Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[smkchick]

So here it is. 32"w x 18"h sliders on the East (run) and West (nest) sides of the coop. Two 18"w x 24"h sash windows on the front. Vent on the back wall. Think that will give the little darlings sufficient ventilation??

 

[chickendude]

sounds pretty good!

So here it is. 32"w x 18"h sliders on the East (run) and West (nest) sides of the coop. Two 18"w x 24"h sash windows on the front. Vent on the back wall. Think that will give the little darlings sufficient ventilation??

 

[queenchick16]

My neighbor said he saw a huge raccoon leaving my yard yesterday...This is all I need.

 

[ChickenAl]

I got an organic feed from Agway. Cheaper than Countryside Organics (what isn't?). I didn't like the Layena. Smelled very yeasty to me. The girls like the new feed, but I may try the Agway brand. It's no biggie to pick it up in Riverhead.

If you want to smell something overwhelmingly yeasty, try the Nutrena Nature Wise. It smells like a brewery in a bag. They have to be using some byproduct of the beer making industry in their feed. A lot of waste (byproduct) goes into some feeds. It is always good to check the label and try to source the ingredients. Calling or writing the company, like I did with Purina, will get you more information than is usually on the label. When it comes to soy, the jury is still out for me. I see plenty of organic feeds with soybean as their primary protein ingredient. It is a cheap and efficient source of high quality protein. Whether or not the side effects are as bad many people say they are, who knows? I would still rather feed the girls organic if I can find a reliable source that is not going to break the bank. I am becoming convinced that the Pelletized and crumbled versions deliver a more complete and accurate balance of nutrients. The fact the birds cannot pick and choose through the feed to only take the tastiest morsels makes sense to me. Each pellet, or crumble, has the exact amount of nutrition that is needed. If you want to have eggs with more Omega3, then get yourself a bag of Omega Fields Ultra Egg ground flaxseed to add to their ration. A small amount, added daily, is all you need. And it doesn't go bad in a hurry like many other flaxseed products will. Sorry for the long rant. I tend to over-research things.

 

[ChickenAl]

My neighbor said he saw a huge raccoon leaving my yard yesterday...This is all I need.

That is definitely not good. I hope it was during the evening hours, not in daylight. If it was during the day then the racoon could be rabid. Make sure you have hardware cloth protecting your flock. You may have to keep them in lockdown until the threat passes.

 

[smkchick]

If you want to smell something overwhelmingly yeasty, try the Nutrena Nature Wise. It smells like a brewery in a bag. They have to be using some byproduct of the beer making industry in their feed.
A lot of waste (byproduct) goes into some feeds. It is always good to check the label and try to source the ingredients. Calling or writing the company, like I did with Purina, will get you more information than is usually on the label.
When it comes to soy, the jury is still out for me. I see plenty of organic feeds with soybean as their primary protein ingredient. It is a cheap and efficient source of high quality protein. Whether or not the side effects are as bad many people say they are, who knows?
I would still rather feed the girls organic if I can find a reliable source that is not going to break the bank. I am becoming convinced that the Pelletized and crumbled versions deliver a more complete and accurate balance of nutrients. The fact the birds cannot pick and choose through the feed to only take the tastiest morsels makes sense to me. Each pellet, or crumble, has the exact amount of nutrition that is needed.
If you want to have eggs with more Omega3, then get yourself a bag of Omega Fields Ultra Egg ground flaxseed to add to their ration. A small amount, added daily, is all you need. And it doesn't go bad in a hurry like many other flaxseed products will.
Sorry for the long rant. I tend to over-research things.

'


Al, the organic feed I got at Agway is pelletized. I believe it has soy in it, but it also has crab meal for protein. I like that it has a mixed protein source. It's called Organic Unlimited Vintage Peak Layer Feed. 16% protein. I think it was around $23 for a 50lb bag. Not cheap, but an improvement over Countryside.

You have a good point about the pelletized feed. I hadn't thought about them picking and choosing.

Here's a new concern: obesity. (The chickens, not me.) I read in Storey's that a sign of an obese chicken is double yolk eggs. Wanda lays huge eggs frequently (once a week). Do you think I should be concerned? And if so, how in the world do you put a chicken on a diet?

(chicken jumping jacks)

And I thought feline alzheimer's was tough...

 

[smkchick]

I've been thinking a little more about the coop windows. I like the way the four-pane windows look, but they're fixed (don't open). That would only be for the windows on either side of the door, which of course we could leave open during the day. The side windows will, of course open. I don't want to cut down on the ventilation too much, but the opening windows are UGLY for the front.

 

[ChickenAl]

'


Al, the organic feed I got at Agway is pelletized. I believe it has soy in it, but it also has crab meal for protein. I like that it has a mixed protein source. It's called Organic Unlimited Vintage Peak Layer Feed. 16% protein. I think it was around $23 for a 50lb bag. Not cheap, but an improvement over Countryside.

You have a good point about the pelletized feed. I hadn't thought about them picking and choosing.

Here's a new concern: obesity. (The chickens, not me.) I read in Storey's that a sign of an obese chicken is double yolk eggs. Wanda lays huge eggs frequently (once a week). Do you think I should be concerned? And if so, how in the world do you put a chicken on a diet?

(chicken jumping jacks)

And I thought feline alzheimer's was tough...

We had loads of double yolkers when they first started to lay. In a few months it stopped and we haven't had any since. Our chickens are very lean, almost to the point that I think they are starved. Their breastbone should be visible when their crop is not full. Then you will know they are not fat. Fat chickens do not lay well and they are prone to internal laying, being egg bound and other related problems. Our chickens are fed free choice and they have never been fat. Of course, they are sex linked and are bread to be layers. I think other breeds, and possibly more of the heritage breeds, can become fat. Yeah, $23 is much better than the $40 I was paying, with shipping, for the CO stuff. I like the thought of meat protein in the organic feed you got at Agway. I don't know if ours carries it. It may be better than the soy free Hearty Hen. The nice thing is that Agway sources their ingredients locally for each area they distribute to.

 

[ChickenAl]

...

I've been thinking a little more about the coop windows. I like the way the four-pane windows look, but they're fixed (don't open). That would only be for the windows on either side of the door, which of course we could leave open during the day. The side windows will, of course open. I don't want to cut down on the ventilation too much, but the opening windows are UGLY for the front.
[/quote They do make double hung 4 pane windows which will open. You should be able to find them online. They would probably be called decorative windows for a shed, or something like that.

 

[Toxic Chicken]

So spring is here and I catch the cold from hell.