NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

I love the punk rocker hairdos. I got mine from Meyer Hatchery. 

Same here Meyer's. Came with a few other breeds in the 'Leann's adopt me' bargain.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Need some opinions/advice...I have been thinking about getting some alfalfa cubes and giving them to the chickens, ducks, and turkeys this winter. I was thinking about taking a few cubes and soaking them and adding them to the ducks water buckets and maybe a bowl for the chickens and turkeys to scratch around in. I would mix in some scratch and some other goodies too. I usually make up some fermented food during the winter and give it to them warmed up for a nice warm treat and I figured I could add some into that as well. I have read that sometimes when they are given the actual alfalfa hay that they can get sour crop with the weedy stems, so I want to avoid that if I can, but I am trying to think up some new things for them for winter.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Hey Luv, maybe send the cubes through a food grinder or coffee mill before soaking so they are broke down well. Then soak and add to the rest for added goodness

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I'm not sure they should have it but I found out today that the girls LOVE tomato soup. I had some leftover from dinner so I put it up for them and mixed it with warm oats and they were so happy.

 

[Purpletie3]

I'm not sure they should have it but I found out today that the girls LOVE tomato soup. I had some leftover from dinner so I put it up for them and mixed it with warm oats and they were so happy.

...mine love tomatoes also...My bielfielder roo decimated my cherry tomatoes. It's great nothing goes to waste!

 

[Purpletie3]

Is it molt time yet? Everyone is talking about molt...When should we expect this up here? What exactly does molt mean to my flock??? They all get naked and are too cold to lay eggs?

 

[rancher hicks]

Need some opinions/advice...I have been thinking about getting some alfalfa cubes and giving them to the chickens, ducks, and turkeys this winter. I was thinking about taking a few cubes and soaking them and adding them to the ducks water buckets and maybe a bowl for the chickens and turkeys to scratch around in. I would mix in some scratch and some other goodies too. I usually make up some fermented food during the winter and give it to them warmed up for a nice warm treat and I figured I could add some into that as well. I have read that sometimes when they are given the actual alfalfa hay that they can get sour crop with the weedy stems, so I want to avoid that if I can, but I am trying to think up some new things for them for winter.

Can't really say but would advise to add lots of grit to it. When I give lettuce I usually dump a can of Grit on top to they have help grinding it up. I think grit helps keep things moving.

 

[rancher hicks]

Is it molt time yet? Everyone is talking about molt...When should we expect this up here? What exactly does molt mean to my flock??? They all get naked and are too cold to lay eggs?

Molting is a time of shedding and replacing feathers. As for laying they tend to let up laying due to the energy/protein they spend replacing the feathers. I'm sure someone here will explain it better.


I've a few that have molted. Big Delores was the worst. She's coming along nicely now. I advise increasing to a high protein feed. Agway has an Egg Producer that is 21 % protein. Heritage/older breeds need a higher protein so I've read.

Too you can switch to a higher protein chick starter feed. Dumor has a 20% non medicated feed and a 24% feed too I believe.

I'm sure there are others.

 

[rancher hicks]

Oh I forgot why I came here.

As you may or may not know I volunteer at a school. We have a "Commodities Cake mix" and it's not so good. It doesn't rise well and the white tastes bad. Anyone have any ideas to "fix" these mixes?

One time I used some soft set Raspberry jam I made and it went well. I just swirled it through the mix.

I've been searching for ideas and found a few.

The chocolate is okay but doesn't rise much. I'd really like to get it to rise a bit more.

 

[Lapeerian]

Is it molt time yet?  Everyone is talking about molt...When should we expect this up here?  What exactly does molt mean to my flock???  They all get naked and are too cold to lay eggs?

It is triggered by length of daylight. Your first year chicks really won't molt much, if at all. The older birds will. Each one varies in their "timing" and severity. My 2 Anconas started in August, feathers everywhere and stopped laying but they look fine otherwise. My GLW roo started last week and looks awful right now, but not naked. The orp hen dows a mid-winter quick molt and lays through. Some take it slow and others just drop everywhere. Increased protein in the feed helps them through.