NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Chickens need protein & light to lay eggs.

If you give them scraps,unless it is pure meat protein, it decreases the protein intake and they will not lay. The protein has to stay consistantly at least 16% for most layers, and I find that 18% is better especially in the winter.

They also need 15 hours of daylight to lay regularly. If they don't have supplemental light,they will stop laying.

Just those 2 things have a huge influence on egg production.

Don't give extra food unless it has the same or higher protein so you don't decrease the protein. Bread, popcorn,vegetables, whole scratch, all will lower the protein level. It fills the chicken up with low protein so they are satisified, but don't lay.
That is why it should be a treat ...You can overdo it ...You can make a treat have more protein.. add milk , yogurt , sunflower seeds , etc

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Roost should be higher than nesting boxes ...Roosts shouldnt be higher than 18 " at the bottom one

 

[wny egger]

DE is a really good preventative, but it doesn't kill mites on contact. I use sevin dust whenever my birds have lice - I haven't had mites yet, thank goodness, but it works on them too. You need to dust the birds with it, then clean out and dust the coop, then repeat in ten days to kill all that have hatched since then. Sevin is a garden dust, so it gets put on vegetables in the garden and is relatively safe. Birds can ingest small amounts without doing themselves any harm.

i will get some garden dust ..i bought a big bag of de ..i guess i'll use that just to add to the dust bath area..i am building a smal;l area into a dust bath area ..i hadnt started building it yet, i better get going on it ..thanks ..i have used the garden dust in the past but i can only find it in small containers and the de was a deal at 20 bucks for 50lbs ..i was thinking last night as i was dusting, the de isnt going to kill any mites if the chickens are not rolling in ..thanks again ..

 

[wny egger]

thanks for reminding me I need blue kote.

TSC has a coupon for 15% off but only from 6-8 pm tomorrow. I've been holding off getting feed til tomorrow. I'm clipping a note to the coupon.

I do need to get a bag of DE to but have to drive to J&J's.

I'm nearly caught up on chores. I've been redoing the roosts inside the coop. I've been changing the Del side to make it easier for cleaning. I also have to lower the roosts for the C.Rocks. They're so big they need to be closer to the floor for jumping down.

that blu kote works pretty well ..i see theres also a red kote but it stays loose or wet and doesnt dry ..my chickens first aid kit is better stocked then my med cabnet..lol..i figure if i or momma cut our selves we can just work out of it ..lol

 

[wny egger]

My roost is 6' wide three levels, on a 45degree angle like a ladder, figured it would be easier for them as they grew. But I put my nesting boxes too high I think, didnt use them until I put round blocks of firewood for them to hop on. I'm going to have to plan better when I do the expansion for the j giants. Bigger boxes, and much lower.

i built a ladder style roost and i have to put them on it by hand or they dont use it ..every night i have to unload the nesting boxes of about 6 to 8 birds ..heck its a nice perch ..4 inch wide cross rails ..4 diffrent levels ..and after a few weeks of moving them , youd think they would get the hint ..

i need to lower everything in my coop ..my nest boxes are at about waist high on me and i have a roost thats a little higher up then that ..they all seem to like that roost ..i have the ladder styled roost and one other roost that are much lower but only 2 or 3 birds ever get on that one ..

 

[boskelli1571]

So here's a question for everyone....back in the summer I bought 'non GMO' organic feed - the little buggers wouldn't touch it! I would like to try them with it now it's colder. I usually make a slurry of it with warm water and a little yoghurt. Do you think it will still be ok? It doesn't look moldy, but I really don't want to make them sick. Use it or toss it??

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, when did you get the coupon? If I wasn't working tomorrow I'd take advantage. Just curious because I'm on their mailing list and I don't think I got it.

I was given it when I was in the store last week. The sale is 6 to 9pm today. Perhaps they'll be giving them out today. Give them a call. It's 15% off entire purchase and 25% off clearance. They have some nice work jeans and flannel shirts.

Not that there was anything on clearance I could use. Maybe they'll add something I can today. They have a nice back up sump pump for $99 but I can't afford it.

 

[rancher hicks]

Haha..Ive been nowhere special just real busy..dealing with a company taking over our non profit business and fighting to keep a job!! Ive survived 3 cuts so far...hopes it last another year! Oldest in college youngest in high school giving me the biggest run for my $!!! Have about 45 birds...breeding CCLS, Bresse, Olive eggers, autosexing OEs, marans...for myself mainly lol i throw a 24 auction up from time to time to cover some of their expenses...Its craft show season and I make tons of blown out eggs decorations for them...My egg eating customers are not too thrilled! Lol havent offered eggs up in 6 weeks!!! Sorry a decorated egg sells for 6$ where as a dozen eating eggs is 3$ you do the math! LOL Did Tabs and Travis chickenstock this past Summer and I believe the next one is at Aprils ( acechix)

Well it's nice to know things are okay. You're more important than you think. Unless you think you're the most important then perhaps not.

Anyhow you must check in from time to time.

Love ya,

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

So here's a question for everyone....back in the summer I bought 'non GMO' organic feed - the little buggers wouldn't touch it! I would like to try them with it now it's colder. I usually make a slurry of it with warm water and a little yoghurt. Do you think it will still be ok? It doesn't look moldy, but I really don't want to make them sick. Use it or toss it??

Well now I can't say BUT if it were me, I'd give a shot. I can't afford to waste it. I would have mixed it with their other feed to make the transition. If it's not moldy and doesn't smell rancid I say give it to them.

Or you could give it to those you can afford to lose if they kick it.

 

[jennianne]

Cute avatar Pic ...is the building to the right a run ? or storage ?
If it is a run I would take off the dark tarp & put clear plastic on it for more light

Yes, Gramma, it is their run. The tarp is black on top, green on the bottom side facing the hens, so there is a small light reflection, but you have a great point about the tarp. Talked to DH and he is going to try and replace it with some translucent roofing panels after the storm passes.

Also reading through the posts, I think I will have to look at how I can add protein to my "treats". I give them things like scratch, sprouts, and bread or pasta--a lot of carbs. I need to make sure they get enough protein for their health, but also maybe that is affecting their laying.

So I have two things to work on. Thanks for the ideas everybody.