show quality speckled sussex ??

[3riverschick]

Karen, those are absolutely gorgeous bantam Speckled Sussex!!! But, alas, I am a large fowl girl! lol! Maybe I will need to work REALLY HARD at getting Overton Speckled Sussex!!! I am going to have to figure out how he works!

edited to fix a comma!

Interesting thoughts, Sunflowergirl. Several folk around the country have birds straight from Gary Overton.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

I think your cockerels would be helped by Big 'Ol Bob probiotics. Plus some Feather Fixer to help them grow in the best new feathers.
Here is a good explanation of BOB I found on the Net. I have read good scientific research about the good value of both Humic and Fulvic acids in poultry supplements.
"BoB takes poultry probiotics technology to the next level by introducing beneficial levels of Humic and Fulvic acids to the formula.
Big Ole Bird or BoB is Biology Optimized for Birds. There are other poultry supplement products on the market offering probiotic microorganisms aimed at improving gut microflora. However, Big ole Bird poultry supplement takes this technology to the next level by introducing rich organic acids to the formula as well as activated carbon.
http://www.southlandorganics.com/products/poultry-probiotic Simply add two teaspoons of BoB poultry supplement to one gallon of poultry drinking water."
------------------
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/products/poultry/naturewise-poultry/feather-fixer/
excerpt from their webpage:
“When we began using Mite-Fighter technology on a flock with significant mites present, we immediately noticed a reduction in mites. In subsequent flocks, we are using it before infestation and to this point have not seen mites develop as in the past.” - Brad L.
Mite-Fighter technology explanation: ( scroll down to "feather fixer" article)
http://www.livingstongardencenterandfarmsupply.com/nutrina-feeds-2/

 

[3riverschick]

sunflower girl,
I don't understand why your cockerels are so "weedy". They are narrow and shallow. Now I know Albritton birds genetically aren't like that. It's a puzzle. Probably this battle with the mites has to do with it. Try this supplement and feed which will give your cockerels the extra they need to grow out to their genetic potential. It's hard to keep bringing good birds along with a health set back. The Big 'Ol Bird and Feather Fixer have excellent track records for helping. Also get a bag of Black Oil Sunflower seeds. Give the cockerels about 1/2 cup between all of them once a day. It will give them good oil in their glands which they use to spread oil thru the feathers when the preen them. Nice and shiny feathers!
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Let's talk about the poultry gut for a minute. It's proper function is so important. esp. when the bird's health is being challenged by some factor. Ok, the feed goes into the gizzard where it is pulverized by this powerful muscle. then it goes on thru the G.I. tract where it finishes being digested, then exits the bird. Now, how can we make this system work best fr the bird.
1. we can feed the right size granite grit to the birds at the right age. This is important because too small size grit passes right thru the bird. The edges need to stay sharp in spite of the strong acid in the gizzard. Granite grit will do that. http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf
The feeding schedule is on the 2nd page of this PDF.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry (The whole thread)
the proper grit at the right age makes a stronger, healthier gizzard. This makes it easier for the bird to properly grind up the feed so more nutrients are more readily available for digestion in the G.I. tract.
2. We need to get the proper ratios of gut flora in the G.I. tract. This is important because harmful pathogens have a hard time getting established when the gut flora are in proper proportions. Thus the BOB. Plus, the more proper the ratios, the more efficiently the nutrition can be uptaken from the gut to the body systems.
3. The activated carbon in the BOB. This is important. Poultry which are free ranging will eat charcoal to get the carbon. It helps cleanse the gut.
4. The Mite Fighter technology. Helping to keep the birds mite free so they can get back on track with growing out to their genetic potential.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[Sunflowergirl]

sunflower girl,
I don't understand why your cockerels are so "weedy". They are narrow and shallow. Now I know Albritton birds genetically aren't like that. It's a puzzle. Probably this battle with the mites has to do with it. Try this supplement and feed which will give your cockerels the extra they need to grow out to their genetic potential. It's hard to keep bringing good birds along with a health set back. The Big 'Ol Bird and Feather Fixer have excellent track records for helping. Also get a bag of Black Oil Sunflower seeds. Give the cockerels about 1/2 cup between all of them once a day. It will give them good oil in their glands which they use to spread oil thru the feathers when the preen them. Nice and shiny feathers!
Best,
Karen

Thank you so much Karen! I am on the BoB!!! Got some BOSS just yesterday. And, yes, I think it is the mites plus I discovered at about 11 weeks that the feed I had chosen was reported by others to have some major nutritional deficiencies. So that was yet another setback I am dealing with!
Someone said on anther thread that they were seriously considering giving up chickens after seeing a snake in their shed. Well! I have been seriously considering giving up chickens between the poor feed and the mites!!!

 

[Sunflowergirl]

4. The Mite Fighter technology. Helping to keep the birds mite free so they can get back on track with growing out to their genetic potential.
Best Regards,
Karen

I do have a question about the mite fighter feed: At what earliest possible age can you give this to the chickens? From reading the label, it seems that they pullets have to be around egg laying age. Would it hurt them to be given at 16 weeks?

 

[3riverschick]

I do have a question about the mite fighter feed: At what earliest possible age can you give this to the chickens? From reading the label, it seems that they pullets have to be around egg laying age. Would it hurt them to be given at 16 weeks?

Here ya go, from the Naturewise website:
There more than this excerpt on that page:
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/products/poultry/naturewise-poultry/feather-fixer/index.htm
Feed for feather growth during molt, and for mite prevention.
##Feed as the sole ration a the first sign of feather loss for hens and roosters over 16 weeks of age; transition to NatureWise Layer 16% after molting is complete
##May also be fed to laying hens and mature roosters year-round for optimal feathering and brilliant plumage
##Don't let feeders run empty
##Keep clean, fresh water available at all times
##Provide appropriate-size grit as needed
##Make oyster shell available free choice from the onset of lay
##If feeding a crumble-form product prior to feeding Feather Fixer, a week's transition of mixing the former product with the pelleted Feather Fixer may be required to encourage the birds to consume the pellets. " ( see webpage for rest of article.)
Looks like you will be fine feeding it to them.
Best,
Karen

 

[Sunflowergirl]

Here ya go, from the Naturewise website:
There more than this excerpt on that page:
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/products/poultry/naturewise-poultry/feather-fixer/index.htm
Feed for feather growth during molt, and for mite prevention.
##Feed as the sole ration a the first sign of feather loss for hens and roosters over 16 weeks of age; transition to NatureWise Layer 16% after molting is complete
##May also be fed to laying hens and mature roosters year-round for optimal feathering and brilliant plumage
##Don't let feeders run empty
##Keep clean, fresh water available at all times
##Provide appropriate-size grit as needed
##Make oyster shell available free choice from the onset of lay
##If feeding a crumble-form product prior to feeding Feather Fixer, a week's transition of mixing the former product with the pelleted Feather Fixer may be required to encourage the birds to consume the pellets. " ( see webpage for rest of article.)
Looks like you will be fine feeding it to them.
Best,
Karen

Thank you Karen! You are just an amazing fact finder!!!

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you Karen! You are just an amazing fact finder!!!

It's a gift, smile. I used to be a bookscout for booksellers and for an author. In my spare time I surf and build bibliographic literary databases. By the way, since I wrote you earlier, I have done some further looking around and scouting reviews. I am going to switch my birds to Feather Fixer. It seems a notable number of others have found it to solve some issues I am seeing in my flock, like reduced egg production. I was going to cull those hens, but now I am going to switch them to Feather Fixer and see how many eggs "fall out of the tees", smile.
Best,
Karen

 

[CochinLover1]

Read the APA. Good. The less white you have on your speckled sussex, the better. The white on those rooster's wings is prob not a good sign. Patterned birds are tricky to show and judges are especially picky with speckled sussesexes. Its important to have symmetrical patterning on the wings. Judges check wings frequently.