NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

We have tried several brands, sizes and protien levels for our flock . So far the one we keep going back to is the Blue Seal all flock pellet a tan and purple bag. Everything else they slow on laying and get all weird. I took my hanging type feeder and put it into a black pig feed pan from TSC. They still scratch and try to make a mess but the pig pan catches 99% of it.

I have also decided to get EE's, lavender orpington, and olive Eggers come spring along with whatever interesting yall have at affordable prices. I would prefer to get them all from BYC members if possible.

I'm on my tablet so I don't know where you are but drop me a line for E E 's.

 

[rancher hicks]

No I started out with 7. 2 never developed 1 quit around day 15ish. Went into lockdown with 4 eggs. 2 hatched, 1 started to hatch and then quit, the 4th didn't hatch and looked like it quit at about day 19ish. I have had them hatch up to 3 days apart and they were fine. Not sure why the older one picks on the other one so bad..I was worried that they weren't fertile at all so I was happy with 2, just wish that they are pullets, but I have a sneaky feeling that they aren't

well keep your fingers crossed my last three turned out to be all girls.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I'm on my tablet so I don't know where you are but drop me a line for E E 's.

I won't be buying until spring but I'm in Broome Co.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

congrats on your hatch. Is that two for two?  As for them being a day apart that should'nt be a problem . I've had chicks two days apart and they've done fine.  

Are you using crumbles?  I like pellets but the starter has to be crumbles. This past time I had a starter that looked more like pellets.  I did buy another bag of medicated purina and that is more to their size. 

I've had two coops on the Dumor Starter but I've been adding water to make it mushy. They still eat it but can't scratch it out. I use those black tubs.  I  do like your feeders though.  Do they hold more than the hanign feeders?   I've had trouble with squirrels so I sometimes hang the feeders up high at night. 

I had been using feed from Runnings. Layer but 16 % protein. However I've had more birds molt this year than every before. I'm switching back to Agway "egg producer" It's 21% protein.  It's $2 more  than the Runnings brand but my birds seem to do better making it worth the extra $2. 

Runnings did have the feed on sale for $10.90 or thereabouts. 

One things I don't like about Agway is I get it at CM and they have to order it for me, so I have to plan ahead.  

I do feed crumbles. I mix flock raiser w layer crumbles. Have used pellets in the past, but the girls don't seem to like them as much as crumbles. I'm going to check out the new feed mill in Burdett this week. Looks like they have a layer mash and chicken grower. Might get a bag of each and mix them depending on protein level, then mix that w what they're getting now. I still have a few girls that are molting.

The feeders I made are with 3" PVC with the tall part being 22" high, so a good amount of feed will fit in there. Same design could be made w 4" PVC or made taller if you wanted to fit more feed in it. For 2 feeders, I started w a 5' piece of pipe, cut it in half and then figured an appropriate size for the trough & cut again.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Not that I should even be looking on CL But just saw someone in Hannibal, NY offering 10 hens and a rooster free...

Posted 8 days ago ...cant imagine they are still there.
Says he cant keep them ...

 

[Gramma Chick]

The last hatch of the year hatched. One chick hatched Friday and the second hatched yesterday. They are almost exactly 24 hours apart..I swear they are both boys

And now I have put the older on in "Chick Jail" ..Now before anyone says anything I know that they are establishing pecking order, but the last time I put them together I sat there for 5 minute and the older one wouldn't give up. If it keeps going the way that it is it will draw blood. I have never had this problem with chicks before so this is a new situation.

i would say one is a Roo ( the Pecker )I think he is going to be a mean one ..if he is showing this behavior ..this early
and the other is a hen as they are more submissive ..
Too bad ..the younger one will want a friend ...if you totally separate them.could you put it with a hen ?
do you only have 2 at this age ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

My 1st Birdies ..made by my son in school ...years ago


My new roos - found at real deals . Rustic metal - around 8 x 8

 

[shodack]

I just bought a bag of Dumor (Tractor Supply brand) layer pellets because they were out of what I have been buying and I was out. I do fermented feed. This stuff is crazy, soaks up an insane amount of water, easily double what other feed does. Turns it into a huge batch, but the chickens eat way more of it. I can't get it to maintain a good consistency, so I'm not getting a good ferment.
Not worth the cheaper price if they go through double...

 

[rancher hicks]

I won't be buying until spring but I'm in Broome Co.

Hang on. You're going to pay me?

That would be great.

 

[rancher hicks]

I just bought a bag of Dumor (Tractor Supply brand) layer pellets because they were out of what I have been buying and I was out. I do fermented feed. This stuff is crazy, soaks up an insane amount of water, easily double what other feed does. Turns it into a huge batch, but the chickens eat way more of it. I can't get it to maintain a good consistency, so I'm not getting a good ferment.
Not worth the cheaper price if they go through double...

I do like the Dumor pellets it's just that my birds seem to do better with a higher protein. While others have bad molts I'd rarely noticed a molt. Also I had read that Heritage lines need a higher protein.

Dumor Chick starter is a higher protein too. 20%

My chickens who don't range eat more. Perhaps the reason they eat more is they don't feel full or are bored and need more activity.