Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[Cetawin]

These grains are mixed 1 part to 3 parts commercial laying pellets .... the Amplify is a red pellet and had not been added when I took this photo. The mix has: rolled oats, steam rolled barley, alfalfa pellets, BOSS, cracked wheat, 11 grain scratch, and when I can get them in bulk, split peas. All birds go on the grain mix with slow introduction after 8 weeks and are on it continually by 12 weeks with their grower finisher pellets and then layer. The great thing..cost. the initial outlay is high but it lasts on average 6-7 weeks and costs me right at $2.00 per day to feed my 50+ birds per day excluding chicks. I find they eat less overall because they are getting the good grains, pellets amd fresh grass and bugs. It has cut the amount of pellets needed from 200+ pounds per month down to about 125 lbs.

 

[pennie1]

Brody's Broodello :

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You and me both. Hopefully I will be able to sell a bunch of these babies at the shows. I think I have 52 birds right now and still have a few more on the way. That's WAY too many for me. I'd like to have about 10 or 12 hens and 4 or 5 different roos. But that's for the partridge. Then I have the greys and am going to be getting some salmon this fall. My 16 x 16 barn is not big enough. Pretty soon I'm going to have to turn the garage into a barn also. And here I have been telling everyone that I just want a small operation. I know there are so many of you with 100's and even 1000's of birds, but I just want to stay small. I don't mind having this many right now as long as I can get rid most of these by winter.

I know when I had my big Production Reds, I never had any problem selling them by winter, so hopefully it goes the same way.

I have a beautiful 30 x 40 barn. 4 Stalls, wash stall, tackroom, & a 10 x 20 storage area. I built this for my horses & ponies. they have a lovely view of it from their field. That is as close to it as they have come in about 5 years. The chickens took it over and haven't looked back since! lol

Just goes to show that chickens rule!!!

 

[pennie1]

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Greetings newbie!! Newcomers are always welcome!!

It's funny, but even with 50+ chicks/chickens you can tell them apart. Just like a mother can tell twins apart. You watch them everyday (and in some cases of being over the edge - like me, every minute to hour) you see the differences as they grow. Let's see, when do they lose their stripes? At about 3 weeks, I think, they are pretty much gone. But then they contiinue to change. They molt several times in the first year. You will see feathers everywhere and swear that something killed one of them, but it's just them growing up. Good luck on your new adventure and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. That is what we are here for.

 

[pennie1]

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My feed looks similar except that my chickens WILL NOT touch whole sunflower seeds. I have to do the chips.

 

[SilkieTime]

I can not get grain around here like that.

 

[pennie1]

You have to mix your own or if there is a feed mill anywhere around they can mix it for you. They usually do it in large quantities, but it depends on the mill. I just by a 50 lb. bag of each and mix my own. Then I take a gallon bucket (I use those ice cream pails that you buy the gallon tubs of icecream in) and mix in the red cell and wheat germ oil and brewers yeast.

 

[greenpixies]

Cetawin: that mixture looks so delicious! How great is that to feed'em such good stuff and for the right price. I'm going to look back at your recipe once my chicks are grown up!

Pennie1: Thanks for your encouragement. I really do want to be able to tell them all apart! I can see different personalities emerging in some of the chicks - but some just look the same for now, including my 2 Partridge Silkies.

I'm going to take pictures now. Wish me luck!

 

[Cetawin]

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I buy the grains by the 50lb bags ant mix them then add to their food so whenever you are ready let me know and I will tell you the exact recipe.

Some of my girls will not eat the whole sunflower seeds but most of them do.

 

[jen5680]

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I will be over to have a bowl of that for breakfast. Looks yummy

 

[silkieluver_07]

This is Rachelle