New Member- Need some helpful ideas.

[weimarmama]

& from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[kays chicks]

hi from england

 

[poultrylubber]

HI and

Glad you guys are getting involved with chickens they are great to have I have learned so much from them just in my first year. I would say that the biggest thing is to keep a routine schedule(letting them out, feeding and so on) I would say to make sure they have enough protein in their diet. when I first got mine one started hen pecking the others to the point that they had no bum feathers and I had to separate them. I hope you have as much fun with your chickens as I have

 

[SandraB88]

Hey Mommy. Welcome to BYC. Chookies definitely lay at different times of the day. I don't let mine out of the coop until 10am at the very earliest, or until an egg has been collected per chicken. And I didn't let them out at all until I'd had them 2 weeks. You want them to know where home is, where food is and where they should be laying. That way they'll hopefully only lay in their nesting boxes, not out in the yard somewhere, which saves you having to go hunting for eggs. lol. As for treats, mine absolutely LOVE dry cat biscuits (whiskettes in Oz) and/or layer pellets soaked in warm milk. And if you want comedy, give them a large slice of watermelon and stand back. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a video on here of watermelon action.

 

[SandraB88]

This is all that was left of a piece of watermelon.....I don't seem to be able to upload a video? Still trying.​

 

[bruceha2000]

Also, you should mix Apple Cider Vinegar in at the rate of four teaspoons to every gallon offered.

I have read that the ratio is 1 measuring tablespoon to a gallon of water, not that different from 4 teaspoons. But it isn't just any old apple cider vinegar (ACV). It has to be the unfiltered 'natural' type with "stuff" on the bottom. Or so I've read

My wife bought some, now I just have to remember to dump some in the water bucket.

To the OP, check the pages on coop design and "tell how a predator got your chickens". You'll want to check that reasonable precautions have been taken against whatever predators are in your area like large snakes, raccoons, foxes, weasels, raptors, etc

And

from Vermont. I have found the community to be very gracious, tolerant of we newbies asking the same questions as all the prior newbies. A friendly and helpful bunch.

Bruce

 

[bruceha2000]

As for treats, mine absolutely LOVE dry cat biscuits (whiskettes in Oz) and/or layer pellets soaked in warm milk.

Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS). My chickens ALL go nuts for it (that is not the case for any other treats) and I have NO idea why. They don't chew it (well, chickens don't chew anything so that sounds sort of dumb), they don't even crack the shells like the finches, titmice (titmouses??), chickadees, etc. They just swallow them whole in a quarter second and look for the next one. Girls that wouldn't get close enough to take anything from my hand are right up front. One of them hopped up on my back when I was kneeling down working on their indoor run. She climbed up on my shoulder as I stood up. Could have knocked me over with a chicken feather!

They so love their treats that they think anyone coming to the barn should give them something. I usually do no more than once a day, but they all still keep running to see what I MAY have brought.

Bruce

 

[cowcreekgeek]

I have read that the ratio is 1 measuring tablespoon to a gallon of water, not that different from 4 teaspoons. But it isn't just any old apple cider vinegar (ACV). It has to be the unfiltered 'natural' type with "stuff" on the bottom. Or so I've read

My wife bought some, now I just have to remember to dump some in the water bucket.

Although I'm sure 'the mother' would have some additional benefit, it's mostly the targeted acidity of 5~6pH and the tannin ACV that does the heavy lifting.
The dosages vary, with 4 teaspoons to the gallon bein' on the low side. Considering that a Tablespoon is 1/6 of an ounce, and there's 128 of 'em in a gallon? We're only talkin' about a percentage of 0.130 here, which reduces that tiniest unfiltered part to a mighty low ppm (although, for certain, that much more expensive one certainly isn't gonna hurt a single feather ~'-)

Seems ACV stirs some controversy here on BYC, possibly because it's so painfully simple 'n cheap. Go check out my post in another thread, 'n step back through the other posts I'd made there, 'n you'll see both what I mean ... not sure of those other claims, but it does absolutely do what I use it for.

 

[Chicken Happy]

Hello from Idaho!
They lay when they feel like laying. I can gather eggs from 7 am till 6pm. They have no schedule here.

 

[mommyof4]

I figured since I had a min. I would give an update, the week of owning my girls have been fun. I have learned so far they do not like pumpkins, which iam not sure why, but have found out they just absolutly love spagetti, this morning I gave them some and also gave them their cracked corn and half of them choose the spagetti noodles over the corn. I gave them a watermelon and so far nobody has tried it. I have gotten ten eggs in a week, not sure if that is good or not.

I want to thank all of you that have taken the time to write me and giveing me tips. Iam very sorry I haven't responded to u all, but with work, 4 kids,three dogs, a cat, 2 morning doves, and 5 chickens I don't have a lot of time for myself.

Thank you all