Michigan

[Stacykins]

The heatwave will be a tick less severe up here, but I am definitely getting prepared with water jugs and watermelon for chooks in the freezer. I know I'll be running the AC, which is a rarity. Usually a fan blowing cool air up from the basement is enough to keep the house comfortable.

 

[Chickmate]

Too hot to leave them in the run so mine are free ranging today. The dogs and I go out every once in a while to check up on them. I don't think the fox will be out hunting in the heat of the day, so I feel they're pretty safe. Haven't seen a hawk around in quite a while, but have to remember to keep checking the sky as well.

Opa, my builder made me some great poop boards out of the shiny wall stuff you use in bathrooms (can't remember what it's called). When he brought them over I hadn't cleaned the coop of mites yet so didn't want to put them in and get them contaminated. Now that's done and I'm waiting for him to come back over and help me hang them. I have one hung with clothesline and the biggest one just laying on the floor under the roost. Can't wait for him to get over here and get them hung properly. Even as they are, they have saved so much cleaning and tossing of sawdust!

Question about scratch: What do most of you use? I bought the Purina kind which is just cracked corn and millet; what a waste. They don't eat the millet so I could just by cracked corn and save some money, but I want to give them some good scratch with other grains in it. Purina is all TSC carries. Do you mix your own or have you found a better brand that I can look for?

The lawn doesn't need to be mowed yet so I think today will be a dog grooming day in the A/C.

tsparrow: So glad to hear that at least one of your guineas came home! Now with two boys calling maybe the hens will come out of hiding.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Quote:
I mix my own with cracked corn, safflower seeds, sunflower seeds and occasionally (when I can get them for free--they give away 50 lb bags for prizes at endurance rides) whole oats. Some chickens like oats, some don't.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
I mix my own with cracked corn, safflower seeds, sunflower seeds and occasionally (when I can get them for free--they give away 50 lb bags for prizes at endurance rides) whole oats. Some chickens like oats, some don't.

Ive noticed the Scratch I buy has Milo or something like it. Mine don't eat it. I do get bulk cracked corn for .25/pound at Meijers and they get that often.
I got a 50# Purina scratch empty sack from someone at chickenstock giving them away and made a very nice tote. I lined it with material that looks like sunflowers, it's Great!!

 

[tsparrow]

Mine only eat the corn out of the scratch also. I have farms around me and I mix the crack corn and pellets. I also give them squash out of the garden and fruit. I freeze my squash and give it to them. They love it.

Thank you Chickmate, ChicwannaB, and babigyrl22.

 

[ChicwannaB]

I put a nozzel on the hose and set it on the MIST setting...at least the ducks went towards it, the chickens walked way around, if nothing more it will freshen up the grass which is getting brownish and dry:

 

[ChicwannaB]

couple of the chickens walking way out around the mist...

 

[1muttsfan]

I use regular scratch mix and my chickens eat every bite, they are not particular at all. Although their favorite treat of all is bread, they will attack anyone carrying a plastic bag, while making that primitive "Squawk!!" noise. Tried feeding my young birds some strawberries the other day and they all ran for their lives thinking I was chucking bombs into the pen

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:

bombs, HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[babigyrl22]

Quote:
My chickens had the same reaction. However, they did love huddling around the frozen milk jug in the coop.