NY chicken lover!!!!

[stonykill]

What I've been doing with the crumbles of chick starter is pouring some milk on top to make a mush and they waste less and eat it all. I get the outdated stuff at the school where I volunteer. They have a lot of the white that doesn't sell. I don't use chocolate of course. You could water it down and that would work too.

lactose is not natural to a chickens diet and it is wise to avoid it. They, like many of us don't digest it well

 

[littlecritters]

I found my very first egg today!  in the nest box to boot!  it has to be from Wilma, a Barred Rock, she's the noisiest squatter of the gang, and I have believed for weeks that she would be the first to lay.  Betty, another BR and Rose, a RIR will be next... I'm way too excited... it's "just" an egg... but... I've been waiting and waiting...!  the gang will be 23 weeks old on Friday 

Congratulations! It's like Easter morning when we find eggs in the nest box!

 

[vmdanielsen]

I found my very first egg today! in the nest box to boot! it has to be from Wilma, a Barred Rock, she's the noisiest squatter of the gang, and I have believed for weeks that she would be the first to lay. Betty, another BR and Rose, a RIR will be next... I'm way too excited... it's "just" an egg... but... I've been waiting and waiting...! the gang will be 23 weeks old on Friday

This is my third year and I had another pullet come into lay. I still am as excited as i was for my first. I still tell myself that "it's only an egg". But,,,, but,,,,,it is just exciting!!!!

 

[vmdanielsen]

lactose is not natural to a chickens diet and it is wise to avoid it. They, like many of us don't digest it well

What if it is fermented(yogurt, kefir etc.)

 

[littlecritters]

Well let me ask you some questions if I may.

1. Where did you get your birds?   Some breeds or lines of breeds are inbred and have problems.

2. What breeds do you have?  

3. What and how much are you feeding them?    Chickens need a balanced diet.  To many treats or non feed things can throw things off.  I have BR's that don't lay well but also aren't eating the commericial feed as much since they are free ranged and not in the coop.

4. Any stressors?  Like me, chickens don't produce well when they are upset.  I've found some breeds don't get along.  I gave away my Aussies and GLW's cuz they were picked bald.  My birds do NOT like strangers.  This includes family members who are not around them alot.  DW got flogged by a rooster who lets me reach down and touch him.  Never let the kids chase your birds or stress them by grabbing them.  Mine freak out when the neighbors cat walks through the area.  They now have two yippie dogs.  Very annoying. 

5. Free ranged or confined?   Some breeds don't like to be confined.  How much space they have to roam does make a difference. 

Hope this helps.

Our 10 chickens are 23 weeks old and we got them from Agway. We have Silver Laced and Gold Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, and Easter Eggers. They are as healthy as horses with a beautiful sheen to their feathers. They get along well...and even sleep together in a big fluffy pile on the poop board instead of on the roost. They eat a good commercial feed with Omega Plus, have fresh greens daily, receive BOSS as a top dressing on the feed, get Red Cell once a week...and go out in their 10'x15' run daily. They are friendly and seem fat and happy. But we are not getting many eggs. Maybe, I need to install a light?

 

[stonykill]

What if it is fermented(yogurt, kefir etc.)

it is still lactose. Chickens don't nurse. Lactose is not natural to them. My thought is everything in moderation. A little isn't going to hurt.

 

[cheeka]

it is still lactose. Chickens don't nurse. Lactose is not natural to them. My thought is everything in moderation. A little isn't going to hurt.

I give mine a little (really just a little) once a month as a "hatchday pie" I dig a few scoops out of a thick slice of watermelon, spoon the yogurt in the scoops and then fill it with seeds and fruit pieces. i figured that it's only 3 nice teaspoons of plain yogurt, for 10 birds... I knew it wouldn't hurt and they stick around for good photos, lots with "yogurt beak" which amuses me.

 

[County Boy]

Guess What??? Now, I'm getting 8 new birds shipped from California. 3 roosters and 5 hens. Here is the buff barred.

And here is a photo of Ralf-

And this is Will-

 

[stonykill]

I give mine a little (really just a little) once a month as a "hatchday pie" I dig a few scoops out of a thick slice of watermelon, spoon the yogurt in the scoops and then fill it with seeds and fruit pieces. i figured that it's only 3 nice teaspoons of plain yogurt, for 10 birds... I knew it wouldn't hurt and they stick around for good photos, lots with "yogurt beak" which amuses me.

yup, moderation is most always the rule

 

[Sallysec]

I found my very first egg today! in the nest box to boot! it has to be from Wilma, a Barred Rock, she's the noisiest squatter of the gang, and I have believed for weeks that she would be the first to lay. Betty, another BR and Rose, a RIR will be next... I'm way too excited... it's "just" an egg... but... I've been waiting and waiting...! the gang will be 23 weeks old on Friday

CONGRATS!! LOL I know how much you wanted this...the wait was worth it I assume