The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Jewelwing]

Wanted to post a few photos of the new chicken children.




Wow, that is a cute chick!!

 

[Jewelwing]

This is just my opinion..

Layer feed is not good for anyone

read your label and do some homework..it might help to let you know why I made that statement.

it is bad for me since when purchasing a bag of layer... 5lbs of the bag is oyster shells and I am paying triple of what shells cost. Calcium forced to chickens is not healthy. Sometimes they simply do not need it. Free choice calcium is the best way to go and cheaper.

Oh, I just assumed chicks went from starter to grower to layer. If you don't feed layer feed because of the oyster shells, what do you feed your laying hens? Free choice shells sounds good to me, but is there a bagged mix that you supplement with free choice oyster shells? I've been feeding Scratch & Peck starter, and tomorrow will start my first bag of grower, so I have a little time to figure it out before they start laying!

 

[delisha]

Quote: It all depends on you and your set up. If your birds free range, how much they free range, or if they are caged birds. Your weather and growing cycles. If you are feeding exclusive and not ranging at all stay with all flock grower or developer and add the calcium. You can feed back all egg shells for calcium and also buy shells. You have to choose what is right for you and your chickens.

 

[taylynnp]

Oh, I just assumed chicks went from starter to grower to layer. If you don't feed layer feed because of the oyster shells, what do you feed your laying hens? Free choice shells sounds good to me, but is there a bagged mix that you supplement with free choice oyster shells? I've been feeding Scratch & Peck starter, and tomorrow will start my first bag of grower, so I have a little time to figure it out before they start laying!

Is this what you are planning to feed as layer? http://www.scratchandpeck.com/products/sflayer
If not, check the feeding instructions on the product you are going to feed.

If so, the feeding instructions say to offer oyster shell as well. I don't believe that layer feed contains oyster shell.

Quote:

My organic feed also doesn't contain oyster shell so I'm going to try dried and ground/smashed egg shells as a calcium supplement free choice. Mine aren't laying yet so I haven't been able to try.

 

[aaggjg]

Omg I just saw that nugget has bumblefoot!!! Those darn feathered feet and well all the dirt!!
It doesn't look swollen or infected... It's not hot and the scab is half off. So it looks like it is healing up. I'm not sure that this explains her limping.... No part of her body feels hot. I guess I'll keep an eye on her and try to vice her a soak.... Unfortunately work is crazy & long right now.

 

[delisha]

Quote:

My organic feed also doesn't contain oyster shell so I'm going to try dried and ground/smashed egg shells as a calcium supplement free choice. Mine aren't laying yet so I haven't been able to try.
It also says:

Note: This feed contains high amounts of calcium and should not be fed to developing birds who are not yet laying eggs. This feed is also suitable for ducks!

This is why I say to read the label and don't tell people what it does or does not contain.

 

[aaggjg]

It also says:

Note: This feed contains high amounts of calcium and should not be fed to developing birds who are not yet laying eggs. This feed is also suitable for ducks!

This is why I say to read the label and don't tell people what it does or does not contain.

Delish so do you feed Grower with a side of oyster shell???

 

[aaggjg]

I forgot to mention..... Tank my hen who had that bad mite infestation last year .... Still looks great but on both sides of her vent she is still missing feathers. I decided to Nu-Stock her up again and hope that helped the feather regrowth. We the next morning her bare spots were glowing red & irritated. She hated it so much she pick & pick trying to get it all off. So I guess no more Nu-Stock for Tank. Has anyone else had this problem???

 

[delisha]

Quote: I always have calcium in bowls in the coops..I feed egg shells daily also. I use eggs every day and I feed them back fresh with the whites still wet. They get added proteins from that too. Even day old chicks get fresh shells.

My birds are out and on the ground at a few days old so I am not as stringent about grit. I do have it They just don't eat it very much except in winter.

If I buy bagged feed it is an all flock developer. It is higher percentage of protein and I can add whole grains to the bagged feed. Sometimes organic whole grains are not available during certain times of the year and I have to buy bagged feed. My grinder is used daily when I have new chicks. Baby's love wheat berries.
Go out in your neighborhood and drive around your farmer fields..find out who is growing whole grains. Look at the fields..if they have weeds..go ask them if you can purchase directly from them. You will save a ton of money. Call the small brewery's in your area and ask to pick up spend grains.
Use Kass's method to sprout whole grains and add that to diets.

 

[aoxa]

Justine I hope yesterday was everything & more then you wanted!!! Now to for the party!!!
Can't wait to hear all about it! May you and Susan have an amazing and happy journey through life together!!!

We had a beautiful day. Both days were more than we could have ever asked for.

My best friend Kyle took many pictures. He's coming over sometime soon so I can load them to my computer and post.