NY chicken lover!!!!

[cracrzy4chicks]

I imagine many or all of my newbie questions have been beaten to death in previous discussions, but being as I've been reading my fellow New Yorker's advice, I'd like to stick to this crew -- rather than go elsewhere -- and get your advice.

Do you feed your hens pellet or mash form? I've seen pro's & con's for both sides, and where I'm at right now is that I'm leaning towards mash. I realize there may be more waste, but I like that it keeps the birds scratching around in an engaged and natural way.

If you've got a minute, I'd like to hear how you feed and why it works best.

Thanks for furthering my education!

TOB

I feed layer crumbles - 18 % protien. But am going to try the agway brand @ 21% protien. My birdswaste the mash. I use a piece of metal gutter capped on the ends for a feeder. I put 2 chains on it about 1/3 in from each end and hang it from the wall. I raised it so the feeder is level with their backs. It works great & is cheap, for $7 @ lowes you get a 12' piece of gutter. I made 2 feeders out of it.

 

[County Boy]

Been a while since I've been on her but I thought I would let everybody know I've got hatching eggs available. I've got buff barred, mille fleur, and mottled cochin bantams, and lemon blue standard cochin bantams. Here are some new pics including the chicks that hatched today, a mille fleur and lemon blue cochin!






















































These are some that I have still growing out but will be put into breeding pens in a couple months!!

 

[Henicillin]

my MIL passed away on Jan 6, at age 85, bless her... she had a good life, and this past year was difficult with Alzheimer's... and my workload was so crazy I couldn't even get one day off to mourn. the family will all come together sometime in April or May for a Memorial in Massachusetts.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
When I started I fed mine pellets I used to have a lot of waste with ours too , put under a large plastic top under the feeder to catch splatter . Then I got the idea why not moisten them a bit ..with water so they dont fly everywhere . It helped some ..
Then I heard about FF (fermented feed ) from a OT (Old timer ) I tried it ..& was hooked .
You put the feed in water with a little apple cider vinegar with mother in it for a couple days the first time . Once it is active you just add more feed & water to the mix . Drain the feed & serve to them .
The pellets turn to mush .Sometimes I add scratch to the mix ..they get all the benefit of the feed . So they Eat less & drink less water ( pellets arent as filling either as the F Feed ..And they have to drink more water to digest
dry food . And they love it .
I also give them raw vegetables / greens / veg peels / scraps chopped in the food processor mixed in their food . Bread is their treat ( they love pumpernickle )

 

[Gramma Chick]

Anyone from West Nyack NY area? Private message me I am new to this and getting ready to have chickens this late spring 2013. I would love to meet likeminded people in my area. I could use a few pointers too.
Thanks!

Welcome to the NEW York thread ..

You dont have to live close to find a friend here or learn about chickens ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

I haven't had a chance to spend much time on byc lately... and have some 355 posts to catch up on! thought I would pop in to say hi! and that all is well, the chicks are doing great, and getting big, and the older gang is also doing very well, the girls are laying like crazy, and the 3 boys have worked out their order and all is peaceful in the dome. I remember you asked for pics rancher... I will get some this weekend to show how I plan to build come Spring... life's been crazy of late... my MIL passed away on Jan 6, at age 85, bless her... she had a good life, and this past year was difficult with Alzheimer's... and my workload was so crazy I couldn't even get one day off to mourn. the family will all come together sometime in April or May for a Memorial in Massachusetts.

I'm so tired, the heck with cooking tonight! I'm calling for Chinese food! our little restaurant downtown is so good... I want them to teach me how they make egg drop soup, my experiments have turned out pretty good, but I can't quite get the consistency of theirs! wonder if they will share their recipe?

Sorry to hear about your MIL passing away . Alzheimer's is hard on the family . She is in Peace now .

 

[Gramma Chick]

Been a while since I've been on her but I thought I would let everybody know I've got hatching eggs available. I've got buff barred, mille fleur, and mottled cochin bantams, and lemon blue standard cochin bantams. Here are some new pics including the chicks that hatched today, a mille fleur and lemon blue cochin!

Beautiful ! this is my favorite .. The hen saying what ya got there Roo ?

 

[Adoravachick]

Been a while since I've been on her but I thought I would let everybody know I've got hatching eggs available. I've got buff barred, mille fleur, and mottled cochin bantams, and lemon blue standard cochin bantams. Here are some new pics including the chicks that hatched today, a mille fleur and lemon blue cochin!

Once again....I keep looking at these pics over and over again. They are soooo gorgeous. Sending you a PM

 

[Adoravachick]

I haven't had a chance to spend much time on byc lately... and have some 355 posts to catch up on! thought I would pop in to say hi! and that all is well, the chicks are doing great, and getting big, and the older gang is also doing very well, the girls are laying like crazy, and the 3 boys have worked out their order and all is peaceful in the dome. I remember you asked for pics rancher... I will get some this weekend to show how I plan to build come Spring... life's been crazy of late... my MIL passed away on Jan 6, at age 85, bless her... she had a good life, and this past year was difficult with Alzheimer's... and my workload was so crazy I couldn't even get one day off to mourn. the family will all come together sometime in April or May for a Memorial in Massachusetts.

I'm so tired, the heck with cooking tonight! I'm calling for Chinese food! our little restaurant downtown is so good... I want them to teach me how they make egg drop soup, my experiments have turned out pretty good, but I can't quite get the consistency of theirs! wonder if they will share their recipe?

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Pyxis]

Hey all, popping back in again - and boy did I have some catching up to do! Still recovering from the loss of my duck flock. I got some new girls whose parents where from holderread's, so they're very nice birds I also have some ducklings arriving the week of the 28th from a breeder - and her birds are descendants of holderread birds too! I'm gonna have a nice breeding flock, it seems. She also agreed to toss in a 'mystery duckling' from one of the other breeds she works with. I can't wait to find out what I'm getting!

And on an unrelated note, who has some EE hens/pullets they'd like to sell? I have only one right now, and one maybe one from featherz (thanks again!) who isn't laying yet so the jury's still out on her, and I'd like to get some more beautiful blue eggs each day.