***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

Quote:
Yep. That describes it perfectly.

 

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

Quote:
Thanks for that info. But I found a local source for eggs, and he special orders the organic feed. I can purchase feed from him as I need it. I only have 6 hens, so I don't need alot.

 

[jcatblum]

Quote:
Thanks for that info. But I found a local source for eggs, and he special orders the organic feed. I can purchase feed from him as I need it. I only have 6 hens, so I don't need alot.

I understand! If I were only feeding 6 hens I would get organic corn & soy free feed however even @ azures price it is $28 a bag so that would double my feed bill. I bet with 6 you hardly use a bag of feed a month! I would love to usethe organic corn & soy free but hard to justify the cost to dh. He doesn't gripe about the dogs organic dog food since we had a dog with awful allergies & the organic feed made the allergies disappear. Guess if the birds get allergies I would be able to switch their feed too.

 

[Kassaundra]

old*cowboy :

Quote:
Sounds like your husband is like me, I make Molly do the push mower here too

Just kidding, I have had some of the self propeled before and loved them. I have just a regular push type now though. Was at an estate sale and they sold a near new (used twice) push mower for next to nothing. As much as I like self propelled, I like a bargain better. Now with that said, Ethan did most of the push mowing and he is gone to school now. I am looking to envest in small herd of goats.

Gary has HORRENDOUS hay fever allergies, he is allergic to the air itself I believe. He takes allergy shots and the allergy Dr. said he is in the top 5 worst pts he has ever treated in his career. So mowing is very hard on him healthwise, and I actually like it (I imagine all the little fat cells exploding and melting away as I mow) isn't as effective when on my frequent breaks I come in and eat some Ben and Jerry's!!!!! lol I hear you about the deal. Don't think goats will help w/ the grass, they aren't grazers, sheep would be better. Goats will eat trees and brush real well though.​

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
Thanks for that info. But I found a local source for eggs, and he special orders the organic feed. I can purchase feed from him as I need it. I only have 6 hens, so I don't need alot.

I understand! If I were only feeding 6 hens I would get organic corn & soy free feed however even @ azures price it is $28 a bag so that would double my feed bill. I bet with 6 you hardly use a bag of feed a month! I would love to usethe organic corn & soy free but hard to justify the cost to dh. He doesn't gripe about the dogs organic dog food since we had a dog with awful allergies & the organic feed made the allergies disappear. Guess if the birds get allergies I would be able to switch their feed too.

If you are looking for good egg production and not concerned with a good fertile rooster you should feed soy bean based feeds, Stillwater Milling uses soy bean meal as the primary source of protien, allowing them to free-range will let them get the animal protien and fresh greens they need. Soy Bean based poultry will help increase egg production but may and likely will reduce rooster fertility if it is teh sole source of feed.
Why would you want a corn and soy free feed? lacking in those two sources the birds will have to gain some of thier requirements elsewhere such as a scratch or grain suplement. Both Corn and Soy are very good for laying hens, the oild in them help in feather quality and sheen, and help add weight quite naturally to the bird.
The A&M (Stillwater Milling) is a very well balanced feed source and is likely better than any "Organic" Chicken feed.

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
Sounds like your husband is like me, I make Molly do the push mower here too

Just kidding, I have had some of the self propeled before and loved them. I have just a regular push type now though. Was at an estate sale and they sold a near new (used twice) push mower for next to nothing. As much as I like self propelled, I like a bargain better. Now with that said, Ethan did most of the push mowing and he is gone to school now. I am looking to envest in small herd of goats.

Gary has HORRENDOUS hay fever allergies, he is allergic to the air itself I believe. He takes allergy shots and the allergy Dr. said he is in the top 5 worst pts he has ever treated in his career. So mowing is very hard on him healthwise, and I actually like it (I imagine all the little fat cells exploding and melting away as I mow) isn't as effective when on my frequent breaks I come in and eat some Ben and Jerry's!!!!! lol I hear you about the deal. Don't think goats will help w/ the grass, they aren't grazers, sheep would be better. Goats will eat trees and brush real well though.

guy, the ideal scenario for both grass and weed control would be 2 hair sheep like a dorper / Katadin and one goat. the sheep will stay in a fence and by keeping the goat with the sheep it will too. The sheep will eat grass, the goat will eat weeds. I have no idea why but a goat will starve standing in a field of fine grass.

 

[BetsyOK]

Quote:
Carah, be sure to find out if the kind of cherry tree you want will grow here. I think your climate should be close to ours, and I was told years ago that the only cherries that will grow here are the sour cherries. I did try a Bing myself, and it didn't survive even a year. I have several ornamental cherry trees that have lived for 10 years or more. Of course, they could have improved the strains from then to now and it's also possible my information was incorrect. Just be sure to check it out before you invest money in them. There is a wonderful nursery in Tulsa--Colebrook, 918-445-0539, that carries a huge selection of just about everything you can imagine. Their staff is very knowledgeable, and a visit to their nursery, with plenty of time to walk around, would be well worth your while. This is one of the best nurseries I've ever been to--anywhere.

 

[old*cowboy]

Thanks for all the goat advise. I was just kidding about getting them for weed control. I am getting goats for milking though. I have had goats off and on since I was 12. Cant seem to go very long at a time with out wanting them again. As for sheep. I will live in a jungle, or burn my weeds before one of them will ever set foot on my property again.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

old*cowboy :

Cuban I seen your post on the asils. I got several hatched this year and it is a nightmare. I have young pullets and stags stuck in every available dog crate, pet taxi, anything that will hold one comfortable till I start culling. I discovered once you have several on the floor of the brooder house, it is not wise to drop a younger hatch down with them. But I cant complain, I have several that are really starting to stand and look like asils.

I left mine with their mother up until about a month ago. Then I had them in with a mature cock until I decided he was too rough on them. The peace lasted about 2 weeks.

The injured pullet is doing ok. The swelling went down, so she can see again. I have her in a cage to recover while I fix up a pen for her.​

 

[jcatblum]

Quote:
I understand! If I were only feeding 6 hens I would get organic corn & soy free feed however even @ azures price it is $28 a bag so that would double my feed bill. I bet with 6 you hardly use a bag of feed a month! I would love to usethe organic corn & soy free but hard to justify the cost to dh. He doesn't gripe about the dogs organic dog food since we had a dog with awful allergies & the organic feed made the allergies disappear. Guess if the birds get allergies I would be able to switch their feed too.

If you are looking for good egg production and not concerned with a good fertile rooster you should feed soy bean based feeds, Stillwater Milling uses soy bean meal as the primary source of protien, allowing them to free-range will let them get the animal protien and fresh greens they need. Soy Bean based poultry will help increase egg production but may and likely will reduce rooster fertility if it is teh sole source of feed.
Why would you want a corn and soy free feed? lacking in those two sources the birds will have to gain some of thier requirements elsewhere such as a scratch or grain suplement. Both Corn and Soy are very good for laying hens, the oild in them help in feather quality and sheen, and help add weight quite naturally to the bird.
The A&M (Stillwater Milling) is a very well balanced feed source and is likely better than any "Organic" Chicken feed.

Many people are against using corn & soy because of gmo's. For health reasons I do choose to eat organic & aviod anything that isn't natural. I have a large complex liver cyst. The liver is your bodies filter. Recovering from a liver resection is at min a 6 month recovery. The longer I can keep my liver clean & avoid that surgery the better. Plus suffer from migraines that are triggered from most processed foods.
I am ok with feeding my girls corn, since it is part of a birds natural diet. I feed them cracked corn as a treat. I use the cracked corn to
call the guineas in as well. I will not let me dogs eat any food that has corn in it. How many dogs have you seen eat an ear of corn? I know many people think organic is just a fad but I am not part of the fad. I am eat as healthy as possible for better liver function & a better quality of life.