Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Chickens. This is my attempt to add diversity to their winter diet for their health, to keep up egg quality, and at least a little bit of entertainment value for them

And to take a whack out of winter feed costs too. I will tell you they are bonkers for greens in the winter....

 

[holm25]

why don't you just eat them? isn't that what most people do with their extra roosters??/

I put them on craigslist til they r old enough to butcher and if they r not sold they get butchered.

 

[KlopKlop]

Sounds great.  And we'll want a "Study Synopsis" when you are all done this spring.  Hahaha.I think I may just keep fluffing and drying and doing the haystack thingy with most of it..  I may do one miniature"silo" just to see what I can do.  Good idea on bringing into a warmer place some of it.  What do you think of sprinkling some of it with ACV, then shop vaccing  To get that lacto bacillus started?  Or am I not thinking right bacteria here...do you think?

Lactobacillus exists abundantly in nature so I don't plan on adding anything. One thing I saw on one site that you should consider is they said any foreign matter such as animal waste or excess dirt increases your bad stuff 'infection' chances so take care in your raking.

 

[holm25]

Chickens. This is my attempt to add diversity to their winter diet for their health, to keep up egg quality, and at least a little bit of entertainment value for them

Its a good idea. I just have a question. How r they going to get the proper calcium they need?? Is there that much calcium in alfalfa?

 

[KlopKlop]

Its a good idea. I just have a question. How r they going to get the proper calcium they need?? Is there that much calcium in alfalfa?

Silage will be offered free choice along side the usual free choice layer mash and free choice calcium
I will also be offering sprouted grains
I don't think I will make enough to feed it daily but we will see

 

[Rhetts]

Love the conversation these last days on the grass clippings experiment. While I won't be doing it this year I am fully engaged and listening to you guys and what is going on. I am intrigued.

We are in the works on trying to get some hay put up from our land for the cattle this winter. SO much to do before the snow flies it isn't even funny. We also were planning on putting up new pasture fence this fall so that we can just move the cattle next spring. I know for a fact there will be no fencing going in the ground next year before July. I live in a swamp. Spring thaw lasts until mid June at the earliest. So fencing needs to happen now.

 

[Coffee 1st]

3 little worms and 6 chickens...LOL... the little cream buff now named ButterScotch got 1 and the big Easter egg-er Patty got the other 2..

 

[KlopKlop]

 SO much to do before the snow flies it isn't even funny.  

I was trying to explain this 'phenomenon' of getting things done before snow flies to my cousin who was born and raised in North Carolina. They haven't a clue haha.

I have a 'honey do' list on a chalk board that has just recently become a 'before snow' list so I feel that squeeze too. Things like getting some repairs done on the snow plow, clearing out the garage for winter parking, and so forth. And it's only August..... :/

 

[Rhetts]

I was trying to explain this 'phenomenon' of getting things done before snow flies to my cousin who was born and raised in North Carolina. They haven't a clue haha.

I have a 'honey do' list on a chalk board that has just recently become a 'before snow' list so I feel that squeeze too. Things like getting some repairs done on the snow plow, clearing out the garage for winter parking, and so forth. And it's only August.....

The list seems to get longer, the days get colder it seems as if the list will never get done. You should have your cousin come up and experience it first hand. That might be the only way he/she can fully appreciate what you are saying. Once winter is here it is a whole new ballgame. August is nearly over you know. September will fly by. Best get started now when the getting is good.
I hate it when I have things that need doing that I can't do myself and I wanted them done already. Waiting for help when I am a go get it done kinda girl is really hard.

 

[Coffee 1st]

Just Super...Yesterday a Eagle today a BIG stinking Hawk...Heard the girls doing their screaming chirp again went out back and there was a Super Big Hawk sitting right on the fence about 2 feet away from the coop. It seen me and took off up in the Big Oak...Well for sure guess i cant let the girls free range...And now since the chickens attracted them I'm worried about my 2 little Pomeranians they only weigh 5lbs each....