Smoky Mtn East TN

[cybercat]

OK, here is a interesting question. Does anyone hatch out in winter and if so how many eggs go in to how many hatch out? I know I have had real bad hatches at this time of year wondering if others are also experiencing same. I am trying to find a way around this right now do to pressure here by BIL and hubby to be hatching year round. To me it is a waste of time and energy when I only get one chick out of 40. But I am having breeding pens built so that might help things a bit. Just want to hear everyone's experiences with this winter hatching thing no matter the poultry breed.

 

[RedRidge]

No problems with winter hatching. I think most people worry too much about cold. I hatch in my basement, put them in a shower stall with a heat lamp for 24 hrs, then they go directly into the brooder in the barn. Yes... outside in the winter. The have a heat lamp and enough room to get away from the heat if they want to. The brooder is open on all sides except the back so I clip towels around the perimeter on nights it is supposed to be below 40.
While actual hatch rates may vary according to breed I had 74% hatch rate overall last year and a 98% survival rate after 2 days old. Best stats I've had. Some years are just like that.
I actually have better hatches in the winter. .. I won't hatch past April.

 

[Lunar]

I do my biggest hatching in the winter. I have Seramas and they kick into gear laying in late October for me. They don't do cold AT ALL. I hatch about 80% and my last hatch last week was 100%. And anyone with Seramas knows these guys are touchy touchy. I do hatch in the house and use a 75 gallon aquarium for a brooder and grow out pen. I also use bug plastic tubs with that Brinsea brooder heater if I am trying to keep chicks separated by line or parentage.

I use one incubator to go the first 18 dys and then move eggs to lockdown in another without a turner.

 

[Lunar]

I have a question about feeding. I have noticed some of my birds feel slighty skinny. They all have access to food 24/7 and I check them at least 2 times a day if not more to make sure of that. I mix foods to give a variety and still I feel those breast bones sticking out. What can I do to add some meat to these little guys. I have Cochins, D'uccles, Silkies, Seramas --all bantams. Its not just one breed, and its not all of any breed. Its just one here and there.

Thanks for any/all advice.

 

[RedRidge]

I have a question about feeding. I have noticed some of my birds feel slighty skinny. They all have access to food 24/7 and I check them at least 2 times a day if not more to make sure of that. I mix foods to give a variety and still I feel those breast bones sticking out. What can I do to add some meat to these little guys. I have Cochins, D'uccles, Silkies, Seramas --all bantams. Its not just one breed, and its not all of any breed. Its just one here and there. :/

Thanks for any/all advice.   

What are you feeding? Are they getting enough animal proteib? Do you feed dry or ferment? Do you weigh, measure or free feed?

 

[Lunar]

Well, I don't really have a great feed store to go to, so I have been using Purina Flock Raiser, with Purina Layer mixed in as well as BOSS, Scratch grains, and a bit of Sorghum. I use crumbles in the food so my Seramas will eat it and not waste it. I keep all the feeders amost full most of the time. I check them at least twice a day and rarely ever have an empty feeder. They are are all in fairly big pens so they scratch around for bugs etc too.

Everyone at the show told me to get some moist and meaty dog food and toss it in as treats. And maybe they are fine, I just want to make sure they are not too lean heading into winter.

 

[RedRidge]

If you are wanting to come up with your own balanced ration then that's one thing. If you prefer to feed store bought pre packaged feed then you need to trust your feed to be balanced for you.
For instance.... a layer feed should be balanced for layers with the proper protein, calcium and other ingredients.
By mixing BOSS and scratch you ate drastically alternating the balance of the original ration - they aren't getting near enough animal protein for starters. And scratching for bugs only counts if they are rotationally grazed and we haven't had our first frost yet.
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So... you have two options in my opinion... feed them layer pellets only or... If you are going to mix grains and other ingredients then make sure it's balanced. If you want to develop a balanced ration of your own for your management style, id be glad to help you balance one, just let me know.

 

[Lunar]

I didn't think I could feed just layer since I have roosters in there. Here are the percentages.

Flock Raiser:
Guaranteed Analysis:
Protein (min.) 20.0%, Lysine (min.) 0.95%, Methionine (min.) 0.35%, Fat (min.) 3.5%, Fiber (max.) 5.0%, Calcium (min.) 0.8%, Calcium (max.) 1.3%, Phosphorus (min.) 0.7%, Salt (min.) 0.35%, Salt (max.) 0.85%, Vitamin A 7,000 IU/lb, Vitamin E 14 IU/lb

Layer
Guaranteed Analysis:
Protein (min.) 16.0%, Lysine (min.) 0.55%, Methionine (min.) 0.25%, Fat (min.) 2.5%, Fiber (max.) 7.0%, Calcium (min.) 3.25%, Calcium (max.) 4.25%, Phosphorus (min.) 0.5%, Salt (min.) 0.3%, Salt (max.) 0.8%, Vitamin A 3,000 IU/lb, Vitamin E 10.5 IU/lb

 

[cybercat]

Well, I don't really have a great feed store to go to, so I have been using Purina Flock Raiser, with Purina Layer mixed in as well as BOSS, Scratch grains, and a bit of Sorghum. I use crumbles in the food so my Seramas will eat it and not waste it. I keep all the feeders amost full most of the time. I check them at least twice a day and rarely ever have an empty feeder. They are are all in fairly big pens so they scratch around for bugs etc too.

Everyone at the show told me to get some moist and meaty dog food and toss it in as treats. And maybe they are fine, I just want to make sure they are not too lean heading into winter.

I would drop the layer if you are feeding the Flock raiser. No need to feed both and doing so lowers the protein of the Raiser. I would also drop the scratch as it is mostly just filler and used to lower protein in feeds. BOSS is OK as a treat but you do not need to feed it every day.

Now you will always have some birds with more meat on them than others. Since you do not plan to eat them I would not worry about it. If they are laying correctly and have good shine to their feathers you are OK. If not then you would need to change a bit. BTW males will always be a bit light just because they are all ups in the air about the females.

 

[RedRidge]

I agree after seeing the analysis that the dock raiser would be the best way to go. .. However it doesn't have near enough calcium for your layers so make sure you offer them extra calcium.