Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[fisherlady]

Can chickens digest ground up bone?

I was given a few whole birds that got freezer burnt rather badly, so I ground them for cat food, skin, bone and meat all combined and raw, the chickens that free range will not stay out of the cat food and they gobble up this mash quickly. I am OK with them eating the chicken but not sure of the ground up bone pieces

Our birds get it frequently in the mush we make and no changes in their poo afterwards...they go crazy for it.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Quote:
CANCELLED FOR ALL YEAR?!?!?!

The e-mail says 'cancelled until further notice'. I've heard that they intend to cancel all PA 'Fair' shows until Farm Show - but just hear-say. I've also heard a lot of other things... But like to get it in print from Penn Ag before believing anything.

 

[chippysmom327]

this came off the game camera kind of odd looking

Literally, lol'd at that one

You sure you want guineas? Really, really sure? I have them in a cage and they have no redeeming qualities at all. Free ranging to eat ticks they are ok, but the keets are meaner than chicks or poults, the adult males are brutal with each other and the constant screeching . . . Well, anyway. Fertility has been bad so far, but I'm hoping that improves soon, then I should have keets to sell. I've been telling people $7 each, but they have to promise that they've watched one of the youtube guinea call videos and turned up the volume to high. I'm not taking any back, they will have to take them to wing's freezer camp if they prove too obnoxious. I'm pretty sure this is my only year hatching guineas, they are getting free ranged later this summer, once I have all the keets I want or can sell. I'll just buy some keets every few years to raise up and free range.

I'm only want guineas for tick control and snake deterrent. I understand that they are not like chickens, lol, and I don't expect them to be pets. I have 11 acres for them to roam. I'm not sure how well it will go and I expect losses, but I'm seriously considering getting some. So far, I can mostly find hatching eggs, but we don't have the equipment or experience for hatching.

If you still can't find any, Lisa Murano from Murano Farms has them. I got my guineas from her and was very pleased. She's in Butler.

Posted a craigslist ad for poultry processing, it got flagged in minutes...not sure why. Anyplace else for free advertising

Probably some vegetarian/vegan that is appalled by the fact that anyone would eat meat.

If you can till it up really well, do that, then plant the strawberries. If you rake it after tilling, a lot of the weeds will get pulled off, the rest you will just need to pull as they come back, but with the ground tilled and the weeds not well rooted, they will pull very easily. Dandelions are the very favorite for all my poultry, from chickens to peas. Planting peppers and tomatoes now is pretty safe. The critical thing for crops is the night temps, now that they are mostly above 50, the plants will really start to grow fast.

Chickens like dandelions? I have a farm growing in my front yard! Will have to try that later today...

Dandelions are actually really good for humans and animals alike. They're pretty bitter, but I put them in my salads because they're so good.

 

[chiques chicks]

Literally, lol'd at that one

If you still can't find any, Lisa Murano from Murano Farms has them. I got my guineas from her and was very pleased. She's in Butler.
Probably some vegetarian/vegan that is appalled by the fact that anyone would eat meat.
Dandelions are actually really good for humans and animals alike. They're pretty bitter, but I put them in my salads because they're so good.

Dittov the purslane and plantain mentioned earlier. Both good in a salad. And when the purslane gets older, the stems can be pickled. It's amazing what we Americans don't eat.

 

[BullChick]

I watch animals do things to dandelions. I know they're edible for humans. This human won't be eating them. :-D

 

[jmayday]

Well I have the same problem again with the same Cochin except this time she won't stop. I would have to say she's winning. I put her in a cage off the ground for 3days and she didn't stop. Then I held her in water for a bit with her head out of water of course that didn't cool her down. I also got rid of my rooster and now no fertile eggs. So I'm looking for some fertile eggs for her hopefully black cooper marans or another great layer anyone want some chicks I would give them back some chicks.

 

[dheltzel]

Well I have the same problem again with the same Cochin except this time she won't stop. I would have to say she's winning. I put her in a cage off the ground for 3days and she didn't stop. Then I held her in water for a bit with her head out of water of course that didn't cool her down. I also got rid of my rooster and now no fertile eggs. So I'm looking for some fertile eggs for her hopefully black cooper marans or another great layer anyone want some chicks I would give them back some chicks.

I have extra fertile eggs, if you want to drive up to Pottstown. You might also PM msladyhawke to see if she has any because that would be a closer trip for you.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Well I have the same problem again with the same Cochin except this time she won't stop. I would have to say she's winning. I put her in a cage off the ground for 3days and she didn't stop. Then I held her in water for a bit with her head out of water of course that didn't cool her down. I also got rid of my rooster and now no fertile eggs. So I'm looking for some fertile eggs for her hopefully black cooper marans or another great layer anyone want some chicks I would give them back some chicks.

You know...I live practically next to you. You're welcome to eggs here, I have Black Copper Marans and they wouldn't have to be shipped. Seriously, West Bradford Township borders my property, you can't be far.

 

[troyer]

I have no math skills....I have 2 coops and they insist on all going to this one ...is there too many in this coop...

There's even room for a few more.

So, I am curious, do hawks ever bother your chickens? My sons look for them after school. Chickens, not hawks.

I lose approximately 8-12 a year to hawks, but that's part of what I breed for. We give them all the protection we can, but we're also breeding for hardiness, vigor and hawk evasion. The survivors get to breed.

@fisherlady or anyone else who has had multiple broodies at one time,do you separate them into their own area around hatching time? I have two right now about 5 days apart in hatching time.I have them separated from the main flock. I am concerned that the one that is 5 days behind may steal the new peeps and abandon her own nest or worse attacking them. any advice?

It's very seldom that I can have 2 broodies in the same pen. Some breeds are more accepting of others though, so my experince is not unique.

 

[zinia8]

@fisherlady or anyone else who has had multiple broodies at one time,do you separate them into their own area around hatching time? I have two right now about 5 days apart in hatching time.I have them separated from the main flock. I am concerned that the one that is 5 days behind may steal the new peeps and abandon her own nest or worse attacking them. any advice?

Ours often hatch in the same area at staggered times without problems but with that being said it always pays to be careful since all broody hens act differently...
You can make a small gate out of scrap wood and chicken wire...think picture frame....and secure in the broody on the eggs the day After the First one hatches and allow her out for supervised stretch time once a day. there will only be about two days of high risk because once her own eggs start rocking and talking to her she will sit tight. Then make sure you supervise their first exposure for each other after they have their chicks to break up any broody spats.

@fisherlady or anyone else who has had multiple broodies at one time,do you separate them into their own area around hatching time? I have two right now about 5 days apart in hatching time.I have them separated from the main flock. I am concerned that the one that is 5 days behind may steal the new peeps and abandon her own nest or worse attacking them. any advice?

I had two broody girls hatch within days of each other. One of them would've been OK to share an area just fine but the other was very violent and protective to the point of attacking the other's babies. Needless to say, after 2 weeks of keeping them sperate and trying to work things out, the violent one lost hers (I took them) and the other adopted them. Now, the one would've stolen the others babies after her own hatched if she could but she did not even try to abandon her own nest to take them.

Thanks I think I will build a screen and see how it goes. One broody is A speckled sussex she is my buddy and pretty calm broody just puffy and vocal not rip your hand off. The other one is a brown leghorn skittish and grouchy won't rip hand off but acts like she will. Day 21 is next Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed.