The Old Folks Home

[getaclue]

Wisher, please go to your doctor, don't take any supplements prior to your visit, and have them do some testing. Fatigue, and tiring easily may not be of much concern, but it can also be a warning of something very serious. The first warning symptom I had when I was diagnosed with cancer was fatigue. Later on, after chemo, I again experienced fatigue. I was tested, and they found out I was very low on Vitamin D, which is not uncommon after chemo, and it was winter, so I wasn't getting out into the sun enough for my body to produce enough. I was put on a very high dose of prescription Vitamin D. The results were almost immediate. I had to sleep, but when I awoke I felt rested, and had some energy. The problem was that the dosage was so high, and I was to take it every second day, so I experienced plenty of energy when I first took it, but then was depleted by the time I was to take it again. Sort of a roller coaster effect. I went and bought a bottle of D3, 5000 iu, and took it daily along with my once a day multi-vitamin. That provided enough on a steady basis to stop the roller coaster effect, and my energy level was good. Later on in the spring, and summer when I was getting enough sun, I didn't need to take any extra.

 

[Amberjem]

 

[getaclue]

These collard greens are from the same seeds we sent out to some of you folks! Hope you enjoy them!!!!!

That looks like good eatin'!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

the list is never ending

You're not kidding. Sometimes I contemplate getting rid of the goats, ducks and turkeys just so I can have some more "free" time - but I do like them. And I would miss seeing the ducks splash in the yard on a rainy day.

 

[vehve]

Luckily there's wild geese, ducks and swans out at our cottage, no need to keep them ourselves. That duck waterslide video was tempting though...

 

[vehve]

@ozexpat You inspired me to start putting together a spreadsheet of the nutrient content in what we feed the chickens. I've been instinctively cutting down on the feeds I consider to be high in protein, and just did a rough calculation on what we're feeding them for the first time. This is a bit difficult though, since the info available on different feeds seems to be in slightly different forms, and for some stuff I have very basic info. I'm going to add the vitamins etc. later (which will be a pain to get good data on), but I'd say the mix I just made this morning seems to be pretty well balanced proteinwise.

Ingredient
Hold'em Close Mix Wheat Oat Rapeseed pellet Pea Linseed crush Total
Parts

15​

30​

30​

10​

10​

5​

Coefficient

0.15​

0.3​

0.3​

0.1​

0.1​

0.05​

Contents Contents
Crude Protein

0.115​

0.126​

0.11​

0.295​

0.239​

0.314​

Crude Protein

0.15715​

Oil/Fat

0.13​

0.227​

0.139​

Oil/Fat

0.04915​

Fibre

0.09​

0.026​

0.139​

0.133​

0.06​

0.119​

Fibre

0.08825​

Ash

0.025​

0.018​

0.03​

0.0054​

0.035​

0.053​

Ash

0.02484​

Starch

0.691​

0.406​

0.513​

Starch

0.3804​

You're probably a bit more familiar with feedipedia than I am, don't they measure fat in any way in their tables? I still need to make time for getting more familiar with their tables.

What we're trying to accomplish with mixing the feed ourselves, is to mainly feed them domestically grown stuff. Out of the ingredients in this mix everything except for the Hold'em seed mix is grown in Finland, and the wheat, oats, peas and canola is grown about 40km from us.

The Hold'em mix is imported from Britain, so it's traveled a bit, but the birds seem to go crazy for the stuff. It has a bit of aniseed oil in it which makes the feed smell pretty nice, and I think it's giving our eggs a slight flavor addition too. The flavor isn't anise-like, it just improves and enriches the egg taste. It's made up of all kinds of goodies that would be hard to find, so I think it's nutritional value when it comes to vitamins and such is pretty ok too. Or at least that's what I tell myself.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Datasheet

Grape pomace and marc
TABLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DO NOT QUOTE.
Wow!

grape pommace's biggest problem is digestability nothing on chickens but some stuff on ruminants

Winery pomace including stalks has little value in animal feeding. Its chemical composition is similar to other types of winery pomace, but the digestibility of fibre is much lower and its nutritive value is comparable to that of straw.
Winery pomace from stalked grapes has been fed to dairy cows in amounts up to 6.5 kg a day. When supplemented with concentrates and legume hay, it proved to be a good feed. At this level of inclusion the milk yield tends to drop and the butterfat content increases. Larger amounts cause inflammation of the mucosa in the digestive system.

Okay, both of you. Please interpret in simple English

- Is it worth me going to talk to my local winery, or would I be wasting my time? I would just be adding it as a part of their feed and would continue with the all flock and other things that I currently feed. I figured anything I might be able to add that was free might lower my feed bill.
When you dont have info specifically for chickens you look at the info for the animal closest to same type GI. In this case use the "pig" data, NOT the ruminant. Cattle info is usually very specific as it is for the dairy cows which are super high production girls.

DE is digestiable energy. NE is Net Energy. Calcium and phophsorus are listed because these are major minerals that need to be balanced for all farm animals ( 2-1 ratio). DM is dry matter basis.Ash is the mineral content. Allows comparison of very juicy feed and relatively dry feeds like grains.

In a nutshell---
16% crude protein
27% fiber
7% fat ( EE)

About 50% is DE, or digestable energy

the Ca to P ratio is reasonable: 4-1. You would need to calc the % Ca to see the impact on growing chicks or laying hens. 12.1gm/kg x 100%. 12.1gCa /2000g feed x 100% = ?? no calculator to ck but number looks to be low. 0.6% Ca


Feed in small amounts as it is like feeding a roughage, meaning grasses, and is best used for ruminants rather than monogastrics.

Hows that?

 

[Arielle]

Wisher, wouldn't hurt to go get checked by the doc. Anytime our bodies has something going on, it lets us know in one way or another, and fatigue is a biggy. Can't always blame it on getting older either, especially if it comes on pretty quick.

X 3 We should never feel fatigued for no reason. My grand father was old, but never fatigued. Age shouldnt be an excuse. Hope you find the answer asap.

Quote: I can eat a lot of stuff that many people think is unappetizing, but black chicken meat is NOT one of them............ I'd rather be tired.
hhhahhaaaaaaa, son was quizzing me last night about what I wouldnt eat . . . it was a short list. lol A friend has pet silkies, hoping he might sell me a few boys, but not likely. He gave the last boys to a sanctuary!

These collard greens are from the same seeds we sent out to some of you folks! Hope you enjoy them!!!!!

Collards are the new 'hot" vegie to be eating. I tried some last summer for the first time and was surprised to find they were in the cabbage family.

Rather tasty once my taste buds made the transition. Would definitely include collards for a winter veg in the garden.

Quote: Deb you are amazing-- so glad you get time with your grandmother. Staying in our own home is important. ANd so glad you are getting propane put in for hot water!!

 

[sunflour]

These collard greens are from the same seeds we sent out to some of you folks! Hope you enjoy them!!!!!

In Georgia, everyone grew up on collards….most season with fat back or bacon . We cook ours in chicken broth with nothing else but salt/pepper and they are so much better believe it or not. Sure y'all know, but they are best after at least one frost.

 

[drumstick diva]

Felix we have a new member , Pyrex, from the Netherlands, Maybe you would like to welcome them