Utah!

[themadchicken]

Oh Gary, those chicks are darling! How is the splash silkie doing? Getting more beard yet..it was really starting to come in.

So far she is doing good. I put her in the brooder coop/run with 2 Silkies about the same age and two days latter they were all sleeping and dust bathing next to each other. I opend the run saturday so she could mingle with the rest of the flock and the youg RIR's and the Welsummers were picking on her pretty bad. Since i will be at work all day tommor i think i will lock them up again during the day and have my son let them out each day when he gets home from school. Hopefully she will follow the other two out of the run and into the bushes were they like to hang out during the day. My rooster really likes her allready. You should see him dance for her! He is right up in her face but she has no idea what he is doing and hurry's away.

 

[Cynthia12]

So far she is doing good. I put her in the brooder coop/run with 2 Silkies about the same age and two days latter they were all sleeping and dust bathing next to each other. I opend the run saturday so she could mingle with the rest of the flock and the youg RIR's and the Welsummers were picking on her pretty bad. Since i will be at work all day tommor i think i will lock them up again during the day and have my son let them out each day when he gets home from school. Hopefully she will follow the other two out of the run and into the bushes were they like to hang out during the day. My rooster really likes her allready. You should see him dance for her! He is right up in her face but she has no idea what he is doing and hurry's away.

Ha, that's funny, he has to get up in her face so she can see him! She still doesn't understand. lol

 

[RedIII]

I'm trying something new this winter. I've planted some oats and wheat in a test patch to see how it produces this winter. I have seen farmers plant red winter wheat before, and I found out that oats are winter-resistant and not at all bothered by frost.

So, I'm curious to see what kind of grain (or greens) I can get from this little spot this year. I guess it's kind of the larger version of sprouting and/or fermenting feed? Haha.

 

[Ruralpearls]

I'm trying something new this winter. I've planted some oats and wheat in a test patch to see how it produces this winter. I have seen farmers plant red winter wheat before, and I found out that oats are winter-resistant and not at all bothered by frost.

So, I'm curious to see what kind of grain (or greens) I can get from this little spot this year. I guess it's kind of the larger version of sprouting and/or fermenting feed? Haha.

I have oats in my run right now. Turkey's, ducks and chickens love, love, love it.

 

[bitsyhorse]

I have oats in my run right now. Turkey's, ducks and chickens love, love, love it.

is there a secret in not getting them to eat the seeds?

 

[Cynthia12]

is there a secret in not getting them to eat the seeds?

I was wondering the same..if they are free ranging, will they scratch them up? And wow! Look at the size of those turkeys..have to ask, are either one of them going to be for Thanksgiving? That's a lot of meat!

 

[RedIII]

Bitsy, I wouldn't let my birds free range until the seeds had sprouted and established themselves for at least a week. If you want to do something in the run, you could take a shallow box and put the seeds and soil inside, then cover the top with mesh. I want to do this at some point, with the idea being that the girls can crop the grass as it grows, but not enough that they eat the whole plant.

Cynthia, yes. Their names are Christmas and Thanksgiving It's too bad they are so expensive to keep through the winter. I wouldn't mind keeping a tom to put with my hen in the spring, and these guys survive far better than the commercial meat breeds.

 

[Ruralpearls]

is there a secret in not getting them to eat the seeds?

Yes, plant the seeds in the spring when you buy your chicks and by the time it has grown up tall the chickens will finally be old enough to free range. Sorry, I'm not much help. That is just what I did. I have a half acre of it and only five chickens so they don't put much of a dent in it. You could probably plant half of their run and keep it fenced off while it is growing and once it is up good and strong let them go on that side while the other half gets planted.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I need someone to take my lil partridge silkie I got from Lisa. Turns out it is a roo after all, cause hubby heard someone crowing this morning. I cannot have a rooster, and need him gone. He's such a beautiful guy and will make some good looking chicks. Someone please come take him and give him a good home or re home him for me? If anyone can help please let me know.

 

[sundancenbare]

I dropped off my birds at the Utah State Fair. I am showing 3 Seramas and a silver silkie and a White frizzle cochin. I am in love with the seramas. Is anyone else showing?