Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[kristip]

BL4...that sounds like an awesome trip. Definetly in the works for the future. we have a large list of places to take the kids, now to find a lottery I can win to travel more! No vacation time in the new job which stinks. will have to work on that option.

ok so I have the one with mild respitory issue that I am going to treat with the duramycin. I have two others that I am thinking of treating. For past 5 months, two birds have feathers missing around neck area and I dont think someone is picking on them. I tried worming them once with the down the throat drops...would you do that again or wait and just try the antibiotics... not sure what is going on and I dont see any mites either... stumped.

one more question and i need to get my camera out there sometime soon... I have three marans mix babies (both parents were marans but one was blue and one was a cuckoo) so two came out splash. one has had a very red comb since week two, they are six weeks now and the second splash is pinking up now as well... at six weeks would you suspect roo or chance of girl? The blue cuckoo is the third and has a small comb but no color yet. so thinking girl there. So if anyone wants a maran roo chick...I have one for you. The guaranteed rooster has nice splash colors and great feet feathering. lol.

 

[cuties]

Kristi, are you sure itnis notnmites? Momgille had the same feather issue as you. And she just posted it was mites...

 

[kristip]

I know and looked at that. I have been looking at these two for months and had other friends look and we see no mites. I also dusted them with DE for a while and wormed them...just trying the next step. They are both just a year old...

 

[cuties]

Hm, hard to say then. Maybe give them the treatment to be on the safe side. Sydney's silkie has been sitting on a nest on the floor.nand sounded a bit raspy. So I meved her to the rabbit pen. And am treating her. Never know for sure with these guys. It may is hard that we can't just make a quick run to the vet for a diagnosis.
We are actually revamping our entire feed program. Some of ours feathers are poor quality. And I just feed the fleet stuff. I normally add lots of garden scraps. But so not have much this year. I do give boss and scratch. And the normal treats of leftovers. Along with free range for the majority. We are now switching to e feed mill in the area with better protiens. And levels of protein. They seem like nice people willing to share info on what others farmers recommend in the area. Hopefully with the better feed we will go through a little less I do know thag we will be paying the same price for the good stuff. So either way it is a win/win.
A local guy told me that he feeds some whole corn to them before they roost each evening. Says that it takes longer to digest. And while it is not much for nutritional value, it prevents the chickies from having thT empty crop/hunger in the am. Keeps them from waking up and engorging.
Jim, I think I remember you feed corn. What are others opinion s here?

 

[Sclark73]

Stacy, when are you needing this rooster? I'm seriously considering going to the Portage show in September. If someone was willing to bring one I could pick it up. Just a thought. I'd ask you to come along, but I know you can't leave anymore due to some animal care issues when you are away.

The Ladysmith fair starts on the 8th so that won't work. I did buy a roo yesterday and 4 younger blrw birds. I will still be looking for a better roo out of Foley. Thanks for the offer Yvette.
I know he's not that good and after driving over 4 hours to get him I wasn't coming home without a bird so I figured he can go in with the Ameracaunas for my EE chicks and I will still find a different roo for my BLRW.

Vicki, if you can find me a good roo and even 2 pullet/hens I'd be exstatic!! I have been looking everywhere and noone has responded to me. I wish I would of jumped on your flock right away when you were selling as I really wanted them badly.

 

[unkadan]

A few thoughts on feed and mites, these come from lots of research, talking to experienced breeders, picking the brains of some old timers, and discussing with a few feed mills. If you are raising birds for showing it is advised you use a higher protein feed that has meat protein as the major source. Really hard to find if at all in WI due to the CWD scare and mills not wanting to clean the equipment (the law) between batches. That said a few will do it for you if you commit to a given quantity of feed and order in advance. I found a source of "game bird" feed that does contain animal products, not cheap but really does the trick, I am using it this year on my "grow outs" they are well ahead of birds years past without that meat source.

Kris, check your birds at night, the northern mites hit them on the roost when it is dark. IMO DE is not affective, if you choose to dust use Sevin (always use a respirator with that stuff it is on the list for banning soon due to it's toxicity if inhaled) I use ivermectin 2 times a year, the injectable added 2cc's per gallon of water. That takes care of almost all internal and external parasites, 2 treatments 10 days apart spring and fall here works well.

you will find a myriad of suggestions and opinions on these topics,,,these are mine

 

[jvls1942]

good early afternoon,

I got the fence fixed.. made that section chick proof while I was at it..

really ****** off a couple of guineas who were inside the fence when I got finished.. they had to figure out that they would have to fly out, since their hole no longer exists ..

after this break, I am going to put the glass back into the window openings.. then we are ready for the new tenants ..

Cooties, I feed corn only if the chickens are not layers..
to the non layers, I feed cracked corn..
I know whole corn digests more slowly..
your chicken friend has an interesting theory..

If I want to fatten up birds for butchering, I feed 50/50 fine ground oats and corn..

this batch of young chickens I am going to feed the feed mill ration of broiler mix. Oats, barley, wheat , corn , soybean and a vitamin supplement ..
I just don't like the idea of finishing them up on the granuals from F&F ..

.........jiminwisc......

 

[Sclark73]

Heres photos of the new roo, not good pics as he's in quarantine and didn't want to take him out for pics. His comb really sucks for sure.

 

[cuties]

Unkadan, it seems everywhere I searched (on line & word of mouth) it comes back to meat proteins. I was actually thinking of just callling the Brandon market and asking if they would possibly send scraps our way. But was also then told that I wouldn't want to feed the scrap items. As they are not really whT the chickies needed.
Where did you find that feed? Also is ivermectin something I would need to order? Or would fleet farm cary it?
Jim, I do believe there is oats in our scratch. Maybe I will switch the treats to oats and boss. I will research more on the ingredients of our scratch. Thanks.
also, why do you not feed the whole corn to the layers?
clark, either way he is a handsome guy
We did have them on the meat maker type feed. It is 18%. But according to research thei fleet feed we were using has poor type of protein. Things like byproduct. The feed we are going to get from the mill is 24% if I remember; the barley % is upped to get the highrler levels.
thanks for the feedback!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

Could you just buy a bag of fish meal and add that in? Also, Eprinex pour on is easier on the chickens system.

Going to Portage! I just need to reserve a hotel room.