Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[SilkieSensation]

more males? first I've heard that one haha. well I'll get back to you and let you know. we currently have 8 1 week olds. 6 hens and 2 straighruns.

I currently have 8 hens & 4 males in my pens & that's really too many males. My poor hens get beat up & end up naked. It's really better to go with about a 4 or 5:1 ratio, but always make sure you have at least 2 males no matter what. As soon as you go down to 1 male that will be the bird that dies.

 

[kada6305]

Oops, more hens than males, lol. Are your's chickens or quail? Coturnix quail are sexable by 2-3 weeks and start laying by 5-6 weeks.

lol okay had me confused for a minute! mine are chickens.

Depends on your birds. Tell me your breeds & I can give you an estimate.

I have 3 red stars, 2 speckled sussex, 2 leghorns. and 1 that is either a buff orpington and a leghorn. all pullets but the sussex are straight runs.

 

[kada6305]

I currently have 8 hens & 4 males in my pens & that's really too many males. My poor hens get beat up & end up naked. It's really better to go with about a 4 or 5:1 ratio, but always make sure you have at least 2 males no matter what. As soon as you go down to 1 male that will be the bird that dies.

oh..so I have to have 2 males?! I think i have 1 right now...they are only about a week old so too early to tell

 

[SilkieSensation]

Oops, more hens than males, lol. Are your's chickens or quail? Coturnix quail are sexable by 2-3 weeks and start laying by 5-6 weeks.

That sounds better...LOL Pharoah Cots are sexable by chest coloring by 2 weeks, the others are more difficult until they reach maturity at about 6 weeks.

That's 2 and a half hours in the OTHER direction, lol.

DANG IT!!!

 

[SilkieSensation]

lol okay had me confused for a minute! mine are chickens.
I have 3 red stars, 2 speckled sussex, 2 leghorns. and 1 that is either a buff orpington and a leghorn. all pullets but the sussex are straight runs.

Betta & I were doing quail ratios...LOL

Red stars will lay between 15-18 weeks, leghorns shortly after. Orps & Sussex will take closer to 25 weeks. I would start layer feed or at least offering oyster shell free choice in a separate container by about 14 weeks.

 

[SilkieSensation]

oh..so I have to have 2 males?! I think i have 1 right now...they are only about a week old so too early to tell

With chickens, unless you are wanting to breed, you don't even need roos. I try to keep a spare anyway for the same reasons mentioned for quail.

 

[kada6305]

Betta & I were doing quail ratios...LOL

Red stars will lay between 15-18 weeks, leghorns shortly after. Orps & Sussex will take closer to 25 weeks. I would start layer feed or at least offering oyster shell free choice in a separate container by about 14 weeks.

haha okay thanks first time chicken AND duck owner...LOL ducks are 4 weeks old...know anything about their feed requirements?

 

[SilkieSensation]

haha okay thanks first time chicken AND duck owner...LOL ducks are 4 weeks old...know anything about their feed requirements?

Non-medicated feed for ducks. If using an "all-flock" style feed or 1 formulated for ducks you don't need to add anything extra. If not formulated for ducks, you may need to add niacin to the feed. Ducks develop leg problems if they don't get enough niacin & angel wing from protein deficiency. Make sure you are using at least 18% protein for ducks. They need water deep enough to dunk their heads in to clear nasal passages. I have found raising ducks on wire after the 1st few days is easiest due to the water mess they like to make. No chips means no wet brooder & less smell.

 

[yelnad]

I give cracked corn in ADDITION to layer feed. They need the calcium & extra protein that the layer is fortified with.

Eww. They need the mash. My flock free-ranges and I still wouldn't resort to feeding them straight up cracked corn. It's only really a treat for them. Besides, cracked corn really isn't much cheaper than the mash that actually has everything they need in it. Feeding chickens just cracked corn would be like feeding your kids nothing but corn flakes... except that the cornflakes have more vitamins in them.

You might be able to get away with that in the summer if your birds free range and can eat lots of bugs and plants. Otherwise, not enough protein to support egg production or growth. Don't do it.

Thanks. DH said, "Well she raises chickens and she knows." I replied, "It's ok to hear what she has to say, but don't take it as bible. I have DOZENS of chicken friends at BYC who offer great advice!"

 

[kada6305]

Non-medicated feed for ducks. If using an "all-flock" style feed or 1 formulated for ducks you don't need to add anything extra. If not formulated for ducks, you may need to add niacin to the feed. Ducks develop leg problems if they don't get enough niacin & angel wing from protein deficiency. Make sure you are using at least 18% protein for ducks. They need water deep enough to dunk their heads in to clear nasal passages. I have found raising ducks on wire after the 1st few days is easiest due to the water mess they like to make. No chips means no wet brooder & less smell.

yeah I'm doing all of that. but i just didn't know if I needed to change the type of food after they are a certain age. they are ON the grower/starter non medicated with niacin added to water.