***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[mjgigax]

Anybody know where I can buy some standard or LF Buff Brahmas?

Looking for a pair or trio. Not giving up my cochins, just expanding breeds.

I have hatched 3 chicks from my LF Buff Cochin pair. If one is a roo he is yours.

 

[jens-hens]

We are planning on a trip to Branson this fall. I'm looking forward to the butterflies, I'm sure Gary will want to go to a show. I haven't really planned it out yet.

We really enjoyed our trip to western OK last year. The salt plains, crystal digging, Gloss Mnt, Little Sahara, and the Alabaster Caverns.

We are in Branson right now and I'm spending all my time worrying about my chickens! Fortunately my older daugthers are home and said they seemed ok, turned a mister on them for a few hours and they have plenty of shade. Unfortunately they don't like the mister and hide from it, but I figure they'll get used to it.

 

[Oakieridge]

Was on the USDA website to read up on properly sanitizing eggs. The website says the FDA does not have a published regulation regarding cleaning of eggs shells! Shocking to me personally.
My broody RIR is staying on her nest & not willing to budge. Had a fan on her all afternoon. Her keets should hatch soon, of the heat doesn't get the eggs. DD took her a tomato as a treat & she tucked the tomato under her. Maybe I can get the tomato back tonight. Crazy chicken!

ROFL, I was wondering if chickens would eat tomotos or not, guess that answers that question! Nope but they will brood a tomato!!!

 

[Kassaundra]

ROFL, I was wondering if chickens would eat tomotos or not, guess that answers that question! Nope but they will brood a tomato!!!

Mine eat tomatoes, they eat them better if they are broken open first, but a couple have learned the secret and eat them straight off the vine (my problem chickies Yeta and Thelma)

 

[Oakieridge]

We are in Branson right now and I'm spending all my time worrying about my chickens! Fortunately my older daugthers are home and said they seemed ok, turned a mister on them for a few hours and they have plenty of shade. Unfortunately they don't like the mister and hide from it, but I figure they'll get used to it.

Oh hope your having a great time! That is another of my worries. I couldn't find anyone to feed for us for the 3rd and 4th of july so how are we going to find someone to feed and water while we are gone for a week. We may end up planning a few day trips to places like Turner Falls, the zoo, ect.

 

[our 5acre farm]

i have drank about 2 gallons of water and a 2 litter of cherry coke,today.working outside all day, and I'm disappointed i didn't get more accomplished after working all day out there.

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
ROFL, I was wondering if chickens would eat tomotos or not, guess that answers that question! Nope but they will brood a tomato!!!

that would make sense, its round like an egg so it must need to be hatched- actually i cut ours up and they fight over them

 

[Oakieridge]

i have drank about 2 gallons of water and a 2 litter of cherry coke,today.working outside all day, and I'm disappointed i didn't get more accomplished after working all day out there.

Looks like you got ALOT done today!!!! Looks great! Those are some lucky chickens!

 

[Buster52]

Buster, I wonder if you use pallets will the birds lay on them and damage their breast, I know the cornish cross are very heavy and don't usually roost, was just wondering!! Would it be to bad to leave a dirt floor in them and move it more often, plus wouldn't the dirt be a little cooler under the shaded areas for them, I know if given the choice my game hens will make a nest in a corner in the dirt rather than use a nest box. JMO!!! Lynn

Lynn, there is a difference of opinion among pastured poultry folk on whether day range shelters should have floors. Based on my unofficial observation I would say most are pro-floor. They see the shelter as a moving coop, and use bedding and the like. The thinking is the birds are less exposed to the elements, like rain and cold. This system combines the best of both worlds of confinement and free range. The birds are protected, yet have free access to fresh pasture. Plus, to move it, you just shut the birds in for the night, then move to fresh pasture in the morning with zero injuries due to running over birds.

Others see the floor as defeating part of the purpose of the system: to simplify the work, put the droppings directly on the pasture, and to make the birds environment more natural. You do leave the shelter in one place longer than a broiler pen, as you only move it once a week, if that, so there would be a lot more buildup and the birds would be wallowing in their own manure. Unless you move it daily, but then that defeats the purpose of the larger day range shelter.

Me, I'm with the no-floor people, and I'm trying to come up with a design where when you move the shelter, there is space for the birds to escape from under it without injury. I'm finding it is an easy task to control broilers with the feed trough. If you want them in a certain place, you just place the trough there and open the shelter. The birds make a bee line for the chow, leaving the shelter empty mostly, and that allows you to just move it without harming your birds. There is no reason you can't still use deep litter bedding to avoid manure buildup, and when you move the shelter, you can use a front loader to clean up and move the stuff to the compost heap.

But the pallet thing is a different issue. That is just a protection for the feed and water I want available to the birds when they are out ranging. It is protected from rain, and the shelter aspect for the broilers is secondary. If they are like my birds now, they will return to the main shelter when they are hot or tired.

I should mention that my eggmobile has a slated floor covered with chicken wire. So you have a floor, but the poop just falls through to the ground below. Best of both worlds. I might try something similar with the broiler shelters. But early on, broilers have tiny feet, so I'm not sure how practical it is.

 

[BBAcres]

i have drank about 2 gallons of water and a 2 litter of cherry coke,today.working outside all day, and I'm disappointed i didn't get more accomplished after working all day out there.

Oh man I love that!!! Lucky lucky chickens!