Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

Deworming question:

When should I deworm for the first time and being that we have many different ages hanging out, shall I deworm by age?

 

[KlopKlop]

One of my ten pounders rode the smoker today. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[duluthralphie]

One of my ten pounders rode the smoker today. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Looks great..

 

[scandiafowl]

I'm bummed.

One of my Jersey babies wandered away from the flock. Rosie found her.

*sad*

 

[Rhetts]

I put oyster shells in with the food and that seemed to help. I stopped and now I still get soft / no shell eggs at times.

But would the oyster shell in the feed affect the Roosters negatively?? Since they are already eating layer feed would adding oyster shell make things worse for them? Or would they pick through it and not eat it...................but then the hens could too I suppose. I don't know. Thanks for the thought though it might work for us.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Is the layer a pullet by chance? I think I've had a hen go through a cycle of misfires. Then an egg break. Then a return to normal laying.
I also fear that you may be onto a reproductive tract issue if it continues beyond this egg cycle and the hen is around 2 years old. An infection in the area of the shell making area or a cancer along the tract. Some hatchery stock see issues at about 2 years old.
I've heard to make the oyster shell free choice. If the hen needs it she'll take it. I think there is some thoughts that increased calcium is not great for the Roos. And some give flock raiser in lieu of layer feed for that reason, I also believe there are probably Roos out there that have lived long lives on layer feed too.

 

[aussiegal318]

So I am sure you have all heard me gripe about how bad my garden is here in my first year at the new farm. Well I have been trying to decide what to do with this area since it grows weeds and not much else and I am excited because now that I have been letting my Rainbow broilers free range most of the garden I have come up with an idea. I am going to implement a sort of rotational garden/cover crop/Chicken forage system next year and see how it goes. One half of the garden will get amended heavily this year with horse manure, grass and leaf clippings, compost, etc so it will be ready for my garden next year. The other half will get planted with cover crop (im thinking clover and buckwheat, maybe field peas too) and then I will raise a portion next years meat birds on that area, allowing them to range the area in the day, staying in huts at night.
That way they cover crop and chicken manure will help amend the soil, plus the chooks will have a nice lush diet to enjoy. The following year, I will flop flop the ends.

I have been doing my best to keep the weeds cut back to prevent re-seeding this year plus I plan to roundup the whole thing after im done harvesting then burning it and turning it all under with my 2 bottom plow. I have a ridiculous amount of thistle, hemp/king weed, creeping Charlie, and some kind of thick grass that almost crawls like the creeping Charlie.

What do you guys think?

If you really want to kill off the seeds, solarize it. That's basically cover it with black plastic for several weeks so the ground below get hot & kills the weed seeds. That will kill seeds up to 6 " deep. then don't till it. Tilling brings up more seeds. I personally don't like using RoundUp where I'm planting food crops. Rotation is a great idea, chicken poop will really add to the ground. I would get a pH tester to make sure the soil doesn't get too hot with the poo. Just food for thought.

 

[Cluckies]

@Rhetts
I had one die from egg tract issues, she had soft, thin shelled eggs. But i've had others who just lay a couple of soft or thin shelled eggs occasionally, then go back to normal. You can give her liquid calcium in yogurt, or give her some crushed up tums in yogurt see if that helps. the liquid calcium is good as it also contains D3 which helps absorb the calcium. She also could have other issues. Not getting enough nutrition due to impacted crop or sour crop. worms. check her crop at night, should be full and not squishy. check it in the morning, should be empty, or almost empty, and not squishy. If it is full in the morning, she may have an impacted crop. if it is squishy, she may have a sour crop. Good luck.

 

[aussiegal318]

I know, you all think I am the smartest human to ever live, but I actually have a question about something....

My turkey hen that hatched out the chicks the other day,,,,,Is a pain in the rear. I did not put her in a femce/tractor right off the bat. She has become a recluse. She is hiding with her chicks, I have tried to give her some chick starter by dumping it right infront or near her, but instead of letting them stay and eat it she takes them further into the weeds.


Do you think I should catch and lock her and her babies up or will they get enough nourishment by free ranging? I have never allowed a hen to have babies completely free range before. Before they have stayed with the flock so I could give them at least a 15% grower. ( of course the other chickens eat it too,

You really need to take your own advise; you told me to let Momma handle things, so I did. They have free ranged from day 3 when Momma Summer brought them out of the coop. At 5 or 6 weeks old ( my brain is still not back on schedule yet) they are doing better (& bigger) then chicks I have had in a brooder. I hope I get a regular broody because I really like having the hen do all the work!

 

[aussiegal318]

Not knowing something doesn't mean you're a redneck. ;-) Social Distortion is a cross between the rolling stones and the ramones with hank williams right up the middle. They are pretty fantastic.
Love banjo music / bluegrass. I really like Steep Canyon Rangers. They back up Steve Martin. Had front row tickets in the orchestra pit at the State theater. But I think the Steep Canyon Rangers are almost better alone. Saw them at the Cedar Cultural Center alone. Much more intimate venue. We were able to talk with them after the show. Absolutely never disappointed.

I need to check them out. I have corrupted my grand son with a wide range of music, and bluegrass/ banjo is some of his favorite. He is a musical kid, at 3 he can ask for the band, album, & song that he wants to hear. OK downloaded Rare Bird Alert

@Wild Child Congrats on the puppy pack! (yea, puppy breath) Looking forward to pictures!

@Minniechickmama Good luck at the fair.

@Little Bend Welcome. That's a bunch of turkeys! Do you sell to individuals or have a retail contract? Not sure I'm doing Thanksgiving this year, but better start planning now.