The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lewis7209]

Thank you Chermoz. I hate the name I picked on here, people will think I'm a male.....lol. That's what I get for setting it up when tired.

 

[slordaz]

yep lol

last time I had a flock many years ago had one spoiled rotten chick that followed me everywhere, she would take a good bath and want her feed at the table lol, they certainly can develop personalities lol.
We have 3 younger chicks we got first ,and I am guessing the other 3 are 7-8 weeks old now as they got their feathers on wings then turned around and look to be going through a molt and acquiring tail feathers. The older chicks love treats but didn't want anything to do with the scrambled egg, The young ones loved it though and actually they seemed to go after their reg feed a lot better after a treat.

 

[curious chickee]

This is Henrietta/ Henry.??

Pullet, my boys at 5 weeks old had huge wattles and big red combs.

 

[lewis7209]

I have 2 that are supposed to be RIR chicks (but I think they are production reds) have pink combs and no Wattles. I am convinced the largest is a Cockrell.

 

[curious chickee]

So I talked to my feed store and they only carry starter, broiler, and layer crumbles. I am currently FF their starter crumbles but plan to have a mixed flock in future. I don't have time to grow my own feed. Should I just keep feeding starter until POL or switch to broiler, finally giving layer when mature to all chickens including my roo. What about later down the road when my hens hopefully go broody and begin hatching? I would really like to feed just one type of FF.

 

[curious chickee]

I have 2 that are supposed to be RIR chicks (but I think they are production reds) have pink combs and no Wattles. I am convinced the largest is a Cockrell.

I have the same thing, kept posting pictures and was told might be early maturing but look like pullets, now at 7 weeks old their combs are pink no wattles but no where near as big as my 4 barred rock cockerels or my cochin cockerel so they are probably pullets

Here is my pullet RIR at 4 weeks, comb has not changed much now at 7 weeks just a bit bigger.

 

[Lacy Blues]

So I talked to my feed store and they only carry starter, broiler, and layer crumbles. I am currently FF their starter crumbles but plan to have a mixed flock in future. I don't have time to grow my own feed. Should I just keep feeding starter until POL or switch to broiler, finally giving layer when mature to all chickens including my roo. What about later down the road when my hens hopefully go broody and begin hatching? I would really like to feed just one type of FF.

I would recommend you check the protein level of the broiler feed.

What I do is mix Flock Raiser with Game Bird Grower. Game bird is 25% protein and flock raiser, is 20% (I think) I mix them 50/50 and end up with a ration that is about 22% protein. Everybody gets it. Easy peasy.

Actually, I do one thing in addition. I generally buy 4 bags at a time. I mix one of each and put it into one storage container (read: new garbage can). The other one, I mix up the same only I add rolled barley and BOSS. I use a 1 quart scoop to measure. Mixing half bags at a time, I add 4 scoops of rolled barley and 1 scoop of BOSS. This cuts the protein just a little and it gives them stuff they really like for dinner. This goes into another new trash can.

The first mixture I use for their breakfast. As I already stated, the second one is for dinner. Dinner is when they get the goodies... sprouts if I have them. Fruits or vegetables that are passed their prime and looking a little bit sad get either shredded or chopped and mixed into the feed that is served, not into the ferment bucket.

On occasion, I will mix into the ferment bucket a half quart of plain unsweetened yogurt if I think the flock will need it depending on weather and other circumstances. I rely heavily on yogurt to take care of my birds in times of stress.

 

[curious chickee]

Thanks, lacy blues I will look into the amount of protein in broiler.
What other grains could I add if they don't have rolled barley to decrease protein if broiler is higher than 22%? My horse was an easy keeper only eating alfalfa hay and rice bran for added supplements so I am not sure what grains they carry.

 

[curious chickee]

According to the website of one local feed store, the broiler is 21% protein, so looks like that might their general all flock. I will ask my store tomorrow.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thank you Chermoz. I hate the name I picked on here, people will think I'm a male.....lol. That's what I get for setting it up when tired.

@lewis7209

You know...since you are so new and haven't posted a lot yet, you could get a new identity, quit using this one, and just come back on and let us know it's you! Lots of folks have done that...