One little, two little, three little Indians . . .

[Skyrider]

Quote:
Thanks for the info on egg shells.

What's an "air sack?"

Thanks,

Sky~

 

[KellyGwen]

If your roo isn't old enough to breed and you want more babies, have you thought of getting some eggs from your neighbor and putting them under your broody hen?

Just remember, now that she's starting hatching her babies she'll be leaving the nest soon to raise them. To add new eggs you'll have to wait until either she or one of your other hens goes broody.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Quote:
Thanks for the info on egg shells.

What's an "air sack?"

Thanks,

Sky~

It's the end of the egg, they open the membrane to breath. Here is a link to the topic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Some people also feed a little fish or fish meal to their chickens for protein, if that is easier for you to get for them. Peas or cooked beans, combined with grain, can also add a little more protein to their diet. You could also feed a cooked egg back to the chicks, while they are a little too young to go out foraging.

If you look or search in the section of the forum on feeding chickens, there are several threads on raising mealworms, red worms and maggots.

Welcome to BYC and good luck with all your little ones!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Quote:
That's a good tip! I may try that!

I usually let mine sit in the sun until they are dry. My mother in law is the one who told me about it. We leave them out for a day or two. You can crush them with your hands. but I like using a mortar and pestle.

 

[Skyrider]

Quote:
Thanks Kelly,

I think our roo is about ready to mate, so we'll just wait. If not, there are other roos in the area that will do the job.

Is a "turken" a cross between a turkey and a chicken? How do you get one? India has very few turkeys and the ones I saw were so thin and ragged looking. But I'd sure like to remember "Thanks Giving Day" here.

Thanks,

Sky~

 

[KellyGwen]

Quote:
A turken is a chicken through and through... they just have a genetic difference that keeps them from growing feathers on their necks. I have one, I got her just because she was so pitiful looking! I had to!

She's still a baby...

 

[Skyrider]

Quote:
A turken is a chicken through and through... they just have a genetic difference that keeps them from growing feathers on their necks. I have one, I got her just because she was so pitiful looking! I had to!

She's still a baby...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/KellyGwen/SHKsaWsnrNI/AAAAAAAABCk/AK13TfFErYc/P1040485.JPG?imgmax=512

How interesting! Thanks!

Sky~

 

[tattooedchickenlady]

Sky, I'm assuming they might have some kind of feed store around since India reveres the cow, maybe you could find some sacks of cracked corn. I give that to my girls as a treat and it is a general purpose-all livestock -feed. You might also ask (if you in fact find a place to buy grain from) if they can get you commercial feed.
I imagine the jungles of India raise some serious obstacles to chicken farming! I live in South Louisiana and we have to look out for possums, racoons, snakes, and hawks on a daily basis!

I actually opt not to free range because I have 8 dogs that would LOVE!! to have chicken.
Do you have a coop to put them up in at night?


BTW, you girl and babies are beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!

 

[Skyrider]

Quote:
Hi Tatoo!

Thanks for your thoughts. Boy! You guys are a great bunch, and I'm appreciating all I'm learning, and am so glad I found this forum.

We have only one commercial feed that I'm aware of. My youngest son, Donal, and I went over to the factory where they make it and persuaded them to sweep some of the stuff up off of their factory floors. Our flock of one roo and three hens loved it. But a bag is a thousand rupees ($24) and that's just out of reach for us right now. We are grinding wheat and rice into some fine cracked grains which they all love. There really is no "feed store" where you can go buy grain for your cattle, etc. India is still very backward in these areas. Speaking of the cows, you have never seen a more pathetic treatment of animals as Indians are to their revered cow. They eat slop and only garbage off the streets. They are thin and yet ... they are their gods!

The bigger cities don't allow the cows downtown any more, but they flourish in the villages and smaller towns.

My oldest and grown son lives in the US and before he was married and was going to college in Oklahoma City, he raised some chickens. He killed several possums that got into his coop. So, yes, we do have a coop which will keep the dogs and cats out, but not rats and snakes. We're having an ongoing battle with rats. One has gotten into the house and is under the chest of drawers even as I write this. We've put out some rat poison and I hope that will take care of him. But he's within a foot or two of getting under the bathroom door and making a meal of one or more of our chicks. So, we've stuffed a rug under the door for tonight. I wish for some of those sticky pads that they will unwittingly walk onto. Wish I could make something like that. Our ravens or crows and hawks are all aerial menaces too, and that's why I brought them all into the bathroom. Now this rat has GOT to go! Thankfully, I don't think we have possums over here.

Corn products of any kind are relatively new in India. Only recently has sweet corn become something you could buy in a grocery store. It's been available as a fast food item in the theaters. I know a place to buy it, but it's way too far from us right now.