*** OKIES in the BYC ***

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
I seem to recall a study was done many years ago and it was determined that chickens with access to cow poo actually were able to get some vitamins from the cow poo that they didn't get from their chicken feed, because of the undigested feed in the cow poo. Our chickens, guineas and turkeys free range and eat the feed that falls from the feed trough when the cow and horse are eating. The only problem we have ever had was when a chicken got stepped on by a horse. (The chicken didn't fare well

) The chickens picking through the cow and horse poo actually help it break down into smaller piles which will compost more quickly.

 

[mjgigax]

Morning,
Light rain started about 30 min. ago. Glad I planted alot yesterday, including two trees

 

[artsyrobin]

morning guys!! soggy soggy soggy! looks like a soup day- pray for dave- he has an infected tooth/jaw and is really not feeling good until the meds clear it up

any idea what a gander means when he bows at you? still can't figure out where poser is

off to feed the critters

 

[Sooner]

Good morning everyone!

POCO, hope you get to feeling better. Congrats to our award winners.
Looks like we will get our rain today, hope it is a nice slow rain. I plan
to stop & get more dirt so I can finish my brick garden.

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Another rainy good morning!

Sooner I thought it was funny when you said you were going to go buy more dirt! Down here you have to buy rocks! I finally found a few near a road construction to line my drive bank but needed more,but after comming from Okla. I just could not bring myself to go and "buy" rocks!lol. You just don't see rocky,gravely streams like back there and the ground is usually stone free. And I found out that dug up rock like I found by the highway,desingegrates when exposed to the weather!lol

 

[BetsyOK]

I'll try to answer the silkie questions.

First off, are you sure the two are roosters? Mine all have pretty large crests, and since silkies mature late, it is often next to impossible to tell roos from hens until they are at least 5 months old and/or crow or lay. Sometimes you can determine gender earlier. I know several really good silkie breeders who entered theirs in shows, only to have the "cockerel" lay an egg or the "pullet" crow--at the show!

My silkie roos are generally more docile than other breeds I've had, but some are quite aggressive in protecting their flocks. However, since they can't fly and can only "flutter" up a little ways, they don't inflict as much damage as other roos. They are capable of some wicked bites, though. Their crows are as loud or louder than any other roos I've had, but I've only had bantams. Some are never aggressive at all. I have one roo--the father of all my porcelains--who even allows a young roo from the pen next door to visit his pen. Doesn't act aggressive at all toward him.

You have space for a few other hens, but as others have mentioned, your roos are likely to fight each other if not separated, as long as hens are present. I've kept as many as 12 adult silkie roos together when there are no hens with them. I'd recommend a maximum of four hens for each roo, in separated pens. Silkies can't cover as many hens as most other chicken varieties. I'd put at least two with each, as some are quite amorous with their hens.

It is hard to tell when they will lay, as there are differences from hen to hen. I think most start around 6 or 7 months. They usually go broody a month or so later, again depending on the bird.

 

[NanaKat]

Went to check the chicks this morning in the barn. One of the little sultans had died. Looks like it was suffocated under the others roosting under the light. The smaller sultan is cheeping for its partner

I hadn't been able to determine what gender they are yet. The one that died had a much fuller feathering and more of a topknot that the amaller one. They are/were 6 weeks old.

It's cold and wet here..so far 1/4 inch...will be good for the seeds planted yesterday.

 

[momma_raven]

Quote:
I don't have my garden planted yet either... I have plants and seeds but there is still water standing in our yard and we have to use 4-wheel drive to drive to even get onto our property....and now it's raining again!

It's supposed to rain tomorrow too!

At this rate I"ll never get my garden in the ground or get to mow! May have to give up and make a container garden...

 

[NanaKat]

Quote:
Thanks Al and Momma_Raven.
Here's some advice from my hubby:
Be sure and use donkey manure on your corn........for longer ears.

Seriously...I'm not a Master gardner, but love to enable gardners with knowledge gleaned from some really great folks who have gardened for 80 + years in my family....happy to share anytime.

 

[al6517]

The rain is coming here too but it is a nice slow kinda heavy at times rain. It is just the kind of rain we desperately need, everything is just soaking in, and the best part is it's not storming.

Not much I can do today with the weather so I may just hunker in here today and the lazy thing if I can LOL.