Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[christine9]

Next year, I plan to get some White Leghorns, Wellsumers, Speckled Sussex and either more EEs or some Ameraucanas or Cream Legbars. Anyone know which of those last 3 are the most consistent layers and which lays the biggest eggs?

I want to say the EEs are probably better layers just because of the mixed breed. I hear most ameraucanas are not great layers. I don't know about those legbars, but would love to find out.

 

[christine9]

It just struck me funny...I just realized the reason I don't have to fence the chickens off to protect my garden is because of my dogs. I don't plant anything in our backyard because the dogs would dig it up or eat it or pee on it until it died. The chickens use the same space just at different times. I do have my veggie garden in the backyard, but it is fenced separately and the girls have yet to make it that far across the yard YET.

 

[chickadee5002]

I got a first egg from one of my EE's today! It's such a pretty blue!

The middle pic is about the right color. It is so hard to take pics of egg color!

 

[trsturself]

I got a first egg from one of my EE's today! It's such a pretty blue!



The middle pic is about the right color. It is so hard to take pics of egg color!

It IS hard. They never seem to come out right. It's a beautiful color!

 

[christine9]

I got a first egg from one of my EE's today! It's such a pretty blue!

The middle pic is about the right color. It is so hard to take pics of egg color!

Awesome! I can't wait to have blue eggs!

 

[rnchick74]

Well, one of my Silkies is definitely a boy...

We had crowing this morning while I was getting food ready for them. The problem is that I don't know which one crowed, so I still don't know which one it is!!!

These birds, I tell ya!

 

[christine9]

So, stupid question. I've been reading about fermenting, everyone says to use two containers, one with holes and one without. But no one ever drains the stuff, they just scoop it out. Why do you need two containers? Am I just missing something? I feed the wet stuff today and it was a huge hit. I just let it soak 24 hours. Pretty exciting to think I could stretch this feed further without sacrificing nutrition.

 

[christine9]

Well, one of my Silkies is definitely a boy...

We had crowing this morning while I was getting food ready for them. The problem is that I don't know which one crowed, so I still don't know which one it is!!!

These birds, I tell ya!

Lol! Those two are a trip! My Peppy is 4 months old now and no crowing. I almost forgot that one day he will.

 

[rnchick74]

So, stupid question. I've been reading about fermenting, everyone says to use two containers, one with holes and one without. But no one ever drains the stuff, they just scoop it out. Why do you need two containers? Am I just missing something? I feed the wet stuff today and it was a huge hit. I just let it soak 24 hours. Pretty exciting to think I could stretch this feed further without sacrificing nutrition.

I do my fermented food a little different than everyone else here it appears. I have a container with a lid that I drilled some vent holes into. Days 1 I took 1 cup of feed & 1/8 cup ACV with the "mother" & mixed in enough water to make it the consistency of cream of wheat. I let it ferment for 4 days. That became my "starter". At the end of day 4, I mixed in 2 cups dry feed to my starter & enough water to make it cream of wheat consistency. Let it sit overnight.

The next morning, I fed what I needed to, making sure I left at least 1/4 cup of the fermented feed back in my bucket as "re-feed" to use as the starter for the next batch of fermented feed. I then mixed whatever dry feed I needed to this starter & enough water to make cream of wheat consistency.

That is what I do everyday - keep some old in the container & add new to it. I can make it as wet or as dry as I want, depending on how much extra fluid I want to give my chicks that day. Of course they have plenty of free water in their watering containers too. I also add seeds and grains to their feed to add excitement and boost nutritional power. The key is to leave 1/4 cup of old, fermented feed in the bucket at all times as the starter. If at any time there is a funky smell or anything but a fine white covering over the feed, then you throw it out. The white covering is not true mold, but the overgrowth of the probiotics (good bacteria). You should not have maggots, flies, etc - cover that bucket and holes with a towel or cheesecloth. The only smell is a slightly tangy or slightly sour smell like sourdough.

You cannot use medicated feed to ferment though, the medication will prevent/throw off the fermentation process and not allow the cultures to grow properly. You want to keep your feed at a steady temperature of 70-85 degrees...basically indoor temperatures.

Hope this helps!

 

[rnchick74]

Lol! Those two are a trip! My Peppy is 4 months old now and no crowing. I almost forgot that one day he will.

They both had their chests puffed out and a guilty look on their faces! Like "it wasn't me...nope not me!" But it was a clear, singular, cock a doodle do!!!!!!