Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[fisherlady]

Not sure where my random thoughts would take that....
I would definitely be feeding the mice to the cat's , even being a farm we do not have an overabundance of mice, we do a good job at keeping easy food sources covered...
I know the chicken eat the mice like a treat..I can see the reason for not feeding the wild mice to them, but one's that you raise are more controlled..

And I just like rodents, grew up with hamsters and ferrets..

I mix most of my own feed, bought feed is used as a top dressing, so adding protein is always a plus..

I totally understand what you are thinking with the protein benefits...cost analysis may need done to see how feasible it is per pound. if you have access to a large pressure cooker you may consider offering butchering services for spent layers for a dollar a piece...put them through the plucker and straight into the cooker. Process for 90 minutes and then grind. Spread out about a half inch thick on cookie sheets, freeze and then break apart in crumbles. Throw a half pound or so a day into the run as scratch.
.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Heres a COOL chicken sign I saw on a trip in New York State


Biggest Rooster I every saw ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

I mix most of my own feed, bought feed is used as a top dressing, so adding protein is always a plus..

You ever thought of fermenting your feed to increase the protein content ?

 

[Bettacreek]

Maybe fish would be an idea? I'm hoping to add carp to the chickens' diet this year to increase protein. You don't know exactly what they're eating, but it's a "free" protein source.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Since you all know how scatter brained I can be, I need to put those thoughts in writing since they go all over the place..
Really thinking it will be a bad spring and summer for bugs, hence the reason I want a few guinea, thinking they can live in the barn like the cats do, how much space do they need to go in, it is just a small opening right now that the cats use.
Still figuring out the planting of field peas, finally have hubby thinking about it, problem being the seed salesman telling him he was nuts didn't help. And also finding someone for harvest, we do not own a combine.
How do others go about planning their garden, is it drawn on paper or just in your head.
If we pay premium prices for higher protein chicken feed, why not just add our own protein..this is why I want the breeding mice. Added protein and I can control what the mice eat, therefore controlling what the chicken eats....just another one of my experiments, and strangely I like mice, rats not so much...

Since my random thought are being interrupted by lunch, I will wait for others to add random thought.....really, my mind is all over the place.

My birds eat mice so I see no problem with feeding them mice for extra protien. Butchering scraps (raw or cooked) are also good protien for cats, cooked for the birds. Guineas are close in size to a large rooster, so should be able to go through any opening your biggest roo can squeeze through.

 

[Zanlm]

Just started snowing like crazy a little while ago.

I was feeding this morning in the barn when I heard the tell tale sounds of a broody with newly hatched chicks. She really didn't think the timing through, did she?  I put her into a safe pen and gave them wet food. To thank me, she attacked me like I was the enemy (I guess I did take her chicks away, but I put them back with her later). I found 3 at first, but heard another one peeping later and rescued it too.

Awww yay!! But boy what a day for her to have them lol. It's cold cold cold windy and rain and snow. Hope the will be ok

Post some pics!!

 

[wingstone]

Not sure where my random thoughts would take that....
I would definitely be feeding the mice to the cat's , even being a farm we do not have an overabundance of mice, we do a good job at keeping easy food sources covered...
I know the chicken eat the mice like a treat..I can see the reason for not feeding the wild mice to them, but one's that you raise are more controlled..

And I just like rodents, grew up with hamsters and ferrets..

I mix most of my own feed, bought feed is used as a top dressing, so adding protein is always a plus..

I totally understand what you are thinking with the protein benefits...cost analysis may need done to see how feasible it is per pound. if you have access to a large pressure cooker you may consider offering butchering services for spent layers for a dollar a piece...put them through the plucker and straight into the cooker. Process for 90 minutes and then grind. Spread out about a half inch thick on cookie sheets, freeze and then break apart in crumbles. Throw a half pound or so a day into the run as scratch.
.

I like the over all idea, but I have no control over what those spent hen's ate.

 

[wingstone]

I mix most of my own feed, bought feed is used as a top dressing, so adding protein is always a plus..

You ever thought of fermenting your feed to increase the protein content ?

I do ferment most of the year, I have a 2 to 3 month time frame that everything freezes, even inside the barn.

 

[wingstone]

Maybe fish would be an idea? I'm hoping to add carp to the chickens' diet this year to increase protein. You don't know exactly what they're eating, but it's a "free" protein source.

I was giving minnow as a treat, then hubby reminded me that he is allergic to fish, not sure how much that passes along and he eats a Lt of eggs.

 

[wingstone]

Since you all know how scatter brained I can be, I need to put those thoughts in writing since they go all over the place..
Really thinking it will be a bad spring and summer for bugs, hence the reason I want a few guinea, thinking they can live in the barn like the cats do, how much space do they need to go in, it is just a small opening right now that the cats use.
Still figuring out the planting of field peas, finally have hubby thinking about it, problem being the seed salesman telling him he was nuts didn't help. And also finding someone for harvest, we do not own a combine.
How do others go about planning their garden, is it drawn on paper or just in your head.
If we pay premium prices for higher protein chicken feed, why not just add our own protein..this is why I want the breeding mice. Added protein and I can control what the mice eat, therefore controlling what the chicken eats....just another one of my experiments, and strangely I like mice, rats not so much...

Since my random thought are being interrupted by lunch, I will wait for others to add random thought.....really, my mind is all over the place.

My birds eat mice so I see no problem with feeding them mice for extra protien. Butchering scraps (raw or cooked) are also good protien for cats, cooked for the birds. Guineas are close in size to a large rooster, so should be able to go through any opening your biggest roo can squeeze through.

Rainy days lke this are bad for me, my mind gets into to much...
I am not really looking for the occasional treat,..
Most of us here would like to be self sufficient, well I take that a step farther and would like my pets and livestock self sufficient.

Not sure I explained that right, again, just a thought.