NY chicken lover!!!!

[Devona]

Awesome! Thanks a million! Everybody has been so helpful. And if the other person replies to me about the laying hens, I shall have more questions about them, to ask you all.

 

[Devona]

Sorry, beer can! Most of those posts were because of me

. I hope you can find your tape measure if you need it for your new nest boxes!

 

[Beer can]

Sorry, beer can! Most of those posts were because of me

. I hope you can find your tape measure if you need it for your new nest boxes!

That's alright Lol! A thread that isn't moving can be boring, and we all have questions and answers Lol!

 

[Beer can]

Gramma, I've never used ACV for chickens. I have a gallon of kinda homemade ACV, it's clear (clear as in not hazy it has cider color), no mold and definitely has the 'mother' in the bottom, can vinegar go bad? Looks like vinegar and smells like it. I don't know if I dare use it, but like you said, Bragg's is expensive, seems a shame to throw this away.
And sorry about your hen, what was she, pretty bird.

 

[Devona]

Ok, I have another question. About bedding at the bottom of the brooder. They will be two weeks old when I get them. Can I use newspaper? Shredded or flat? I have access to free paper. Or should I buy pine shavings? I heard someone uses sterile potting mix. How about straw??? What are your opinions on these various types of bedding?

 

[Devona]

Tao chick, I went over to the heating pad posts, and I noticed blooie is using a flexible heat mat. The ones I already have, are covered with an inflexible plasticky type of material, so I won't be able to bend them into an arch. I shall tweak the idea a bit to see how I can use my two mats to do something similar. It was a really helpful post, thanks again for directing me there. I should really go to sleep now....

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Luv--So sorry for your loss. Congrats on the new job!

Gramma- Sorry about your chickie girl.

I've been busy with all the different holiday gatherings, next one tomorrow with my in laws. They are spending the night, so I've been cleaning guest rooms that have accumulated a lot of stuff. As for christmas,I didn't get anything from my list but I did get to stay home which I've always wanted. I also got a gift card for new clothes for my new job. I hope to have my birds separated for breeding this week. I want to set a hatch end of January or start of February.
I hope everyone has a great new years!

 

[shodack]

Devona, I haven't used acv in the water, but I feed my chickens fermented feed, which I think is based on the same theory. Fermented feed is easier to digest, so the chickens get all the nutrients out of it instead of just a small percentage from dry feed. Poops are more solid and don't have much smell anymore, and I use about half of the feed I did when they were eating dry food. Check into it- there's a huge thread about it in the feed/water section of the forum.
I think newspaper as a bedding material can be trucky- it gets wet, slippery and then smelly quickly. Pine shavings have been great for me, from b roofer age. Straw will probably be the same, especially indoors. And sterile potting mix seems weird. And dirty!!
Gramma, I'm so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful chicken!!

 

[boskelli1571]

Freezing rain and sleet here today too. Chickens want nothing to do with it...definitely chickens like Gramma said lol!

My hens seem to not be laying this past week, I have some supplemental light out back by the coop but not inside, would that affect their laying? I also recently started giving them feed that I made myself combining a few recipes I found, I'm wondering if they're getting enough of what they need? I feed them a mixture of cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds, split peas, lentils, flax seed, chia seed, soft and hard red wheat and flaked oats. Oyster shell is available to them.

That sounds good as a supplement - unless you are positive they are getting all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need from that mix. I would be feeding them chicken feed too

 

[boskelli1571]

Well now that I'm getting chicks, I'll be needing starter. I just finalized an agreement to purchase five chicks for 30. Vaccinated against marecks disease. Three dominiques and two Buckeyes. I'm scared and excited all at once. I'll go pick them up Saturday afternoon. Luckily I won't have to make the hour and a half trip to their house, as his wife works closer, and has agreed to meet me at her workplace or close by. Less than an hour away.

That's a good price for your chicks! I have one Dominique and she is very quiet, likes cuddles (sometimes) she was a regular layer until she hit 4 yrs, now nothing.

Oh well, such is life.
Starter food is a bit more expensive but don't be tempted to cut corners with their feed. There is a precise science that goes into creating the 'perfect' blend. Your boy is going to think he died and went to heaven with 5 wives!