Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

I have found that, even with extra calcium on the side, eggs had thinner shells while on Flock Raiser.. When my birds are young, I feed a starter, then a grower/ finisher (18% protein is plenty for teenage growing birds). Then when the pullets start laying I feed half and half grower/finisher and layer feed, until everyone is an adult. Then I go to just layer. Too high calcium levels are the biggest risk for roosters (and pullets) while they are growing and forming their bone structure. High calcium in non-laying birds does increase the risk for some calcium-related issues, but many, many roosters eat layer feed their whole adult life without any issues.

Birds do not always necessarily need higher protein. While higher protein levels may be helpful at certain times, such as during laying ( which layer ration is balanced to provide, along with extra calcium for egg shells) and molting (when less calcium is needed), protein above what is needed is simply turned into fat and stored away. Since protein is an expensive ingredient, feeding a higher protein diet increases your expenses.

 

[Folly's place]

A few of my older layers will have a thin shelled egg sometimes, but the older ladies can do that with layer feed too. I just have too many boys and pullets to feel comfortable feeding layer, and they do free range, and get some scratch feed sometimes. It does work for me.

Mary

 

[robyn8]

Hello
I have my first flock. 1 silkie pullet, 4 buff Orpington pulleys, and one buff Orpington cockerel. All are 4 months old. My boy just started crowing yesterday.

. Do you guys think I'll start seeing eggs soon? I've read BOs tend to lay late and then with the short days it might be longer. Just curious. Thanks!

 

[aart]

One of the things I like best about the 20% is I can adjust the amount of protein they are getting by adjusting the amount scratch grains and other foods. Easier to reduce their protein intake than up it IMO.

 

[zndzant]

Hello
I have my first flock. 1 silkie pullet, 4 buff Orpington pulleys, and one buff Orpington cockerel. All are 4 months old. My boy just started crowing yesterday.

. Do you guys think I'll start seeing eggs soon? I've read BOs tend to lay late and then with the short days it might be longer. Just curious. Thanks!

Hi robyn8! I'm a first time chicken owner too. I have 2 barred rocks, 2 black australorps, 2 easter eggers, 1 gold laced wyandotte, 1 buff orpington and a rhode island red cockerel (who was supposed to be my second buff orpington) I got them as day old chicks on May 10th. It was a barred rock who laid the first egg on October 27th. Both Easter eggers followed about two weeks later. Up until today, my GLW dominated my little cockerel. Who by the way didnt start crowing until a week or so before the first egg arrived. Im now getting 4 eggs a day even with the lateness of the season. BUT...my Buff Orpington has yet to lay. Her comb and wattles are still pale while the others have all gone bright red.

Are they squatting for your boy to mate? Have their combs and wattles gotten larger and bright red yet? I was told that those are all signs of imminet point of lay,and they proved to be true with my flock.

 

[meltel]

Hi robyn8! I'm a first time chicken owner too. I have 2 barred rocks, 2 black australorps, 2 easter eggers, 1 gold laced wyandotte, 1 buff orpington and a rhode island red cockerel (who was supposed to be my second buff orpington) I got them as day old chicks on May 10th. It was a barred rock who laid the first egg on October 27th. Both Easter eggers followed about two weeks later. Up until today, my GLW dominated my little cockerel. Who by the way didnt start crowing until a week or so before the first egg arrived. Im now getting 4 eggs a day even with the lateness of the season. BUT...my Buff Orpington has yet to lay. Her comb and wattles are still pale while the others have all gone bright red.

Welcome new Michigan chicken owners!!!!

 

[robyn8]

Yeah the girls combs and wattles aren't very red yet so I suspected it would be a while. I don't think the roo has even attempted to mate them yet, lol. He's not very dominate still. He's actually one of the friendliest to people.

 

[JackieandChicks]

Yes I do

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[blogger1]

Do you still have the Roo? Where are you located. My kids have Svart Hona's would love Ayam's also.

 

[blogger1]

Well, we have something here in Fenton that likes the taste of Crested Cream Legbars. We have a mixed flock, including a duck and three guinea's, and a couple other breeds. Well something has picked off two legbar pullets and a small legbar roo. Nothing else is missing and these would just disappear a few days apart. We still have one roo and one pullet.....Kids are bummed.