***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[SharkmanDan]

Thanks all, for the advice. I'm headed out, in just a bit, to try to herd them in. I have some watermelon, strawberries and oatmeal, we'll see how that works.

 

[Ksane]

@Ksane
that feed looks awesome!

It'd be perfect for fermenting but I couldn't keep up with so many. I broke down and pulled all the 5 gal bucket feeders back out again. Made something to hang the feeders from at night high off the ground when I lock them up to keep mice away.

 

[SharkmanDan]

Okay, of what I had on hand, they liked the oatmeal the most. I need to cook up some rice, and keep it on hand. And, I need to find that sack of wild bird feed, that's here, somewhere. But, we had a watermelon, that was edible, not gone bad, but not good, either. Pretty bland. The chickens didn't much care for it, but the turkey poult, loved it. But, the oatmeal, was a real hit.
Any ideas on barley? That seems like it might be a good treat. But, I need to get to the feed store, and get them some treats, like mealworms and sunflower seeds. That, some cooked rice, and maybe barley, and I might have the treats needed. Mrs. Brown, the leghorn, was again, the most difficult to get in the pen. Tomorrow, we have to drive up to Tulsa, mid day, to pick up my son, flying in from CA, so, they'll stay penned up, and I will get them used to the treats, before I let them out more.
BTW-is it normal for them to prefer privacy, over a soft nest, for laying eggs? Yesterday, two of them laid eggs, in the unfinished hen house, on concrete, rather than in the current enclosure, where they have two nesting boxes, full of straw, and had laid all of their previous eggs. It just seemed odd.

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thank you to Lori for picking up the elderly mostly-blind Silkie pair from Robin and bringing them to me!! Robin, they're just gorgeous and so big Real calm and lap friendly also. I think the bigger one can see at least a bit because he made a beeline for the water as soon as he saw it. I'll get pictures tomorrow or Sunday. Thank you so much for them!

Right after that we picked up 500 lbs of chicken feed at Livestock Nutrition for only $125 total. He told me all that was in it and I forgot some of it, I'll find out. I know there's chopped corn, oats, soybean......that's all I remember. But that comes to only $12.50 per 50 lb bag so I'm thrilled. I'm not even sure how much feed I go through anymore, I'm thinking it's 1000 lbs/20 bags a month. I'm going to keep track this time. Whatever's in the stuff it's got the required calcium along with vitamins/minerals for layers. The birds LOVE it. So do I. Loose grains just seem a lot better than extruded plant protein pellets.
Makes you want to take a bite yourself, huh??

Yes, it does.
Does it have a brand name, or what? I would like to get some, for my birds, but, I'd like to know if it has the right protein level for the turkeys and guineas. Everyone tells me, those need 28% protein. I'm hoping I can get it, at our feed stores, either in Vian or Sallisaw.
Thanks.

 

[mjgigax]

Thanks all, for the advice. I'm headed out, in just a bit, to try to herd them in. I have some watermelon, strawberries and oatmeal, we'll see how that works.

Watermelon, strawberries and oatmeal!- deluxe treats!-they might start demanding that every day

 

[Loriemarler]

Lorie, i'd  go ahead and keep them together - mama will make it clear when she is done raising them, they actually will wean them.

It was great meeting you and the boys! How did the quail do?

The quail are doing great. There was an egg in the box when we got home. They are very pretty Tennessee red quail. Thank you for them too. I sure hope you like your chickens. The birchen is very pretty.

 

[artsyrobin]

what color was the egg? yesterday she or one of them laid a pale blue- took me by surprise

so in total after massive downsizing- many thanks to Coral, dusti , Mitzi and Lorie- i have 24, much more manageable than close to sixty, now to keep from feeling sorry for broody hens!

 

[Nuggetirl]

I'm just east of the city, I can hatch them for you if you want me to. No fee, I love incubating!

I can do it for you. I am in blanchard. I had button quail last year

I'll keep you and Subhanalah in mind. It looks like it'll be about 4 weeks before I can order the eggs (going to start ordering caging etc this coming week), so we'll see if one of you has time then!
Thanks!

I can incubate/hatch quail eggs but I'm in Ardmore, OK

Thanks for chiming in, it's nice to know there are people in OK willing to help me out!

 

[Loriemarler]

what color was the egg? yesterday she or one of them laid a pale blue- took me by surprise

so in total after massive downsizing- many thanks to Coral, dusti , Mitzi and Lorie- i have 24, much more manageable than close to sixty, now to keep from feeling sorry or broody hens!

The egg was brownish spotted. I would love to see a blue egg. I just finished scratching Priscilla and her brood The chicks haven't totally calmed down but they will with me stopping to pet them every time I go past their cage. That little roo is adorable. Are you sure Priscilla is a bantam? She is big compared to my 2 d'uccle girls. But that's ok she is gorgeous!!

 

[huntseat]

Thanks for chiming in, it's nice to know there are people in OK willing to help me out!

I like to pay it forward!