Utah!

[darkroo]

Good morning Utah! Congrats on all the new eggs out there!

I recently got my first standard size egg from Red my red sex link chicken!

I'm only waiting on my seventh girl to start Mango a full size EE'er I am so hopeing for BLUE or at least green.

I've been using artificial light and have been getting four to five egges a day which is great because I still have one girl who insists on being broody. I have put her in lock down repeatedly but when the weather changed was afraid to leave her in solitary.

My main reason for this post my discovery of purnia chicken scratch. This is my first year with working pets and I've been getting most of supplies from IFA. I recently went to Saddle Up and bought a 50 pd bag of Puinia and was astounded by the difference in quality. I beleive it was Sunfresh Scratch Grains in a brown bag and it is wonderful. There was at least NO (at least so far) no powered product. When I opened the bag of IFA scratch the powdered grains were all the way to the top and I would estamate after completing that bag that one forth of the bag was powdered which the chickens don't get and usually just blows away when you throw it down. I've only just started the Purina but after opening it up the first time I held the top closed and juggled the bag some and then checked it again and no signs of powered grain. I'm not all sure what kind of grains are used in the two different mixes but the Purina seems to have a more evenly distrubited types of grain in it. Including some type of what looks like flower tops. I checked the prices and the Purina ended up costing one penny more than the IFA brand. After seeing the difference I would pay alot more than that because of the lack of waste.

I feed my girls a mix of 20% layer pellets (it's suppose to help them stay warm in the cold weather). When I need my next bag I've been thinking of trying the Purina. And 18% hen developer. They get to free range all day and have free choose orster shells and crushed eggs shell and seem to be really happy chickens. I have five bantams including two silkies and there eggs have been developing really well they were so tiny to start with. Red's first egg was huge in comparison but I'm waiting to see how much bigger they are going to get. Justing waiting for Mango to get busy.

Looks like the last storm by passed through without any snow in the valley and it gave me a chance to move their house again and prep for the on coming white stuff. I hope all are about ready cause we don't have long now i think.

I saw something about organic food earlier how did that work out?

Have a good one!

 

[Daysiechicks]

How old is your Red Sex Link? I'm on egg patrol, waiting patiently for eggs from my Red Sex Links.

 

[darkroo]

Red layed her first egg when she was 26 weeks old which was two weeks ago and I beleive she hasn't missed a day since, my how time flys. They are nice big brown eggs. How old are yours. My bantams started at ninteen weeks and are mostly tan eggs with varitions in speckles and shapes.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
Don't forget that Saddle Up also has a frequent buyer card. Buy ten bags, get one free. The owner there is so incredibly nice as well and she'll special order stuff in for you as well.

We're still waiting on our last EE to lay as well.

 

[Daysiechicks]

They are 23 weeks old today. Their combs are pink but not very bright though.. I have two austrolorps that are 2 weeks younger (21 weeks ) and their combs are bright bright pink

 

[darkroo]

Red started squatting about two weeks before she started laying also in that time frame her comb doubled in size and her wattles also. Her wattles are much more red then her comb though. It should be soon for you

 

[Daysiechicks]

Thank you! I appreciate your insight. Can I ask one more thing? What is this squatting thing I hear about? Am I understanding it correctly that when you go to pick them up instead of running they just sit down????

 

[darkroo]

Squatting is the position the hen assumes when she is ready to be mated. So for those chickens you haven’t been able to get close to when they turn into pullets they are a lot easier to catch. Typically you need to be close to them and if you quickly move your hand over them they will assume the position and freeze allowing you to simply pick them up. Although they will maintain the position for a minute or so even after you pick them up. Of course if you’re not close enough or for other unknown reasons they will still run off on ya. I always take every opportunity to pet or pick them up and this will give you the chance. My observation seems to be they don’t mind being close to you but touching and picking up can be another thing. I try to move slowly around them and spend a lot of time just being around and they will come up to me and stay close unless I try to touch them then sometimes they let you and sometimes they run away.

 

[Daysiechicks]

hmmm.. well now I'm excited to to try that with them. I'll let you know if they squat. I am also going to start watching their wattles and combs. THANK YOU so much. I'll keep you posted

 

[kimbobim]

Where is Saddle Up located? I'm in Highland, but DH goes to SLC most weeks and could stop in there.

Hope you're all keeping warm tonight! The storm hit our house about an hour ago. Lots of wind here and some snow building up. Glad we're all inside and we've got the wood stove going.