Yes they eat less....so in the long run, its probably costing the same as the old feed.
Holy moly, you had a cow growing up? That's just wild!Growing up, I had water neuts for a week until they escaped the tank and we never found them again.
Good idea on the animal handling course. Who teaches this stuff? I missed the HCCC course on how to raise free range chickens.Since we only have an old cat, and now have a farm, we were getting suggestions from so many nice people. Some said to raise beef cattle. So we went to the fair and we took one look at those giant animals and decided nope, not beef cattle, maybe 1 little tame cow for milk, if we can figure out how to connect it to those teety machines and all that jazz that goes along with a cow for milk. I went to a fiber fair and quickly learned that Alpacas are not compatible with me. There were goats and sheep and those were nice. And rabbits,but the lady with rabbits said they attack each other.Oh no, r u kidding me? We thought about chickens and visited a fellow with big birds (LF) for sale.We were considering taking 2 to live with us but they were afraid of us and we were afraid of them....so we hatched the eggs. We researched every chicken breed we could find and decided on Silkies/Sizzles because they are friendly by nature. We were hoping to raise them right, from day 1, teach them to play with us, hang out, watch TV, and so far, so good. Every day we take each one out and let it look out the window and tell it how lucky it is to be living in our bathtub! We sing to them, they coo to us. They are lovely. They fall asleep in our hand. We are hoping that they don't become mean. So far this poultry farming thing is working out well for us! Thanks to the great advice from the folks at BYC! Maybe we should forego the cow and horse idea.Chickens are wonderful!
hold the horses! There is such thing as a "free range chicken raising course"????????????????? You have just GOT to be kidding meHoly moly, you had a cow growing up? That's just wild!Growing up, I had water neuts for a week until they escaped the tank and we never found them again.Good idea on the animal handling course. Who teaches this stuff? I missed the HCCC course on how to raise free range chickens.Since we only have an old cat, and now have a farm, we were getting suggestions from so many nice people. Some said to raise beef cattle. So we went to the fair and we took one look at those giant animals and decided nope, not beef cattle, maybe 1 little tame cow for milk, if we can figure out how to connect it to those teety machines and all that jazz that goes along with a cow for milk. I went to a fiber fair and quickly learned that Alpacas are not compatible with me. There were goats and sheep and those were nice. And rabbits,but the lady with rabbits said they attack each other.Oh no, r u kidding me? We thought about chickens and visited a fellow with big birds (LF) for sale.We were considering taking 2 to live with us but they were afraid of us and we were afraid of them....so we hatched the eggs. We researched every chicken breed we could find and decided on Silkies/Sizzles because they are friendly by nature. We were hoping to raise them right, from day 1, teach them to play with us, hang out, watch TV, and so far, so good. Every day we take each one out and let it look out the window and tell it how lucky it is to be living in our bathtub! We sing to them, they coo to us. They are lovely. They fall asleep in our hand. We are hoping that they don't become mean. So far this poultry farming thing is working out well for us! Thanks to the great advice from the folks at BYC! Maybe we should forego the cow and horse idea.Chickens are wonderful!
hold the horses! There is such thing as a "free range chicken raising course"????????????????? You have just GOT to be kidding me. I should start charging a fee I guess. I'm missing a farm income oportunity
So well put!why do birds ... if you paint their nails do NOT do it in red or pinks ... you may think your little fluff balls are pets - but they don't.
they know they are animals and they know that red usually means blood - and blood means nourishment ... they will peck at any bloody spot to make it bigger and thereby kill and eat each other. Yep. And most will hunt ! HUNT - that's right - they hunt frogs, baby mice, of course bugs .... They are descended from T-Rex after all ... if your size ratio were switched around - they would eat you in thanks for raising them up.
Now - don't get me wrong - I have enough girly genes in me to paint my horses hooves if I am doing a show or put a bandanna on my dog - and you can rest assured my horse tack all matches and goes with the color of my horse ! ha ha ha
Not trying to rain on your parade - but if you paint those nails red .... you may find a chickie with missing toes the next day.
I LOVE reading your take on animals and farms and work .... it is so sweet ... and if you didn't have us - could lead to such disaster .... so keep sharing. I know you are not a little girl - but your vision of the world reminds me of a cute little girl in a pink bedroom reading about farm animals.Which doesn't mean you can't love them and long for them as strong as the rest of us - just that you have a little more to learn when their lives are actually depending on you to make the correct moves. I find that many wrongs come from people who are too sweet and leave disaster in their wake - this is NOT you - as you are out there learning .... but from stanch city folks who try to make laws about animal care, farming, hunting, growing food and don't know thing one about what they are talking about.
Also - the first time I had a horse - I made some major mistakes !!! It was 30 years ago and no internet like this one - I still regret the neglect I put him through with not knowing it and loving him dearly! So don't stop posting everything that comes into your mind !
like many peeps here I understand my chickens. I know what sound is what. I know from their sounds and actions what they want or what the problem is. No amount of schooling will teach that. Owning chickens, allowing them to be chickens and observing them is the only way. Let the chickens be chickens and they WILL teach you. Can't learn that in a book, in school or any other way.Sign me up!I'd even do an internship if you're offering one! We are in the age of the URBAN Chicken fanciers!You saw the horse whisperer, you know the TV show the dog whisperer, but We Need chicken whisperers!
