The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[delisha]

Great idea. I need to change my chicken brooder anyway. I might add that hammock idea. Thank you. I do not think these guys are going to make the fair. They have a lot of growing to do in two weeks. Have you ever butchered out 5 week old meaties?

 

[Beekissed]

No...I usually like to take mine past 10 wks and further. The older the better.

 

[mrsamplias]

Flock Update: They have been getting FF for a bit over a month now and free ranging for the most part. I was a bit disappointed when the egg count dropped about 10 days ago or so. 'Specially since everyone was talking about how their girls were laying on FF and the 'production' remained up. Well, I had just blown it off to the shortening days and that they were taking a rest. Yesterday I found out why my count had dropped (after brief paranoia of bad things that cause chikens to stop laying)....the dreaded Secret Nest....under the first front porch step....18 eggs all piled up thanks to at least three to four of the girls.

...just like kids playing outside, they have been too lazy to walk all the way back to the coops to lay. Anyway the eggs all sank in cold water...
SO they have NOT slowed down laying...the sun finally came out and I was able to see how shiney their feathers are and no more foot problems, all seems well for now....and now I know where to look when the egg count seems off again.

I'm glad to hear that it's not just my chickens that are lazy!! My chickens have started to drink from our dog's faucet (

), instead of walking to their chicken run. I was worried that they might hurt themselves, crack their beaks....but they seem fine.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Bee- The GnarlyBunch looks wonderful!! Amazing transformation!!

 

[Beekissed]

Anybody else out there have any befores and afters since they've been feeding the FF? My egg yolks are still consistently huge and I was wondering if anyone else is noticing that as well.

 

[aoxa]

Anybody else out there have any befores and afters since they've been feeding the FF?   My egg yolks are still consistently huge and I was wondering if anyone else is noticing that as well. 

 

I haven't noticed yet. Only been 2 weeks. I do notice a lot more eggs!

 

[delisha]

My yolks are bigger, however the color is lighter. The whites are firmer, the shells are a bugger to crack sometimes and I get more shells in my baking and cooking. I now have to crack my eggs in a bowl first.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Yes yolks are bigger. Just getting less eggs Finally figured out my girl with the watery poop won't eat the FF. I guess I will need to make her a different batch with less ACV

 

[armorfirelady]

Bee your hens look AWESOME & so healthy now.

You asked for pics for before/after starting FF. I have a couple to share. No eggs yet so I cant comment on the size of yolks.








Here are my pullets at 13 weeks old when I brought them home. They were on layer pellets only.



Here they are about 18 weeks old just starting on the FF






And here they are today 27 weeks old & 10 weeks on FF pigging out on the pumpkins my friends have been bringing over for them. For 4 hens they get about 1 1/4 cups FF a day and forage for the rest in the veggie garden & enclosed run. And that FF last till about dinner time when its licked clean. They love digging thru the veggie garden for bugs especially since I dump leaves in there & try to dig up the dirt under the leaves so they can get bugs. But they will dig thru the 3 inches of leaves to get to the dirt as well.

All I know is the 50# of layer feed I bought is going to last a LONG time now that I FF their food

Their feathers are so super soft. I love to pet them when their roosted for the night because they are so soft. Big difference from when I first got them. Silky, shiny, soft feather with big ol' fuzzy butts. Almost no smell in the coop & with the leaves I have been adding as I mulch them are keeping the hens busy stirring up their litter. I never knew 4 hens could take about 3 inches of leaves layered on hay and mix it all up in 2 hours..........hoping the 6 bags of leaves I have stored will keep them entertained this winter

 

[Beekissed]

They look great!!!! So filled out and smooth....won't be long until the eggs come and you will be jumping to the moon when you eat the first eggs.

I simply LOVE it that you took the info you got on the OT thread and applied it to your birds and their environment. I don't think you will ever regret that. Healthy chickens are so much more enjoyment than sick ones...any ol' day!