Were you up with your chickens this AM?
Hi
New to BYC. We're up near Maple Falls. Currently hoping the predicted storm will be somewhat of a washout.
We're back into chickens again. We have 5 RIR bantams, and 3 Silkies in the brooders. We should have another 5 RIR bantams tomorrow around noon or so.
We chose RIR bantams because we had the full-scale version at one time. When we added cracked corn to the layer ration, it was
100% egg production. If we get 75% production from our new bunch it will be OK with us. The bantams with free range capability should
cut the feed bill by over 75%.
My great-aunt and uncle had bantam RIR's during the Great Depression. My great uncle worked for the railroad, and my great-grandfather would go to Auburn Yard and sweep up spilled grain from the cars for the chickens. On the way home he would invite a hobo from the camp to come to my great-aunt and uncle's home for a home-cooked meal and a modest Bible lesson. My great-aunt never lowered her eyes in speaking of those lean times, and a good share of the stories had to do with the bantam RIR's they had. They always had fresh eggs, and the roosters got canned! Now I think I know why the old canning jars were tinted blue- so the shelves didn't look like they were stocked with lab specimens!
We are currently looking for a place where we can do some real gardening. Unfortunately, the ground around here is not suitable for that.
We want to get off the hill and down to some better ground. The idea of having more chickens and a large garden has a calming effect. I cannot pinpoint the reason.
One thing is for certain. Going to a feed store this time of year is certainly incriminating. I cannot get out the door without a box containing little fuzzy creatures. It doesn't matter what I originally went in for. If I can't hear them, I follow my nose, and immediately begin planning an escape of one, then two...
Our original RIR's were started with chick starter, and vitamins and electrolytes. The vitamins were rotated for fresh water during the day.
Brooded indoors so the birds could concentrate the food conversion on stitching together some sturdy animals. It worked.
Doing the same thing again. Looking forward to some productive egg-laying.
If there is a cure for this disease, I don't want it. I don't need it. Besides- the side effects, I hear, are worse than the cure.
Currently building a modular coop- indoors! No shop or garage here. No excuse for not getting a small coop made, either. I'm building the walls and floor. All sawing done outdoors (got enough shavings indoors already!), pieces are fit and screwed together indoors out of the rain. Roof goes on last, after the walls and floor are brought outside. This will be attached to a chicken tractor later. I will be making more chicken tractors this spring and through summer.
So, here's to our chickens- companions, entertainment, agents of soil amendment, and sources of fresh food- who would have thought that such modest investments could bring such great lasting returns?
Cheers
Mountaingrown
Such a cutie. I was thinking she wouldn't want it because she didn't with her last hatch, so I also put a few other eggs under her that aren't due until next week. Yeah, I'm going to have to get out the bator and put those eggs on lockdown in there, I guess. Either that, or I'm going to have to remove the baby from momma for a week. What would you all do??
