NY chicken lover!!!!

[Devona]

Gramma, I don't usually bother with that date. Even with dairy. If I had a jug of milk in the fridge that I'm using and it goes past the date, I just keep using it til it's done, as long as it tastes good. Depending on the item, I could use it months after. My husband is usually ready to throw things out right away, he's afraid of getting sick, but these dates are usually just there because it's required to have a date, and the manufacturer would much rather have the date be earlier rather than later so that the product gets thrown out and another is bought to replace it, giving them more sales. That's just my opinion.

 

[Gramma Chick]

The hens did molt late in the fall. Not too noticeable, but I saw more feathers laying around than usual. A couple of the dominiques even lost all their tail feathers and looked like little kids again. So I suppose they've called it quits for now. They barely get eight hours of daylight, maybe nine. Plus they haven't gone around the corner to my moms yard in a week. It's been wet and windy. I just hope they didn't stop laying because they're sick, or that something's been stealing their eggs.

The took me by surprise because I had heard that they lay throughout their first winter. Oh well. Do I still continue to give them regular layer feed? Should I add anything else to their diet?

Because of the time change they probably get 1 hour less light . How old are they ?
Is your mom feeding them something you arent ?
Have you changed your feed in any way ?
Are they hiding them ?

So do the hens not squat when they're not laying? I never knew about that. Good to know.

pullets you know they are Hens when they start squatting .
Is someone else in your family feeding them ? as they tend to be tamer to the one who feeds them

 

[Gramma Chick]

Gramma, I don't usually bother with that date. Even with dairy. If I had a jug of milk in the fridge that I'm using and it goes past the date, I just keep using it til it's done, as long as it tastes good. Depending on the item, I could use it months after. My husband is usually ready to throw things out right away, he's afraid of getting sick, but these dates are usually just there because it's required to have a date, and the manufacturer would much rather have the date be earlier rather than later so that the product gets thrown out and another is bought to replace it, giving them more sales. That's just my opinion.

thats why its called a best by date ..it is still good after ..
Thats my opinion about fresh bread ..they dont put anything in it to preserve it ( they could put vinegar )
Because they want it to go bad ..and you will buy more
Heres another link
http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center...ce-between-UseBy-SellBy-and-BestBy-Dates.aspx

 

[nposluszny]

I've been AWOL (comp is down and got a new job!!) but I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! My flock is doing super well, Angus and Timmy work together as if they were brothers ( and they roost next to eachother!), have a new coop setup and found this article. My Dad sent it over, I am 100% sure that we here already know this but found it fascinating that it's finally being written about! For the general public to find!...as my Dad is not a chicken fanatic, for him to see this is special.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...machiavellian-tendencies-scientists-discover/

 

[boskelli1571]

Boskelli, I don't know about your heathen palate, but mine must have sugar in oatmeal, corn meal, barley, grits, and just about any other cooked cereal I eat. Otherwise I suspect I may learn what wallpaper paste tastes like.

The hens did molt late in the fall. Not too noticeable, but I saw more feathers laying around than usual. A couple of the dominiques even lost all their tail feathers and looked like little kids again. So I suppose they've called it quits for now. They barely get eight hours of daylight, maybe nine. Plus they haven't gone around the corner to my moms yard in a week. It's been wet and windy. I just hope they didn't stop laying because they're sick, or that something's been stealing their eggs.

The took me by surprise because I had heard that they lay throughout their first winter. Oh well. Do I still continue to give them regular layer feed? Should I add anything else to their diet?

Sounds like they had a mini-molt and so would stop laying for a while. As long as you are feeding a minimum 16% they should be good - try adding some poultry vitamins to their water - I use 'Rooster Booster' for my flock. I like to give it weekly through the winter - it's probably unnecessary but it makes me feel better.
If you increase their daylight by a couple of hours it might trigger the laying thing. Check for hiding spots for eggs - mine love to play hide and seek with me - I found a stash of 15 upstairs in the barn the other day!

I'm glad you got Dominiques, they are such quiet and dependable hens, I have one of my originals left, she's 6 years old now, doesn't lay but chats quietly to me every day.

 

[boskelli1571]

I've been AWOL (comp is down and got a new job!!) but I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! My flock is doing super well, Angus and Timmy work together as if they were brothers ( and they roost next to eachother!), have a new coop setup and found this article. My Dad sent it over, I am 100% sure that we here already know this but found it fascinating that it's finally being written about! For the general public to find!...as my Dad is not a chicken fanatic, for him to see this is special.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...machiavellian-tendencies-scientists-discover/

I couldn't access your article b/c of my Adblocker, but yes! chickens are very smart indeed! When researching for the blog I came across an article that looked into chicken intelligence and found that they do compare themselves to other chickens, can be devious (!) and can problem solve. They can be quite manipulative also, who knew?

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Too bad I didn't know, as I sent a batch of young roosters to the auction last month, but the market was so bad I got NOTHING (after they took their commission), except less mouths to feed.
But, if I could "help supply" that family, I'd be more than willing to grow out more roosters. Is that live or processed?
I've done a few for a man who likes them "New York dressed" - aka with the head & feed attached. And last time he requested the intestines too, just cleaned out.
The neat thing is he doesn't like them over 3.5 to 4 lbs which is very easy to do with young cockerels from hatching my own chickens! Many times I think they're "too small",
but when I weigh them, they're just right.

they want them live with "big head thing" and 4-8 months old. They loved my production red boy for his side and "fancy" head. No EE though they are not fancy heads.

 

[Aria]

Quote:I would be interested for sure. That is if I don't bite the bullet and get them myself. Also may want some of the WH babies or eggs.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SILKIES. REGARDS, ARIA

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:


I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SILKIES. REGARDS, ARIA

Maybe you can make it to chicken stock this year ? it will just be us ....chicken people
there will probably be some silkies eggs or babies if you request some

Sounds like you already read it ...Cute Article
There is a anti ad block window that pops up ..It got me too ..You Can close it and read the article ...

 

[Gramma Chick]

A good day TO AIR THE COOP....Crazy wind today