NY chicken lover!!!!

[Aria]

We go 1 and 1/2 feet of SNOW and it is still snowing.
So far no shoveling off the run or our Airstream.

Chickens are doing fine. They have the Barn and a
covered run. They go in and out.

I cut a pumpkin in half removed the seeds...they
picked on it a little. I don't think they like it?

Am going to try a Cabbage next.....ENJOY. Regards Aria

 

[Nambroth]

We've got about 25-30" here too, depending on where the wind let the snow settle. It's still snowing here as we get bands off of lake Erie. I made chicken pathways in the run for them to stretch but they still refuse to go out into the scary white stuff, so I've been providing foraging inside the coop with veggies and such. I put them all out into the snow earlier to show them that it was okay, but they were having none of it and all ran back inside. Maybe they have more sense than we thought!!

 

[Glasshen]

Mine love pumpkin. I cut it inhale and leave the seeds in, sometimes I put some of their feed in it too. They peck at the meat after they finish the seeds and feed. None of my birds like the snow this year. Last year they would wander around in it, but this year they just look out the door if I leave it open. I made some snowshoe trails so they could have some purpose to walking, but they didn't use them.

 

[ChickPrincess]

My Henry is back to not doing well again. He has no visible signs of illness or injury. He stands in a corner with his tail and head held down.
One of the new Black Australorp roos has just begun to mate. I'm wondering if this roo has kicked Henry's butt and knocked him off his top spot. Maybe he's depressed?
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[rancher hicks]

I wrote this on my blog today. I admit, I dont' post to it very often, but I thought I'd share with you all.

O

Do you cook for your chickens?


I'm on a plan to increase egg production, yes, even during the winter months.

I am adding to the normal pelleted feed, cooked soy, along with oats, sunflower, alfalfa, seeds & fat.

My local grocery store is saving up some fat each week for me. I cook it down until its melted. I cook about 2 quarts of soybeans at the same time until they are soft, about 1/2 hour. I then mix the soybeans & melted fat together & carry the bucket out to the barn.I also put some Red Cell liquid vitamins in at this point because the soybeans & oil are pretty wet and it mixes well & coats the beans better. I normally put the Red Cell in their water, but now that their water is freezing, I put it in the feed mix instead so its not wasted.

Right now I'm eyeballing the amounts, but I mix into the bucket, some whole oats, sunflower seeds, just a little, a little corn, some alfalfa meal, and about half the amount of pellets I use to feed when it was all I was feeding.

Because I bring it out right away from being cooked, the whole mix stays warm, and the birds flock, pun intended, right over to eat. Even if it doesn't make them feel better, it makes me feel better that I'm giving them something warm to eat on cold winter days.

Why am I going through this fuss? When I use to feed whole grains, I almost never had sick chickens. And I got compliments from judges on how well conditioned my chickens were at shows.

I've been frustrated lately with my birds, just didn't seem quite right, and everything pointed to their feed. It was an "aha!" moment for me.

So, back to whole grains for my chickens...We'll see how it goes for the next few months.


YOU will have to keep us posted. Though don't forget to let us in on cost and trouble doing all this stuff. Have you been having trouble with sick chickens?

I haven't posted about the hen I have in the "hospital". She's been eating and standing ok. I have her on layer feed also. She did lay and egg yesterday. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since she is a Del. Everyone else is fine. I believe her to be one of the Harter girls. I've banded all mine, so even though they are together I can tell them apart.

The occasional sick bird should not be to upsetting. I don't think we can always be sure of the genetic history.

This "Red Cell" vitamins is that the Brand name of them or are they something special?

 

[rancher hicks]

Mine love pumpkin. I cut it inhale and leave the seeds in, sometimes I put some of their feed in it too. They peck at the meat after they finish the seeds and feed. None of my birds like the snow this year. Last year they would wander around in it, but this year they just look out the door if I leave it open. I made some snowshoe trails so they could have some purpose to walking, but they didn't use them.

I have a pumpkin left over from the fall. They do like them.

I have to say they don't seem to bothered by the cold. In fact I got four for four, BM eggs today. Unless I missed them yesterday but I don't think so. Their coop is a hoop and only one portion is covered with fleece. (the roost section). I leave the door open during the day and they go out. Even on the snow left behind after I snow blow.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Anybody use light to increase egg production in the winter? what do you use?

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Hi , I guess I wasnt clear . These are brand new ..Never used ..I just bought them at a store.. I thought I offer them here ..1st before I list them elsewhere .I thought I read someone was looking for some ..Maybe they already found some by now

Jobs , Can use skills you already have start a different kind of job ? Like you have chickens - livestock ..can use that knowledge to get a job in something simular ?
Or have you done any Volunteer work that could count as experience in a job ?
Ask your wife what skills you have ..she will probably give you some ideas you had not thought of .

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Potatoes are fine ...Only bad if the skin of the potato has turned Green ..that is supposed to be poison ..to chickens .
We give ours potatoes ..& skins cooked ..left over fries , Mashed , etc ..they dont like them raw ..Taste too much like dirt maybe ? Chickens eat dirt ! I thought this was so funny !

 

[Cass]

Anybody use light to increase egg production in the winter? what do you use?

I just replaced my heat lamps in my brooder lights (clamp on bases) with incondesent (sp) bulbs and bought a $5 timer at K mart. Works great. I have it turn on at 2 am and off at about 11 (which is when the sun gets to my house). It has helped increase production quite a bit. I used to get nothing from the banties in the small coop, now I get 4 - 5 eggs ever other day.