Okies in the BYC The Original

[dreamcatcherarabians]

"Bought more than I planned on" - Oh that NEVER happens to anyone around here. How is it that chickens are so hard to resist?"

My husband was laughing at me tonight as I stood out in the cold and wrapped my little black cochin in my jacket and snuggled my face in her softie black feathers. She sat in my arms and chirped and I coo'd back at her and he cracked up. He cracked up and made some remark about, "And she used to say the only good bird was one that was under glass.....". EEERRRRMMMMM, moi? I would have never......There's just somethng about a chicken.

 

[Buckguy20]

I see no one posted any discussion topics while I was away.
Oh someone was asking about how long to keep turkeys together before they would breed.
I'd say about five minutes!

New Topic: What do you feed your chickens in the winter?
Any special blends?
Is it the same year round?

 

[Kassaundra]

I just started a sprouting experiment, they will get the first sprouts tomorrow, oats this time b/c they were the cheapest whole grain at the feed store, and I am experimenting.

I also am working on a winter protien source, but it won't be ready this winter. I am raising feeder insects, but the colony isn't big enough yet.

I'm so new everything is an experiment for me, though. I also got something else at the feed store, think it was for cows, but sounded like everything a chicken might like too so I got it, it has cracked corn, alfalfa pellets, and molassas. I thought it would be really good as the "treat" at night lockdown, to keep them warm and full overnight.

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
My best "crop" of meal worms were some that I grew by accident - had a 3 foot appliance sized cardboard box in the coop that was a place for the smaller chicks until they were big enough to mingle with the big kids. Meal worms hatched from the grain that I fed them and got into the wood shavings and then into the grooves in the double walled cardboard. They flourished in the double walled cardboard and my chickens had a feast when I removed the cardboard box. I tore it open so that they could get to the worms in the grooves of the cardboard.

The feed you describe sounds like "baby beef" and I have fed it to the chickens when I ran out of chicken feed. My experience was that they liked the corn and grains but tended to leave the pellets laying on the ground. . . at least for a few hours.

 

[artsyrobin]

has anyone ever used this model of incubator?
Brower Top Hatch Model THI10
there are 2 for sale for $25 each, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=425826
am really tempted if they are a reliable one??

 

[Kassaundra]

They do eat the pellets last, but have to say I must have gotten lucky I don't have a real picky eater in the lot!!!!

I read all these comments about what peoples chickens won't eat, but have not found one single thing yet that the girls won't eat. Given a choice they may eat it last, but it's gone by the time I come back!!!!

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
I have not used one, but I think that is the variety that tends to have problems holding a constant temperature - so some folks make it a special wraparound blanket for insulation. You might want to do a search for them to get some more feedback.

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
Maybe we can start a discussion topic - have you ever fed your chickens something that should have been healthy for them, but they wouldn't eat it? Mine won't eat raw okra or raw green peppers very well.

 

[artsyrobin]

well, after reading a few reviews, not gonna risk it- oh well....

wonder what the best one would be for a beginner?? a no brainer incubator? i know, get me some silkie hens.... heard of someone doing that so they didn't have to mess with an incubator... is that a good excuse???

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Just think a couple of silkies is a lot less expensive, and a "greener more environmental" approach!!!!

Does that help?