NY chicken lover!!!!

[sherpagirl]

I posted mine on CL Four hens and rooster. I think they may be the same line but I got mine from GA. I hate to give them up but I have to downsize. They're molting but when done they will look good. They're about two.

Are they from Scott (Yard full o' rocks) in Cartersville, GA?

 

[rancher hicks]

Even with lights on right now my egg production is down. Some are still molting, others are almost over. They won't lay much during a molt.

I have maybe 75-80 adult birds right now. I go through about 700 lbs of feed a month. Half of my birds have access to grass, the others don't. I don't see any significant difference in the amount of feed each group eats. I feed in the am, and usually by 5 or 6pm, when I close up, I like to see just a little feed left in their dishes. When I go out to feed around 8am some dishes are empty & some still have a little feed left. I like to see a little still in late afternoon, but all gone in the morning.

In the winter months they eat more, and I sometimes buy whole corn to help with body heat on the coldest days. All of my chickens are LF except for maybe 8 adult silkies, who hardly eat anything, thank goodness, cause the large fowl, especially the Marans eat a lot!

They say a LF chicken should eat about 1/2 cup of feed a day. That varies with the type of feed you have. I prefer to go by weight. A cup of mash weighs more than a cup of pellets.

Old farmers said they didn't feed their chickens one day a week to clear them out....dunno

I'll repeat.....without lights starting in September, chickens will not lay well, some stop completely. 15 hours of light is what they need in the winter. And be sure that you don't turn the lights off in the spring until natural daylight reaches 15 hours, or you will force chickens into an artificial molt.

Do I always sound like I'm preaching? Hope not....

Like I said there are lots of op's here and some thing work for some and not for others. Just cuz you tell what you do doesn't mean you're preaching. 'sides sometimes I change what I do based on what others say they do. I just don't tell them.

Can't have them getting a big head ya know.

 

[rancher hicks]

Are they from Scott (Yard full o' rocks) in Cartersville, GA?

Yep. I intended to get more but I need to cut back and these are good "dual" purpose and since I don't butcher my own, it seems a waste. I do love them though. It's either them or the Lav orps.

 

[JLaw]

Well I desided to just board up some windows rather than lowering my top roost. Some windows got plywood with a 2x2 under bottom edge to keep letting some air in but hopefully not snow. Along the top of my walls on the 12ft lengths I have 6inch opening where rafters are I closed the front door and still had a good breeze going through. Going to put plexiglass on south window atm have a board that is too small for window covering it and letting a lot of air in wind is blowing from south today.

 

[miquwid]

Like I said there are lots of op's here and some thing work for some and not for others. Just cuz you tell what you do doesn't mean you're preaching. 'sides sometimes I change what I do based on what others say they do. I just don't tell them.

Can't have them getting a big head ya know.

I agree I don't think anyone is preaching I did put some information and questions out there so everyone's thoughts are welcome, and I do take people's suggestions when I can. It's trying to find the right balance. I love the fact that we can share our ways and experiences.

 

[rancher hicks]

Now after being on here yesterday I decided to mosey on down to my new neighbors, who've I saw was working on his chicken run. They just moved in last year.

Well I had hoped to unload some chickens but it seems he went to Fayette and got Guineas and Seabright Bantam chicks. I talked a bit and they seem very nice. He says he's been on here but apparently he hasn't found our thread yet.

His DW was happy with the eggs I brought.

They mentioned hearing coyotes in the way back. Perhaps they haven't crossed the creek yet. I haven't seen the fox again but will be building a new run for the BM's as soon as I can get some cattle panels. That will mean having someone bring them cuz my car won't carry them.

I am running some poultry wire down the side of the yard too. Just to try to hold back the tide and keep the chickens out of the woods as much as I can.

I like guineas but didn't get any cuz they are so noisy. I'll wait to see how loud his are and then decide.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Thank You everyone for the well wishes! Here's some pics of my latest hatch. Nora Heath 8lbs 14.4oz 21 inches long. 12:38am 10-1-13 Tab--- nice hatch! She is beautiful!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

howdy all. My computer is still acting up so i am on my reader. Too many pages to catch up on. Gave my silkies a bath on sat but the rain stopped me from outdoor stuff sunday so i made bread, applesauce muffins and banana bars and hot pepper jam. Digging out my pressure canner to gear up for chicken processing. Hope everyone stays safe during the storm today.

 

[stonykill]

my .02 on hoop coops. Unless in the hoop coop is a solid wood structure to lock them up in .... one morning you will wake up to all of your birds dead. There isn't such a thing as a predator proof run. They have all night to breach it. And they ultimately WILL breach it and kill your birds. I have had coons open up chicken wire with their paws like it was nothing. They dig under and find the weak spot to get in. Minks and weasels need a 1 inch hole to get through and kill your birds. IF you surround the ENTIRE hoop coop. top bottom, sides.... you have a fighting chance for a few years until the stuff on the floor rots just enough for a predator to breach. Hoop coops are a gamble I will not play with. Your results may vary....or you will lose every bird. Your choice if the gamble is worth it.


this is a weasel my cat killed. See how small this evil killing machine is? !!??!! I had chickens 7 years before I ever saw a weasel. Or a mink. So don't kid yourself that you don't have predators. You may not...until the predators smell out your chickens. Then they WILL move in and KILL your birds. I lost one entire coop one night to a weasel. NINE yes 9 birds ALL DEAD in the morning from a 1 inch ...yes ONE INCH breach.

 

[Lynzi777]

howdy all. My computer is still acting up so i am on my reader. Too many pages to catch up on. Gave my silkies a bath on sat but the rain stopped me from outdoor stuff sunday so i made bread, applesauce muffins and banana bars and hot pepper jam. Digging out my pressure canner to gear up for chicken processing. Hope everyone stays safe during the storm today.

Pharm what you do you use to bath your silkies with? I gave my lavender hen a bath today and I feel like no matter what I did she isn't as clean as I'd like her to be.