Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

I love pigs. they are smart and so funny. there is a big sow on my route that comes down for a dog biscuit a couple of days a week - it's so funny to watch her take one end and just chew chew chew and it slowly goes straight up into her mouth and disappears.

I've seen more than my share of dirt poor and ratty homesteads, some have the ability to really care for what they do have and their animals are beautiful and have homes nicer than the families who own them... others are shameful... one place recently had to put down 3 alpacas due to starvation and some parasite that is common to alpacas, but got so out of hand the animals were paralyzed, laying in the field... targets for coyotes. sad. sad. sad...

I believe that the majority of the people who visit websites like this one are true animal lovers, even if they see their chickens... as livestock, meant to provide food, and not pets at all... I know that we all here at OK's hen party are!

 

[cheeka]

all is well in peep-land this morning, they were all sacked out when I got up a bit before 6 am, and are happily chirping away and moving about.

Forgot to mention yesterday... Five fabulous eggs from the ladies, all but one RIR egg. it was so gorgeous out, they got a good 3 hours of moderately supervised range time. I could leave them when they settled in at each new spot, knew they would stick around the bath for a good 20 minutes and I can see them from the windows, whenever they went on the move, back out I went to watch where they ventured. they seem to have a good routine circling the house. Watched them find some big fat caterpillars, that was cool!

it's super windy this morning, supposed to be 20* cooler today, but sunny. looking forward to getting back home as early as possible! hope everyone has a great day!

 

[BullChick]

Ah! The joys of new peeps!
Thismorning I was straining my first batch of fermented feed, still wondering if I should try it with the dog too. I put down the fist bowl of feed, and started filling the second. The dog came over, and gave it a sniff. Then a taste. Then he was chowing down! I always did say that dog is a chicken.

 

[BullChick]

Okay, I think I will tell you what I am doing, then ask for clarification...
I put about thirty holes in a bucket on one side (as in left and right) between the bottom and lower side. I have enough liquid to cover it, but I have to stir carefully because the liquid in the outer bucket is higher, and splashes out. I pulled the mash away from the holes thinking they were just clogged, but it didn't help.
Do I need more holes?
How much ACV is too much?
How much dry feed is enough? I am @ 18 chickens.
If I fill the waterers with beer, are they beer battered, or drunken chickens?

 

[cheeka]

hmmm, my bucket has holes in the bottom, not the sides, so I get good drainage, sometimes a bit slow, but good... I think there are about 15 holes in my bucket, small ones, done with a nail from the outside to inside, so the plastic pokes go up into the bucket. they don't really "clog", water can still seep through. I only have maybe a quarter cup of ACV in the bottom bucket with maybe 3 inches water (2 gallon buckets) I put approx. 2 quarts of feed in the top bucket, put the 2 buckets together, ACV/water seeps up from the bottom, I stir a bit, and then add more water to the top to cover the feed. do it slowly...

I don't think you need "side" holes, and you don't need so much extra fluid that it squishes up from the lower bucket to overflowing when you place the top bucket inside... when my mash is complete, there is only about 1-1.5 inches of water left in the bottom bucket, it's a beautiful opaque golden wheat color, from the mash dust and the ACV and the culture... I then add another inch of water to the bottom and start again... I think you may have too many holes and too much fluid...

 

[BullChick]

When the ff is done, should I have liquid floating on top of the feed still? That is the way I understood it, so I kept adding water.
Ironic that I have too many holes, and thought I needed more. That is why I ask. To learn.
Penny is still my only layer. I might add light in the morning. If they are breeds known to lay through the winter, do they need light to get them started? I am full of questions, aren't I?

 

[cheeka]

Roche (aka Roger) Snickers

Rolo KitKat

Baby Ruth Caramello

Reeses Eminem

Twix Dove

Butterfinger Mars

Godiva Nestle

Chunky



my friend Kim babysat for them while I finished up work, and she held them for me in the individual shots... big thanks, and they got dry crumble first, not the FF, but that's been changed already. they are soooooo cute!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

EIGHT

EIGHT......PERFECT TODAY......WE LAID EIGHT EGGS

 

[cheeka]

When the ff is done, should I have liquid floating on top of the feed still? That is the way I understood it, so I kept adding water.
Ironic that I have too many holes, and thought I needed more. That is why I ask. To learn.
Penny is still my only layer. I might add light in the morning. If they are breeds known to lay through the winter, do they need light to get them started? I am full of questions, aren't I?

I don't know if it "should" have liquid floating on top, mine does not. it's very moist, but the liquid is at the bottom. I give it a good stir and lift it so it can drain, or give it a good stir and scoop out what I want and leave the rest... if it's a full batch, I just scoop, then when it gets lower, I drain and use what I need or use it all and make a new batch...

 

[cheeka]

hurray OK! I only got 3 today...