Minnesota!

[holm25]

Minnie do u think mixing Whey in with the Buckeyes feed would be food for them? I mix it for other birds and they go nuts over it!


Btw reason for asking is cuz our milk cow calved about one hour ago!!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Minnie do u think mixing Whey in with the Buckeyes feed would be food for them? I mix it for other birds and they go nuts over it!


Btw reason for asking is cuz our milk cow calved about one hour ago!!

Whey or colostrum? I have never done any milk product for chickens other than yogurt, so you would need to talk to someone with experience with that. However, we got raw milk for a short time from a fellow who raised grass fed milk cows and their excess was left in tubs where the chickens did get to and loved it. They are omnivores, but I am not so sure dairy is something you want to feed a lot of to them. I would proceed with caution, they are still young birds.

And congrats on the new calf!!!

 

[Minniechickmama]

i was planning on wet feeding the broilers but not the layers. if the mix ends up too fine and causing issues i just have to adjust the size of the holes in the screen and get a finer grind. the nutrient mix is a powder so i want to try matching the textures. i can make adjustments as i go. thanks for the warning though, i hadnt really thought about dust being an issue. i was worried more about the palatability of the feed

When we started with chickens, our neighbors said to use lay mash, which ended up being dust with a random chunk of whole grain here and there. They ate it, but when I tried to switch then go back, they wouldn't eat the mash any more. I can't say as I blame them. I know pelletizing for you is not an option unless you find a good extruder for cheap at an auction you are good at that stuff! I don't care for getting pellets, although they are less waste, I use crumbles for most and just the finisher is in pellet form (I use it for the meaties and sometimes juvies between 3-5 months old).

 

[holm25]

Thanks Minnie! Its whey not colostrum. I gotta go and milk out all her colostrum and bottle then freeze it soon. The calf has nursed a few times now and her bag still is pretty full.

 

[scandiafowl]

Yesterday my mother and I were sitting outside watching chicken TV. I had bought a couple of containers of blackberries and started feeding the hens. Suddenly they weren't interested in such a nutritious snack.

Dear mother was feeding them her donut! Argh!

 

[lalaland]

re: fine powders and laying mash: yeah, I am so happy it is warm enough that I can feed the laying mash wet now. The chickens love it wet and there is much less waste when wet. Am making a really really soupy mash for the broody hens as these two are not eating or drinking during the day at all - not until I bring them out for a daily break. And they don't seem to spend enough time drinking then either so I am happier giving them the really wet stuff. There is a pan of the less soupy mash next to the soup, but they prefer the soup.

I left the quail pen open this morning, just in case, and of course the flock flew the fence and thoroughly checked out the quail quarters. The little bantam left me an egg in the quail coop, too.

holms, pics!!!

 

[holm25]

Minnie the babies are dking amazing! They already r walkimg up to me and eating out of my hand! Did I tell you all I ended up picking up two Legbar pullets and a rooster from Ralph. So I bought new shoes and stuff and went there on the way home.

 

[KlopKlop]

re: fine powders and laying mash: yeah, I am so happy it is warm enough that I can feed the laying mash wet now. The chickens love it wet and there is much less waste when wet. Am making a really really soupy mash for the broody hens as these two are not eating or drinking during the day at all - not until I bring them out for a daily break. And they don't seem to spend enough time drinking then either so I am happier giving them the really wet stuff. There is a pan of the less soupy mash next to the soup, but they prefer the soup.

I left the quail pen open this morning, just in case, and of course the flock flew the fence and thoroughly checked out the quail quarters. The little bantam left me an egg in the quail coop, too.

holms, pics!!!

do you wet the feed right before you feed it or let it soak? and what consistancy do you wet it to?

I would entertain doing wet feed as long as it isnt too much work

 

[Minniechickmama]

Speaking of wet feed....
yesterday as I was trying to get chores done to head back to the hospital, the bottom dropped off the gallon sized waterer into a brooder. I was NOT happy

So, I moved the 7 New Hampshire juvies out to the big house with the Bucks they were previously with and moved all the ones out of the next age group into their pen. I had wet feed and bedding and was in no mood for scooping that mess up before going. As it turned out though, I didn't go down and just stayed and got more chores finished in a less rushed manner.

I had so many broody Cochins this last week, I decided to toss them out into a paddock and see what would happen. Well, the older Blue hen bit me the other day and now she is the only one still squashed down like a pancake. The others decided it is more interesting to wander around and eat grass. Time to pull out the flea dip and get those birds to their new homes!

With all that I had going on, I have SO many eggs piling up! I will be setting a few this week, but I am out of refrigerator room, for sure. i need to get some sold this week or will be feeding some to dogs and cats and back to the chickens!

 

[Messica]

Just popping in to say hi! I'm new here and it was suggested I join my state's thread. I look forward to getting to know you all