***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Elwood Lightfoot]

POOPS

Thanks Monty!!! LOL

I'm ready for sure!!

 

[Cjarvis]

I'm out for the evening, going to relax and enjoy teh peace and quite between wind gusts, hope the walls are still standing in teh morning.

 

[Ksane]

POOPS

Thanks Monty!!! LOL

I'm ready for sure!!

You'll be there? I'm glad I'll get to meet you!

 

[Elwood Lightfoot]

Been a rough day I needed to be on the thread sooner but needed to get over some issues I was having first and so far so good, at least for now, I have the incubator running trying to get temps and humidity stable and then it will be time for the eggs to go in I'll have to space them out since I don't want to fill it all at once like I have every time before, so we will see in the next few days,

 

[Elwood Lightfoot]

I will be for sure, and I'm planning to attend Corals swap in June also both should be a real blast LOL

 

[johnorem]

Cjarvis, where would one buy pecan or walnut shells? Crushed shells? Would they be a suitable bedding for adult birds?

Anyone know where in the Tulsa area one might find some brome grass hay for bedding. Clean wheat straw would be my first choice for bedding but I guess it is scarce as hen's teeth right now.

 

[nnbreeder]

Thats always been a fav of mine- they are battery hens in england and folks knit them sweaters since when they first get them they have almost no feathers- saves them and rehomes them... they even have the pattern to knit them...

Whenever you hear someone speaking of ex-batts that is what they are refering to, the ex-battery birds.

Their plight is indeed a sad one but slowly things are inproving for them. Many farms over in the UK are going to a cageless set up and those that are still using cages have to follow DEFRA guidelines. The birds will have 1 sq meter per bird when things get totally changed over.

Ex-batts take a lot of special care once out of the cages and just keeping them alive is a challenge most of the time. They have got to be slowly changed over to store-bought feed and many that have backyard flocks actually cook for their birds. In the UK any meds have got to be gotten with a script and that includes wormers as well. There are many natural wormers on the market and suppliments to improve overall health because it's easier to keep a bird healthy then it is to treat one.

When treatment is needed however there are several good vets scattered around that welcome chickens in their practice and charge accordingly, they know it's not a 1000 dollar parrot.

When the ex-batts are rescued they are taken to large holding facilities and I'm told that being on the ground and shoulder to shoulder to other chickens terrifies them at first. Most make the adjustment within the first day and others take a bit longer. There is usually a long list of people waiting on birds so they are only allowed to take just a few more then they have homes for. Most that get ex-batts don't care whether or not the birds ever lay another egg, they know that they are helping out the birds and treat them as wonderful pets.

 

[averytds]

100% understood and agreed. These kids are totally fresh, like 7 and 8yr olds with little to no poultry experience and a few 5-6yr olds. They aren't going anywhere outside the county for at least 2-3yrs. Their stock will come either from hatchery/feedstore, myself or dept head. The competition will only be as stiff as we make it. Want them to learn about their breeds along the way too. What could be better about your bird? Type of thing. Not banking on the "real" judge til I see with my own eyes either. Good stock as things stand right now does nothing for the kids in our county. The usual judge doesn't care for it. The kids leave confused and disappointed.


Kind of why we decided on a county wide CX buy. Pretty straight forward we figured on judging and simple enough for cost/participation. Honestly, I haven't seen/paid anything terrible about pricing on decent stock from OK. Not sure if cost is actually the issue or perception of cost. Loads of reasonably priced, decent quality birds will be at POOPS from what I've seen. Avg chick prices I've paid have only been in the $4-$5 range. What are chicks at the feedstore...$3avg? $30ish for a decent hen/pullet depending on variety & breed. I bought several from Michael D for $20 ea a couple years ago we've been more than happy with.



Wonder if I should have the extension office send out a mass email to the club heads to just have the parents all contact me and I'll see based on their breed choices what we can work out.


Oh wow!!! It just started crazy hailing here!

 

[Elwood Lightfoot]

Cjarvis, where would one buy pecan or walnut shells? Crushed shells? Would they be a suitable bedding for adult birds?

Anyone know where in the Tulsa area one might find some brome grass hay for bedding. Clean wheat straw would be my first choice for bedding but I guess it is scarce as hen's teeth right now.

I had spent a bit on bedding and in the last few months I started using leaves that have gathered up in low areas the chickens had a blast picking through it for bugs and when they are through and it's time for more the stuff makes great mulch or compost for the garden, If you live in town just make runs with a truck the evening before trash runs on Monday (or whatever day it is) and look for those bags that you can't miss that are full of grass clippings an or leaves and just dump them in the pens just pick out any pop bottles and candy wrappers you spot and lest the birds do the rest LOL


Edited to say" I've been using lawn clipping for nest boxes and offer it's the best thing you can use better than hay or straw as good as wood chips which was what I was using before,
just make sure that it doesn't contain any goatheads or stickers, you'll spot them easy enough

 

[nnbreeder]

Cjarvis, where would one buy pecan or walnut shells? Crushed shells? Would they be a suitable bedding for adult birds?

Anyone know where in the Tulsa area one might find some brome grass hay for bedding. Clean wheat straw would be my first choice for bedding but I guess it is scarce as hen's teeth right now.

Grass type hay doesn't work well for bedding, It mats up and is hard to clean out.

Wood shavings, either Pine or Aspen, works very well for bedding and is available at nearly all feed and pet stores

But if you want to try it SW Missouri and Arkansas still have some hay left.