NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Tail looks Rooish

 

[Gramma Chick]

 

[rancher hicks]

I meant the down sizing thing. What with egg production dropping off the more birds you have the more eggs you're likely to get. Plus the more bodies in the coop the more heat to keep them warm. Right now I'm doing good with eggs each day. The CRocks are laying5/6, the EE's are laying, the Marans 2-3 eggs, The Daisies are laying 2/2, The Dels are laying, even Buckwheat is laying and I think I got an egg from Frenchy, Big Delores is laying. So maybe a dozen eggs a day.

Winters it's usually up and out, lug hot water, open doors and let them out, make sure everyone has food and water, maybe toss some scratch or scraps, back inside. Afternoon it's up and out, check water/break ice so they can get to the water and back inside. Evening it's go out close up, collect eggs and back inside.

I know winters might be tough for hatching or raising chicks for some and I might not do so myself if not for the trouble I have with broodies in the spring. I just don't have the spaces to park the hens so they're not bothered.

I would think winter is the proper time to hatch and raise chicks, IF one is going to do so, since there is less outside work to do in the winter. That gives us more time to deal with chicks.

Of course if one doesn't have a space to raise them then it can be tricky.

Come spring around here it's gardening that takes up a great deal of time. What with getting beds not prepared in the fall ready, starting seeds, cleaning wintered coops, cleaning winters mess, fallen branches, garbage that has blown in. Uncovering plants that have been mulched when the time comes.

The chicks will all be ready to go to the coop by then or should be. I've read that the cold makes them eat more and grow faster.

My first batch of chicks came at the end of Feb. By spring they could have gone to the coop but I wasn't ready so they didn't move till just about May/June. 25 birds. I've really got to keep better records of when chicks are born.

The one thing I don't like about winter is not being out there enough to spend time with them. I honestly think the more time you spend with your chickens the happier they are. I may have to buy one of those canes with the seat attached so I can spend some time sitting inside the runs for a bit. My runs are covered and it is still cold but a few minutes might not be so bad.

I do have electric so I could buy a one cup coffee maker, add a shelf up high, sit there and drink some coffee. Maybe put a small Microwave in too and heat up some breakfast. Okay now I'm getting carried away aren't I?

Anyhow I think winter is a good time to hatch, while I have time to tend to the chicks.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

No winter hatches here because I spend all winter taking care of horses and kids. Spring through fall is better here. The kids help with all the outside stuff and the horses don't require as much attention when they are turned out on green pasture. Oh but I WILL be hatching come spring.

 

[DeansMill]

Rancher hicks...Thanks, so busy I can barely get on here... I pulled her aside the other day outside and cuddled her and gave her treats.. I believe it is definitely pecking order. I have 14 girls and one roo, they are all Sept 21st babies.
Actually, my LordSterling began his attempts this morning to be a man... he croaked out about four crows for me... kinda a loud "Errrrrrrrrrr" he has some work to do.
Anyway, my question today is... where do I get cheaper grain and snacks? Like peanuts and oats to make for them? I live near Albany... I have given them all of my planters unsalted peanuts, my Quaker grits, my cornmeal, and my Irish oatmeal.. LOL.. they have expensive taste. Now they are starting on the baby's dried fruits.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Rancher hicks...Thanks, so busy I can barely get on here... I pulled her aside the other day outside and cuddled her and gave her treats.. I believe it is definitely pecking order. I have 14 girls and one roo, they are all Sept 21st babies.
Actually, my LordSterling began his attempts this morning to be a man... he croaked out about four crows for me... kinda a loud "Errrrrrrrrrr" he has some work to do.
Anyway, my question today is... where do I get cheaper grain and snacks? Like peanuts and oats to make for them? I live near Albany... I have given them all of my planters unsalted peanuts, my Quaker grits, my cornmeal, and my Irish oatmeal.. LOL.. they have expensive taste. Now they are starting on the baby's dried fruits.

Yes their 1st crows are funny ...kind of like they are choking

sounds like you are cleaning your cupboards..LOL
Are your chickens less than 5 - 6 months ? they shouldnt be getting a lot of treats ..
They need to eat mostly their chick feed ..as that is balanced for them ...they are still growing bones ,etc .
it is okay occasionally to treat them or a real small treat
Do you have a tractor supply near you ? they sell sunflower seeds , scratch too .
Your vegetable scraps are good too ..pieces cut out , peels ,

 

[DeansMill]

Oh, when I say treats, I mean good food other than just feed. I give them some grains and vegetables at bedtime. It also is my training tool to make sure everyone is inside. The run is not complete yet so when we are outside I have to be vigilant while they enjoy their space. The other day, even tho it was dark, a few girls just wanted to stay outside.
They were hatched on September 21 so they will be three months old soon. I do have tractor supply, but I really wanted to find cheap oats to make oatmeal and peanuts for training.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Oh, when I say treats,
They were hatched on September 21 so they will be three months old soon. I do have tractor supply, but I really wanted to find cheap oats to make oatmeal and peanuts for training.

The reason I cautioned you about giving too many treats .. ( this is for everyone too )
is if they dont get enough protein while they are growing they can get something that is like Marecks disease & die .
I know some one who stopped giving them chick food ..gave them just corn and something else ..maybe grains ?
She lost most of her chicks that way ..she thought they had Marecks ...as the symptoms were similar..
I had remembered that a vitamin deficiency..had the same symptoms ...she lost no more after putting them back on chick food ..

Try black sunflower seeds ..chickens will do anything for them ..a great protein source.
on sale now
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l-sunflower-wild-bird-food-40-lb?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Glasshen]

Yes, Grammas right. One can feed good healthy things, like say corn or oats or something, but those things may not be a complete protein, or maybe they are only 8 percent protein. The feed may be 20 percent, so any 8 percent you feed is lowering the protein they are getting. There was an old book called Diet for a small planet which talked about ways to combine foods to create complete proteins that can then be used in the human body. For example beans and rice...it was geared toward vegetarians.

 

[Aria]

Rancher you are a wealth of information.
Do you know of Sally Mason-Kennedy?

She is close in Morrisville and she is selling
Silkies on CL.

Or is there anyone on our forum that would have
Silkies for Sale?

I know you think Silkies are Aliens. But we love them
and in a small barn there is only space for one breed.
And the breed we have ...Silkies. Regards, Aria