, a giant garden... I grew up without even a backyard, and here I am wanting to be a farmer mama.


I do have a question... Does anyone know a source I could find GMO free chicken feed? Soy free would be a plus. Had a DUH moment yesterday... I avoid eating GMOs, yet, here I am feeding it to these birds I plan on eventually eating! (BTW, layer feed is fine for a flock with roosters yes?) I can't buy large quantities in bulk, so I'm not sure what sort of options there are? I can't imagine ever getting more than 200-250lbs at a time. Assuming it was bagged anyway, I don't have anywhere to store loose grain. Where should I look? I'm assuming that all of the easily available stuff in stores has GMOs.

Only my dominant roo crows. The submissive one has tried, but he keeps a low profile now that the dominant one has put him in his place.

You can buy non-GMO feed at White Water Farm Market in New Sharon. The last time I was there, it was around $30 for an 88 pound bag. They call it "all-natural" layer feed. It is mash, not pellets, and it does contain soy, although the soy is organic. My birds like it.

I go back and forth on this issue. While I try to eat non-GMO, I know that I consume some, just because corn and soy are in so many products. I use "Smart Balance" as a butter substitute, and I assume the soy in there is GMO, although I don't know that. So after I buy the slightly more expensive non-GMO feed, I start thinking that my chickens eat better than I do! Plus, it is so convenient to just stop at Tractor Supply, so that is usually what I end up doing.

Once in a while, I make the trip to New Sharon and get a couple bags there. I find the chickens like it when I switch their food around.

In the winter, I do soak some alfalfa cubes in hot water and mix in some feed and/or other treats, but that only happens on a Saturday. I give them a handful of sunflower seed daily in the winter, too. Sometimes I buy hard red spring wheat at the health food store and sprout it for them.
They really do eat pretty well!

 

[gracejr]

Oddly enough, *neither* of them are crowing right now! Spartacus never has crowed, though he is old enough now I'd assume. Sgt Pepper crowed a decent bit when he first arrived, but stopped after a week or two. Now he's as quiet as everyone else.

New Sharon is about 2 hours each way, not sure it would be cheap enough after gas prices! Not that I'd expect GMO free food to be cheap, but you know what I mean. How does a mash compare to pellets or crumbles? Do you need to do anything to it before feeding, or just pour into the feeder as is? Someone on the feed board suggested Countryside Organics, but shipping it costs almost as much as the feed itself!


Though,hmmm..... That'd be about $40-$50 in gas per trip, assuming $4/gallon. I guess that's not *too* bad, compared to shipping stuff anyway! If I went that route, are they a store that is open set hours, or somewhere you would have to order ahead, or how does that work? I'm hoping I can find something closer, but if not it's something I can consider at least.

 

[Mainechick168]

While a producer CAN label their food if it contains GMO products, it is NOT required. (Hence why those "read your produce sticker" posts on FB aren't correct) Since GMOs have a stigma, you typically won't find a company labeling their product if it contains them. Just to clarify, I do not know if Purina/etc contain GMOs. I am just *assuming* they do since they are large commercial companies, kwim?
ETA - I've never heard of them, what are they about?

ETA- what does this mean?

Are you asking about Weston A Price? They are about eating "real food" - non processed, whole milk, real butter and pastured meats. It all makes a lot of sense to me- they help to support and educate people who are trying to live this way, and to the farmers who make it possible.

 

[gracejr]

ETA = edited to add. Yeah, I was asking about the Weston Price, I'd never heard of them before. Does sound like it makes a lot of sense though.

 

[hoppy]

I forgot to add, i do also give them rabbit pellets (which is alfalfa in pelleted form) I give it to the big birds as is and for the smaller chicks, I grind it up in a coffee grinder. I did try soaking the alfalfa cubes but didn't like how they came out, sometimes still really stuck together. the bird really like the pellets.

 

[hoppy]

I'm bushed! spent the day cleaning chicken building and building new pens. the silkies are very happy with their new pens. hope to get a few more finished next weekend so i can separate broody hens and different colors I'm working on.