Texas BYC Cafe

[A1momof3]

I was reading about protein today. Trying to decide what to feed my chicks once everyone starts laying. I feed Texas Naturals, and they don't have a "flock" feed. It's either starter, grower or layer. They do have a scratch, which I use, but that is all. From what I've read, the chickens actually do better on a higher protein feed. Most of the layer feed is around 16%. TN's layer is 18%, grower is 22% and starter is 20%. From what I've read, there is really not that much difference in the feed except for the protein content and the calcium in the layer. I'm really considering leaving mine on starter and just supplementing with oyster shell on the side, like I'm doing now.

I feed mine about a half a coffee can (13 oz) of scratch every evening. Gives them something to dig for and keeps my dl stirred up. I don't know how much protein your treat has, but usually when you feed them scratch or scraps, it brings the protein down. What protein is the feed your feeding them now?

Great idea on the milk jugs. I had thought about putting frozen water bottles in their waterer to help keep it cool for them.

Here is the article I read and got the snack from. The calf-manna has 25% crude protein, The black oil sunflower seeds are talked about in this article for horses and has good info. They too are a good source of protein. But a horse shouldn't have more than 2 pounds per day so I may not need to feed the chicken this but maybe a couple times a week. I may as the person that posted the article.

Could she have gotten into something in the yard?
The bread was really yummy. Trevor loved it and we ate almost the whole loaf in one day. There was a wee bit left that I sent home with him. He made a brisket sandwich with the bread. It was amazing!

They get sneaking with their laying, don't they?

I saw a chart somewhere that listed what % protein chickens need at what stages. It might be in one of my books. Did you come across anything like that in your reading?



OK - have to post this for someone (you will know who you are) due to a post earlier in the week, or was it yesterday? lol! I can't remember.

Tomorrow I'll be back at the scraping and repair on the house. I won't be out there all day though. It's getting too hot in the afternoon. I need to get my garden ready to replant for fall too. It's time to plant again already!

I will have to see if I can find a chart like that one line.

Tomorrow the concrete goes in for sure and Monday I have scheduled the guy to come move the hot tub and get it going. Now, over the last 3 years the lid to the hot tub has blow off in some of our pretty severe storms and water has gotten in there. So tomorrow, I've got to get my sexy swim suit on and get in the hot tub and really give it a scrubbing. It's going to take a couple of hours cause the water has gotten a bit nasty. My bad for not cleaning it sooner. Oh well!

I feel for you there, I understand about cleaning those things out. When they get nasty it's a pain.

No, I don't think I ran across a chart.

I do not believe that article one bit! Here is why, a quote from that article:

While hydrogen sulfide gas is harmful in large doses, the study suggests that "a whiff here and there has the power to reduce risks of cancer, strokes, heart attacks, arthritis, and dementia by preserving mitochondria,"

Since I have RD, that blows that claim right out of the water!!!

Time to plant for fall? My garden is just starting to produce!! LOL What are you planting for your fall garden?

Good luck on cleaning your hot tub. It won't be fun, but it sure will be nice when you get to use it this fall/winter.

I have trouble sleeping a lot these days. I was sleeping good this morning, but DH has a fishing tournament today, so we got up earlier so he can get going.

I was thinking the same thing, as much gas that has gone on in this house with 3 males and they always seem to want to gas mom out but it didn't keep me from getting ate up with the Arthritis. lol

Good Morning everyone!

Is everyone having problems sleeping? Is this an 'age' thing?

I am fairly new to Texas weather and gardening. I still can't get use to planting a second garden. It kinda goes against the grain to plant when it is so hot outside. Please, someone, explain how I can plant and not burn my crops up? I would love to get a crop of pinto beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc. in.

I am happy your hens are laying. I wish mine were. My Ameracaunas and Sussexs are 18 weeks old. The Australorps are 16 wks. I have been looking in all the places they lay outdoors and I am not finding anything.

Well, I was going to make Fig/Raspberry Jam. Ken and I had picked a couple gallons of figs Thursday evening. I did the laundry Friday morning and was going to make the jam after the laundry. Well my son showed up and I didn't get to them. I kept them on the table in a huge bowl. The house is air conditioned. I went to wash them this morning and they had molded. I was so disappointed. Now I wait for more to ripen.

Just for that I am going to go mow the pasture!

Ya'll have a great day!

Lisa

I too have been having trouble sleeping and I guess it is an age thing. Certain crops do better in the heat, like okra..... it LOVES the heat. I'm not sure how well tomatoes will do in this heat, mine are about done with. I plan on trying to plant some more later this year when the temp starts cooling off. Then I will start on my winter garden. I can wait to grow some greens!!

 

[lovingmyhens]

Tomatoes are mostly a spring thing. Well that's all I know about growing vegetables.

 

[TexasLisa]

One of my hens, Hawk, is sitting on the nest. I just might have a new egg today.

 

[A1momof3]

e One of my hens, Hawk, is sitting on the nest. I just might have a new egg today.

Let's hope so!! My RIR sit and sit the nothing! Lol I have one maybe two of them laying but a lot if them do a lot if sitting! Lol. So don't get discourage if she doesn't. She will soon.

 

[A1momof3]

Well, one week ago today I found my first egg and during this week they have given me 15 eggs with 3 or 4 miss fires. I am so excited! We have not used any of them yet but I am fixing to make a chocolate, peanut butter cheese cake and I am going to use some in it! I'm not going to fry any of them up until my hubby gets back home and we can have a big family breakfast!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[TexasLisa]

HAWK LAID THE EGG!!! Lena (Australorp), the last of my original flock laid the egg on the left. Hawk laid the blue egg on the right.

 

[Brookshire11]

Woohoo!!!! How exciting!!
My Little Hawk lays a blue egg too

Since everyone's being so productive today, seems I was given a little work to do too: our toilet is messing up! Yay! :/ I was in the bedroom putting away clothes when I heard a weird gurgling..I went in the bathroom to find large bubbles coming up.....then a boatload of God only knows...just..yeah..
Therllrew any towels I had on the ground, turned off the water, scooped up the kids and went to buy an auger...I hope it works. We only have one bathroom in our sweet teeny house...id like to be able to use it...
Oh! And until I fix it I cant use the washer..because I think a combo of that and maybe a clog down the line is what did it. Ugh...

 

[TexasLisa]

Woohoo!!!! How exciting!!
My Little Hawk lays a blue egg too

Since everyone's being so productive today, seems I was given a little work to do too: our toilet is messing up! Yay!

I was in the bedroom putting away clothes when I heard a weird gurgling..I went in the bathroom to find large bubbles coming up.....then a boatload of God only knows...just..yeah..
Therllrew any towels I had on the ground, turned off the water, scooped up the kids and went to buy an auger...I hope it works. We only have one bathroom in our sweet teeny house...id like to be able to use it...
Oh! And until I fix it I cant use the washer..because I think a combo of that and maybe a clog down the line is what did it. Ugh...

I am sorry about the toilet. We had another water line break yesterday in the back yard. Luckily it is used to water the new trees. UGH!

Why did you name your hen 'Hawk'? I thought mine was going to be a rooster. HA!

Lisa

 

[henless]

Well, one week ago today I found my first egg and during this week they have given me 15 eggs with 3 or 4 miss fires. I am so excited! We have not used any of them yet but I am fixing to make a chocolate, peanut butter cheese cake and I am going to use some in it! I'm not going to fry any of them up until my hubby gets back home and we can have a big family breakfast!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

You had a great week!

I've gotten 18 this week. I've eaten one and I just fixed one for my granddaughter. She wanted one of my baby chicken eggs.

HAWK LAID THE EGG!!! Lena (Australorp), the last of my original flock laid the egg on the left. Hawk laid the blue egg on the right.

Looks like a good size egg for a first one. I'm sure it's just the pic, but your blue egg looks half blue and half tan. Looks kinda cool!! I'm so glad your new girls are starting to lay now.

Woohoo!!!! How exciting!!
My Little Hawk lays a blue egg too

Since everyone's being so productive today, seems I was given a little work to do too: our toilet is messing up! Yay!

I was in the bedroom putting away clothes when I heard a weird gurgling..I went in the bathroom to find large bubbles coming up.....then a boatload of God only knows...just..yeah..
Therllrew any towels I had on the ground, turned off the water, scooped up the kids and went to buy an auger...I hope it works. We only have one bathroom in our sweet teeny house...id like to be able to use it...
Oh! And until I fix it I cant use the washer..because I think a combo of that and maybe a clog down the line is what did it. Ugh...

Awww man!! I feel for you. Nothing worse than cleaning up an overflowed toilet. Hope you get it fixed and nothing major is wrong with it.


It's been a hot day here. I sprayed the dl in the coop. It was starting to get dusty. The chickens love digging in it after it's sprayed.

Some of my chickens are starting to get into the swing of laying. Seems funny that some of one breed will start laying before others of the same breed. I have 1 BR, 1 Aussie, 1 EE and 1 mystery girl laying. Arnet, my tailess EE, acted like she wanted to lay today. She was acting like my Aussie, (Nervous) Nelly. Running back/forth in front of the wire acting like she wanted out. Jumping in/out of the nests. She finally settled on one of the nests and acted like she was going to lay. Well, along comes Nelly. She had been in/out of the top nest several times already. She saw Arnet in the bottom one, and had to get up in the nest with her. One of them layed an egg. It was a small tan egg. I'm assuming it was Nellys. I hope it was, otherwise it means Arnet is laying brown eggs instead of blue/green eggs.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Tomorrow the concrete goes in for sure and Monday I have scheduled the guy to come move the hot tub and get it going. Now, over the last 3 years the lid to the hot tub has blow off in some of our pretty severe storms and water has gotten in there. So tomorrow, I've got to get my sexy swim suit on and get in the hot tub and really give it a scrubbing. It's going to take a couple of hours cause the water has gotten a bit nasty. My bad for not cleaning it sooner. Oh well!

Oh that must be gross. Good luck to you. Hope you have a lot of bleach.

No, I don't think I ran across a chart.

I do not believe that article one bit! Here is why, a quote from that article:

While hydrogen sulfide gas is harmful in large doses, the study suggests that "a whiff here and there has the power to reduce risks of cancer, strokes, heart attacks, arthritis, and dementia by preserving mitochondria,"

Since I have RD, that blows that claim right out of the water!!!

Time to plant for fall? My garden is just starting to produce!! LOL What are you planting for your fall garden?

Good luck on cleaning your hot tub. It won't be fun, but it sure will be nice when you get to use it this fall/winter.

I have trouble sleeping a lot these days. I was sleeping good this morning, but DH has a fishing tournament today, so we got up earlier so he can get going.

I'll look for the chart. It may have been on the Fresh Eggs Daily site, or in my book. I'll post it when I find it.

I've had trouble sleeping too. It's an age thing.

Well I don't garden and MIssjellyben has us all beat at painting the house, garage etc but there is some sort of satisfaction at looking out the back and seeing completed work projects. Most of my projects are huge (like concrete, building a fence, things like that) but I work hard to make the money to pay the guys to do that stuff. I have the wood that frames my windows rotting and my next door neighbor has a buddy at his house all weekend and he said his buddy would come tell me how much he would do it for. Fabulous! More tutoring money at work. I love it!
Y'all have a great and productive Saturday!!

I would love to be able to pay more people to do things around here. I have a great handy man and as soon as I recover from 7 months of financial hits he will be back out here doing some stuff for me.

Good Morning everyone!

Is everyone having problems sleeping? Is this an 'age' thing?

I am fairly new to Texas weather and gardening. I still can't get use to planting a second garden. It kinda goes against the grain to plant when it is so hot outside. Please, someone, explain how I can plant and not burn my crops up? I would love to get a crop of pinto beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc. in.

I am happy your hens are laying. I wish mine were. My Ameracaunas and Sussexs are 18 weeks old. The Australorps are 16 wks. I have been looking in all the places they lay outdoors and I am not finding anything.

Well, I was going to make Fig/Raspberry Jam. Ken and I had picked a couple gallons of figs Thursday evening. I did the laundry Friday morning and was going to make the jam after the laundry. Well my son showed up and I didn't get to them. I kept them on the table in a huge bowl. The house is air conditioned. I went to wash them this morning and they had molded. I was so disappointed. Now I wait for more to ripen.

Just for that I am going to go mow the pasture!

Ya'll have a great day!

Lisa

Sorry your figs molded. I've never tried figs before. What do they taste like? I have a mop bucket (never used for mopping) full of pears that I picked last night. Not sure what to do with them. I picked what I could reach standing on the ground. I still have the whole rest of the tree to do! That reminds me, Brynn (@Brookshire11 ) do you want to come and pick some pears this week? You can have as many as you like. They are really good pears.

One of my hens, Hawk, is sitting on the nest. I just might have a new egg today.

You have such pretty chickens. I can't wait for the day I see some out in my yard.

Well, one week ago today I found my first egg and during this week they have given me 15 eggs with 3 or 4 miss fires. I am so excited! We have not used any of them yet but I am fixing to make a chocolate, peanut butter cheese cake and I am going to use some in it! I'm not going to fry any of them up until my hubby gets back home and we can have a big family breakfast!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Yum! 15 eggs in a week is not bad!

HAWK LAID THE EGG!!! Lena (Australorp), the last of my original flock laid the egg on the left. Hawk laid the blue egg on the right.

Yay!!

Woohoo!!!! How exciting!!
My Little Hawk lays a blue egg too

Since everyone's being so productive today, seems I was given a little work to do too: our toilet is messing up! Yay!

I was in the bedroom putting away clothes when I heard a weird gurgling..I went in the bathroom to find large bubbles coming up.....then a boatload of God only knows...just..yeah..
Therllrew any towels I had on the ground, turned off the water, scooped up the kids and went to buy an auger...I hope it works. We only have one bathroom in our sweet teeny house...id like to be able to use it...
Oh! And until I fix it I cant use the washer..because I think a combo of that and maybe a clog down the line is what did it. Ugh...

If you need a plumber call me. I have a really good one that is reasonable (if that is possible for a plumber). You may need to call Roto Rooter to have your line cleaned out.


Wow! That was a lot to catch up on.