The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Penny Hen]

If any of you are going to be at Ellington Ag Center today, my wife and I are attending and would love to meet some of you in person.

Wish I could go. No wheels.

 

[Penny Hen]

I highly encourage everyone to consider their own ration... it is a huge savings.
I also encourage everyone to raise BSF... it's free, it's easy, and will save you a TON of money.

Because I used to own the sheep dairy here in TN and went through 4 tons of feed a week, the guys at the co-op know me well. ;-)
Yes, that was me on the cover of the Cooperator a while back holding the lamb.
I balance rations for people all over the country for poultry, sheep and cattle based on their needs, access, soil, climate... etc

The savings doing it this way is phenominal... even if you never free range or raise BSF.
The prepackaged non-gmo poultry feed runs 50% more than what we mix ourselves.
Add raising BSF... amazing how little it can cost you to feed poultry in TN.

OK, that is an AlphaBet Soup that has slipped by me. What is BSF?

 

[ChickenManTN]

...pretty sure RedRidge is referring to Black Soldier Fly (I googled it.) RedRidge, assuming that BSF are out of season now, how do you supplement for protein in the off months when mixing your own feed? I really want to get off of store bought feed.

 

[FallingStarFarm]

Granville, TN - Sebastopol Geese - adults for sale - 5 white, 2 blue saddleback, and 1 blue splash. $350 for all. 931.653.4366 We also have some Juliana piglets left. FallingStarFarm.com

 

[Silver Rock]

I first want to thank DMRippy "Donna" for the invite to the middle TN thread. I am looking forward to attending the Lawrence County Poultry Show in Lawrenceburg,TN next weekend.

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Lawrence_County_Poultry_Club.html

 

[RedRidge]

...pretty sure RedRidge is referring to Black Soldier Fly (I googled it.) RedRidge, assuming that BSF are out of season now, how do you supplement for protein in the off months when mixing your own feed? I really want to get off of store bought feed.

Because I free range most of the year i do not feed BSF all summer. I freeze them in gallon zip locks and begin feeding them when I begin winter confinement. I have an entire freezer full. I just began feeding them last week for the winter.

 

[DMRippy]

my second batch of orps is hatching more girls! and more mauves....1 I think and maybe 2. 2 more were pipped so we will see what they are tomorrow.

my first batch of SLW x choc split wyandotte hatched some choc pullets too. they are more solid looking than laced BUT they are not like a solid wyandotte either.

Becky got my first exchequer! I hatched them right after I put the girls in and didn't expect exchequer that quick!


over all looked like a good hatch. some are still hatching too!

 

[Penny Hen]

...pretty sure RedRidge is referring to Black Soldier Fly (I googled it.) RedRidge, assuming that BSF are out of season now, how do you supplement for protein in the off months when mixing your own feed? I really want to get off of store bought feed.

Someone posted on one of the threads about 2 or 3 months ago that it was easy to raise your own mealworms in a covered bucket feeding them table scraps. I just can't remember what thread it was.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I have Mealworms........ they are easy but slow to get going for a big flock. I don't feed mine out, well not much. I do sell some every once in a blue moon.

 

[Chrystal Dawn]

Why has my standard cochin, Professor Eagleton, decided she can no longer eat chicken feed? I've tried crumbles and pellets. She'll eat "treats" and some scratch but that's it. She's acting normal but she seems a little thin when you pick her up. She's all feather, so you can't notice it until you pick her up. Has anyone else ever had this happen? I'm concerned because it's getting cold out and I want her fat and warm this winter.

I got some little pellet-like food for my parakeets but they wouldn't eat it so I gave it to the chickens and she ate that. The only thing she seems really interested in eating is bread. If this continues would she be ok eating bread with vitamin drops on it or something like that?

P.S. - If anyone is interested in taking some parakeets, please let me know! There's a green boy and a yellow girl. George and Tammy. Their cages, food, bowls, and toys are included!!! These birds were dumped on me and I work nights so talkative pets aren't the best for my schedule. Asking $50. That's about half what I paid for the cage. (I couldn't stand the two of them in that little cage they were left here in)