Which BYC member scares you?

[tripletfeb]

Ok, I think it was you @tripletfeb that mentioned making a mash yesterday with all this extra chicken food I have, but everywhere online is saying mash is a mix of things. I would like to start making it with only the mix of foods that is meant for them. Do I just add water to it and make it like an oatmeal? I would like it to be a daily "treat" that I can give them either cold or warm. Is that an acceptable daily, or should it still not be given so often, even with the lack of all other additions?

I believe everyone is right and that I am overfeeding them. As I am hoping that I have not already killed them, this feeding stops NOW. No more buggies or veggies or fruits. I made a mix of their foods and spread it out as a "treat" mixed with grit for their breakfast this morning. My cockerels never did seem all that interested in sprinkled treats, so I used mostly layer feeds for the pullets, but there's cock friendly food in there too, just in case.

I'm praying that I'm not acting too late to change their diet.

This

Just put enough water into it so it sticks together. Some people add more water and make it soupy. My birds never liked soupy. Experiment with it to see what they prefer.

At the end of the day, they're chickens and its chicken food. They'll eat it if they're hungry.

 

[Deleted member 649519]

To make mash, just add water to the feed until it's the consistency you want. You can add warm water in the winter to help warm them up, or lots of cold water in the summer to help cool them down. And then the mash can just be used as their regular meal.

Sorry to bring up an unpleasant topic, but how many birds have you already lost?

I lost one so far. One is too many for me... And now my family wants to cull our alpha because he's begun attacking them. I made the new rule that absolutely no one is allowed in their run now unless they're willing to work with him like I have been. I'm not losing a bird just because people are too lazy and ignorant to work to become his alpha.

Thank you!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Not all males can be trained to be calm around humans.

 

[Deleted member 649519]

Thank you, everyone! I know they'll eat it, I just didn't know if it was supposed to be considered a treat if there's nothing else but their feed in there. I'll make one for my cocks and one for my ladies, and if they want to eat the others' mash, then that's up to them. I just want them to have an option.

On another note: Only one of my birds is laying half mushy eggs. One half of it will be firm, the other half weak shelled. I don't know which bird is laying them.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Not all males can be trained to be calm around humans.

But they all love freezer camp!

 

[Deleted member 649519]

Not all males can be trained to be calm around humans.

I know. But he doesn't show any aggression toward me. I'm the only one that has been consistently working with him and I bothered to research how to get him to be submissive to me. I don't tolerate him tidbitting me; I tidbit him, I don't tolerate any pecking, and if he's in my way I tell him to move his a$$ and he flutters right quick away. To test it today after he attacked my sister, I went in their run and coop and deliberately crossed paths with him multiple times. I made sure to turn my back on him, kneel down, and paid attention solely to the pullets. He raced over and was all eager for some attention, but he was in no way aggressive. He wanted his comb and wattles petted, which I give him if he's being a "good boy" (that means he has to treat the girls and beta cockerel well and he needs to be acting as their bodyguard, which he does wonderfully). But my brother acts like a bully to him and my sister is afraid of him and actively shows it; both things are no-nos and neither of them are willing to calmly and firmly show him dominance, just violence.

 

[Deleted member 649519]

But they all love freezer camp!

My boy is so well behaved, though! I just wrote a long a$$ reply to the poster that explains the problem here.

 

[Deleted member 649519]

Just put enough water into it so it sticks together. Some people add more water and make it soupy. My birds never liked soupy. Experiment with it to see what they prefer.

At the end of the day, they're chickens and its chicken food. They'll eat it if they're hungry.

I think mine are going to like it a bit soupy... They like to throw things in their water and fish it out again when it's mush.

I know they'll eat it, I just didn't know how often they should or even how to actually make it.

Thank you!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I know. But he doesn't show any aggression toward me. I'm the only one that has been consistently working with him and I bothered to research how to get him to be submissive to me. I don't tolerate him tidbitting me; I tidbit him, I don't tolerate any pecking, and if he's in my way I tell him to move his a$$ and he flutters right quick away. To test it today after he attacked my sister, I went in their run and coop and deliberately crossed paths with him multiple times. I made sure to turn my back on him, kneel down, and paid attention solely to the pullets. He raced over and was all eager for some attention, but he was in no way aggressive. He wanted his comb and wattles petted, which I give him if he's being a "good boy" (that means he has to treat the girls and beta cockerel well and he needs to be acting as their bodyguard, which he does wonderfully). But my brother acts like a bully to him and my sister is afraid of him and actively shows it; both things are no-nos and neither of them are willing to calmly and firmly show him dominance, just violence.

Hmmm. Okay, I see what you meant then. I thought you meant he went after everyone including you

 

[Deleted member 649519]

Hmmm. Okay, I see what you meant then. I thought you meant he went after everyone including you

Oh no. He attacks mommy and mommy will pin him in a heartbeat and show him who's queen. He bit me the night I lost Oreo, and at first I was going to flick his beak, but then realized that he was protecting Oreo's girlfriend, who I was trying to pet. I left it alone and continued petting her and he calmed down. He hasn't bitten me since. He also likes that I pet his spurs each day. I've been waiting for them to come in so I gently touch them right before bed to see how well they're coming along. I told him long ago that if he doesn't use them against predators and if he's not a good protector, then there's no point in me keeping him. I guess he took it to heart.