The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ki4got]

Have any of you hatched out Silkie x Amerecaunas? If the mink hadn't gotten our broody that's what would have hatched and now I'm curious as to what they would have looked like. Google wasn't very helpful

this is Weeble... about 1/4 silkie 3/4 bbs ameraucana. (and made it to the NCK calendar that Leigh's putting together!)
passes his crest along about half the time, the fuzzy legs also about half, but not always to the same chicks. LOL he hatched from a blue green egg, and his daughters also are laying blue-green as well (some more blue, depending on who the momma is).

 

[Kassaundra]

this is Weeble... about 1/4 silkie 3/4 bbs ameraucana. (and made it to the NCK calendar that Leigh's putting together!)
passes his crest along about half the time, the fuzzy legs also about half, but not always to the same chicks. LOL he hatched from a blue green egg, and his daughters also are laying blue-green as well (some more blue, depending on who the momma is).

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm curious to know how many people are feeding the following ... (fermented, sprouted or "as is")

Nothing (they forage)

Traditional poultry rations (layer or all purpose)

Organic commercial rations

Soy free rations

Corn free rations

Home-mixed rations (details please)

Some combination of the above

What am I forgetting.

I ask because I sell eggs and my biggest customer has just found a source for eggs from chickens fed "organic" and "Corn & Soy Free" feed (I have no other details about what the feed DOES contain, just what it doesn't). I'm sure my customer will be switching away from my eggs in a dizzying hurry.

I currently feed traditional poultry rations, with some supplements. I've looked into something more "special," but it seems that replacing corn and soy in a ration introduces various problems that need to be solved with nutritional counter-measures. I'd LOVE to avoid soy for various reasons related to MY health, but not if it compromises the health of the birds or the flavor of the poultry products. Also, the feed experts I've spoken to tell me there simply is no such thing as truly organic feed choices, especially with the GMO ingredients. So I'm reluctant to pay a premium for those products until I can find one I can "trust."

It's a big topic, too big for me to include every nuance in this one post, but I am interested in knowing what this group thinks about the "corn and soy free" movement in particular.

 

[Shan30]

this is Weeble... about 1/4 silkie 3/4 bbs ameraucana. (and made it to the NCK calendar that Leigh's putting together!) passes his crest along about half the time, the fuzzy legs also about half, but not always to the same chicks. LOL he hatched from a blue green egg, and his daughters also are laying blue-green as well (some more blue, depending on who the momma is).

Thank you! He's gorgeous, his name made me think "weebles wobble but they don't fall down." I was wondering if the fluffy silkie feathering gets passed along. Was kind hoping for fuzzy legged easter eggers with massive fluffy cheeks. Will probably let curiosity win and just hatch some out to see!

 

[ki4got]

I'm curious to know how many people are feeding the following ... (fermented, sprouted or "as is")

Nothing (they forage)

Traditional poultry rations (layer or all purpose)

Organic commercial rations

Soy free rations

Corn free rations

Home-mixed rations (details please)

Some combination of the above

What am I forgetting.

I ask because I sell eggs and my biggest customer has just found a source for eggs from chickens fed "organic" and "Corn & Soy Free" feed (I have no other details about what the feed DOES contain, just what it doesn't). I'm sure my customer will be switching away from my eggs in a dizzying hurry.

I currently feed traditional poultry rations, with some supplements. I've looked into something more "special," but it seems that replacing corn and soy in a ration introduces various problems that need to be solved with nutritional counter-measures. I'd LOVE to avoid soy for various reasons related to MY health, but not if it compromises the health of the birds or the flavor of the poultry products. Also, the feed experts I've spoken to tell me there simply is no such thing as truly organic feed choices, especially with the GMO ingredients. So I'm reluctant to pay a premium for those products until I can find one I can "trust."

It's a big topic, too big for me to include every nuance in this one post, but I am interested in knowing what this group thinks about the "corn and soy free" movement in particular.

I feed "Rockin' Rooster Growth Booster" pellets from Southern States, both dry and fermented, as well as free ranging as much as possible. I usually only feed in the morning when I let them out, letting them range the rest of the day. my fermented feed also includes some scratch grains as well to give it some texture. I tried the "Rockin' Rooster" scratch grains, and while it's a nice mix, I prefer cracked grains in the ferment as they seem to be affected more easily once the hull is cracked.

if you free range, you can push that for your eggs, since free range is more nutritious IMO than feeding ANY other type of diet. in my world, free range trumps organic any day... besides, if they're free ranging, I've never seen gmo weeds and bugs before. LOL

 

[aoxa]

Have any of you hatched out Silkie x Amerecaunas? If the mink hadn't gotten our broody that's what would have hatched and now I'm curious as to what they would have looked like. Google wasn't very helpful

This one is only 25% Silkie - 25% Naked Neck and 50% Ameraucana (mother was full bantam Ameraucana).

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
actually, that's how he got his name... he whacked his head during a coon raid when he was a chick, kept falling over sideways. 2 guineas I had in the brooder at the time kept huddling up to him for warmth and propped him up so he could eat and drink... it took a few days before he could walk normally, but he got better. as you can see. he's going on 2 now.

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm curious to know how many people are feeding the following ... (fermented, sprouted or "as is")

Nothing (they forage)

Traditional poultry rations (layer or all purpose)

Organic commercial rations

Soy free rations

Corn free rations

Home-mixed rations (details please)

Some combination of the above

What am I forgetting.

I ask because I sell eggs and my biggest customer has just found a source for eggs from chickens fed "organic" and "Corn & Soy Free" feed (I have no other details about what the feed DOES contain, just what it doesn't). I'm sure my customer will be switching away from my eggs in a dizzying hurry.

I currently feed traditional poultry rations, with some supplements. I've looked into something more "special," but it seems that replacing corn and soy in a ration introduces various problems that need to be solved with nutritional counter-measures. I'd LOVE to avoid soy for various reasons related to MY health, but not if it compromises the health of the birds or the flavor of the poultry products. Also, the feed experts I've spoken to tell me there simply is no such thing as truly organic feed choices, especially with the GMO ingredients. So I'm reluctant to pay a premium for those products until I can find one I can "trust."

It's a big topic, too big for me to include every nuance in this one post, but I am interested in knowing what this group thinks about the "corn and soy free" movement in particular.

I do a combo
1/3 acre of grass, weeds, shrubs, fruit tree fallings, garden (when not actively growing) and insects 24/7/365

fermented oats / corn / wheat daily

sprouted mostly wheat and oats during the non growing (winter) time daily

home raised dubia roaches about 3-4 times a week (less in summer when they have more yard/garden bugs)

bagged game bird feed a couple of times a week (chose it b/c it is only a couple of dollars more then grower/developer in my area and isn't vegetarian) this is more treat amounts.

food scraps but we don't have many of those at all just 2 people eating and I believe in eating leftovers.



I do not pay attention to gmo, corn/soy or any other thing like that. I think it is insane to jump through so many hard hoops just to feed the chickens these products when we eat them everyday in all our other foods. Before I get jumped on for that comment, yes I know there are some on this thread that never eat out or never buy food at the grocery store, but for the majority of us we do eat out or get food at the grocery store so we eat that in our food daily anyway.

 

[aoxa]

this is Weeble... about 1/4 silkie 3/4 bbs ameraucana. (and made it to the NCK calendar that Leigh's putting together!)
passes his crest along about half the time, the fuzzy legs also about half, but not always to the same chicks. LOL he hatched from a blue green egg, and his daughters also are laying blue-green as well (some more blue, depending on who the momma is).

Phoenix is his brother from another motha.. and father...

Phoenix is 25% Naked Neck 25% Ameraucana and 50% Silkie.

 

[Shan30]

This one is only 25% Silkie - 25% Naked Neck and 50% Ameraucana (mother was full bantam Ameraucana).

Oooo so pretty