***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

I was a little slow getting started this winter, but my flock got their first sprouts this winter, they scarfed them down like candy.

 

[erinszoo]

 
Sigh. Hatched out 13 baby ducks last Sunday. They were all doing great and then yesterday came.

Yesterday we lost 5 meat chickens (3 weeks old), 6 baby ducks, and my male silkie who was acting completely normal yesterday morning but was dead by supper time. Ugh. Meat chickens I don't fret too much about because they are such genetic freaks, it's amazing any of them survive but we've never lost ducks to anything but a predator so I'm guessing they got too cold. The silkie I am just stumped by.

Our girl silkie, who shared the same pen, is doing great but understandably puzzled now.

Glad she made it through- losses are hard to take- i lost my tilt night before last- cluesless as to why as she was sleeping in the laundry room- how do you house the silkies? They don't retain heat as well as other breeds, in that they will scootch together to stay warm

Well, we thought he was cold at first so we brought them inside but we realized his crop was totally empty. He's always had swallowing issues and would eat too fast so were wondering if he wasn't impacted and we just didn't catch it.
The silkies have their own pen inside the house and then get to roam the yard if its warm enough. But they are always in their pen at dark. I may have to bring her inside for parts of the winter.

 

[bardies]

I was a little slow getting started this winter, but my flock got their first sprouts this winter, they scarfed them down like candy.

You might have already said, but what are you sprouting for them?

 

[Kassaundra]

You might have already said, but what are you sprouting for them?

Mostly oats and wheat, it is what I have access to easily. Boss generally molds on me so I don't usually sprout it.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Oh Erinszoo and JB, I'm so sorry for your losses. JB, I especially know how you feel, as the neighbor's dog decimated my flock. If I had good layers I would spot you some, but I haven't fully replaced them yet.

Shelbydog came over today and helped me build the temporary coop for the new pen. We had the shell and had to haul it across a good stretch of land and roof it. Now I need to wrap it and set up a windbreak for the front, and it'll be ready for rehoming! Cross your fingers for me that they get this pen finished this week.

It takes a dang good friend to come over on a day like today to do something like this. Thank you Dusti!



Incidentally, if you guys ever need help for a barnraising or build, feel free to holler. If you're not too far away I'll be happy to throw the tools in the car. We should plan group projects. Having a friend over for encouragement made this ten times easier.

Chicken friends are the best!!! Come on down to Coweta sometime, we've always got a million projects planned every weekend!

 

[NanaKat]

Speaking of friends...has anyone heard from Okladoodle lately?
What about some of the other long-timers.
Sure hope everyone is surfing the ice and snow.

 

[erinszoo]

 
You might have already said, but what are you sprouting for them?

Mostly oats and wheat, it is what I have access to easily.  Boss generally molds on me so I don't usually sprout it.

We have the same issue with Boss. We do fodder of wheat, oats, corn, and field peas.

 

[erinszoo]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. Its nice to have people to share that with who understand.

 

[Kassaundra]

We have the same issue with Boss. We do fodder of wheat, oats, corn, and field peas.

I do corn sometimes too, just for a little variety.


Sprouting boss doesn't give the same benefits as the grain seed anyway, not actually worth the extra effort imho, anyway.

 

[NanaKat]

 
You might have already said, but what are you sprouting for them?

Mostly oats and wheat, it is what I have access to easily.  Boss generally molds on me so I don't usually sprout it.

We have the same issue with Boss. We do fodder of wheat, oats, corn, and field peas.

Where do you get the field peas and are they inoculated?