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Posted: 10/18/2020 11:53:56 PM EDT
[#1]
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Posted: 10/19/2020 1:27:29 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:  That is AWESOME!!!! WHERE did you find "chicken harnesses? No, I'm not going to do that, but it's awesome. Next up? Seeing-eye chicken. Take your chicken to Lowe's and carry one of those little telescoping sticks. Have somebody film it from a distance. I bet @Piccolo would be up for that!!  As for harnesses... The guy who runs MyPetChicken.com takes it WAAAYYY off the deep end. Chicken diapers so they can live in the house, for example. He makes oatmeal every morning for his girls, for another. Still, the chicken harnesses DO work well if they are well-fitted. (HobbitWife's idea, not mine.) |
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Posted: 10/19/2020 4:03:46 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I bet @Piccolo would be up for that!! A cat was just fine, thank you... |
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Posted: 10/28/2020 11:03:25 PM EDT
[#4]
Got up to 60 today, down to 25 last night. I gotta make sure the chickens are OK. We just got an electric waterer for them, keeps the water from freezing. And they still don't like going inside the coop, except to eat and drink and lay eggs, even in the cold.
I'm told that they are good down to about 10-15 F or even cooler, then they will go inside and huddle up. For now they huddle on a long roosting bar outside in the cold air. |
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Posted: 10/29/2020 7:02:35 AM EDT
[#5]
When I got my chicks I was told to lock them in the coop for 24 hours and then let them out. That way they would know where home is. Have had no trouble with them putting themselves up. Bought an automatic door an it is great.
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Posted: 10/29/2020 9:59:53 PM EDT
[#6]
So a hawk almost got one of my girls today. What can I do to keep hawks away other than a rooster (not allowed in my city) or a shotgun?
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Posted: 10/29/2020 10:01:47 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: So a hawk almost got one of my girls today. What can I do to keep hawks away other than a rooster (not allowed in my city) or a shotgun? The rooster would get you in less trouble than the shotgun... Hawks are tough to deal with, unless a netting cover is an option. Having covered areas in the run the birds can take shelter in helps. |
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Posted: 11/9/2020 5:23:12 PM EDT
[#8]
My chickens are eating their eggs! I just discovered a broken egg, with a chicken eating the yolk. What can I do to stop this?
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Posted: 11/9/2020 8:09:43 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: My chickens are eating their eggs! I just discovered a broken egg, with a chicken eating the yolk. What can I do to stop this? They need calcium, either oyster shell or aragonite (sp?). Try that at first and then if they continue eating eggs get some plastic ones to put in there and they should eventually break them of the habit..... but you may have to check more frequently for eggs. |
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Posted: 11/9/2020 8:14:37 PM EDT
[#10]
Once they get started, the only way to stop them is to have chicken dinner.
Oh, you may slow them down with fake eggs, but they will just get smarter about it... A lot of the time an egg accidentally gets broken by a chicken being clumsy, or a nesting box with all the soft stuff scratched out, etc. Then the chicken or chickens discover how good egg is. And start looking for more. And pecking eggs till she finds more... We have tons of ceramic eggs in our nesting boxes, they still pick out the real ones occasionally. If I catch the chickens doing it, they are goners! |
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Posted: 11/10/2020 1:59:46 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: So a hawk almost got one of my girls today. What can I do to keep hawks away other than a rooster (not allowed in my city) or a shotgun? |
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Posted: 11/10/2020 2:35:53 PM EDT
[#12]
Cannibalism update:
HobbitWife read online that it can be caused by lack of nutrition, especially protein. Meal worms have lots of protein. We never had cannibalism with our two hens in Nuevo Mehico. We fed them lots of mealworms, b/c they went absolutely wild when we did so! hmmmm... She put some mealworms, along with some calcium & some other stuff, in a bowl. Hens went wild for it! just 20 minutes ago I found one perfect egg; it was cold so it'd been there for awhile, right in the door to the penthouse of the coop. I'm hoping the problem's solved. |
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Posted: 11/10/2020 2:37:44 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: So a hawk almost got one of my girls today. What can I do to keep hawks away other than a rooster (not allowed in my city) or a shotgun? I'd be very, very careful about shooting a hawk, or most any raptor. There MAY be an exception if you are protecting your livestock, but still... be very careful: many if not most raptors are protected by federal law. |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:24:22 PM EDT
[#14]
What can I use to water the chickens that can be connected to the water hose so it doesn't run out and also stays clean?
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:27:13 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'd be very, very careful about shooting a hawk, or most any raptor. There MAY be an exception if you are protecting your livestock, but still... be very careful: many if not most raptors are protected by federal law. Does a goose need more space than <.25 acre? |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:33:30 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yeah can't do it here. Does a goose need more space than <.25 acre? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I'd be very, very careful about shooting a hawk, or most any raptor. There MAY be an exception if you are protecting your livestock, but still... be very careful: many if not most raptors are protected by federal law. Does a goose need more space than <.25 acre? Just one dresser drawer, or so I'm told... 
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:43:35 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yeah can't do it here. Does a goose need more space than <.25 acre? |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:46:24 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It'll be fine. Just make sure you get a gosling and raise it with the chickens. It'll watch out for them and guard against predators. |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:48:47 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I got the chickens in May and have been laying for a couple months now. Would chickens typically accept a new Gosling now? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: It'll be fine. Just make sure you get a gosling and raise it with the chickens. It'll watch out for them and guard against predators. |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 9:52:52 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: they may pick on it a bit but it'll be too big for them to bully pretty quick. Goose just needs to think he's a chicken so he'll keep an eye out for predators and they're big enough to deter a hawk. |
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Posted: 11/18/2020 10:06:21 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: they may pick on it a bit but it'll be too big for them to bully pretty quick. Goose just needs to think he's a chicken so he'll keep an eye out for predators and they're big enough to deter a hawk. https://www.hobbyfarms.com/raise-a-goose-to-guard-your-flock/ |
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Posted: 11/20/2020 8:24:47 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I admit that I first through the chickens would get zapped. My chickens reach through any fence to get what's on the other side, no matter how lush the greenery in their run, cuz....chickens. If they get against it, I'm assuming they'll get shocked. With you going to a 12v battery, are you going to transform it down somehow, so they're not getting that hit? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: @Kitties-with-Sigs Would love to have you out here sometime! Wrapped up the 2nd tractor. A few minor improvements, mostly at the front. If anyone wants A few pics and details: The rear. The black band is 1/2" irrigation tubing I slit and am using it as edging on the siding panel to minimize water damage to the core of the panel. Nesting box access is door 1'x2'. The white panel is a plastic UV resistant wall panel and the grey is a contractor grade poly woven weed block that is also UV treated. The grey panel acts as shade block but still lets water/air flow through. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094546-1446355.jpg Shows how I notched the back wall panel to fit. The "tongue" of the panel is screwed into the back PVC pipe. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094813-1446364.jpg I kept two rows of wire fence as an overhang/"skirt". The idea is I can push it down to cover dips/holes/gaps in the ground. Remember, the wire is energized, so any predator that pokes a nose at it to try and dig/climb/reach will get popped. The chickens aren't bothered by it - feathers are poor conductors if they brush up against it and the walls are vertical enough that they don't do that much anyway. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094732-1446363.jpg The tiny energizer. Runs on 2 Ds presently and looks like I'm getting about a month from a fresh set. Would last longer if I didn't let the "skirt" contact so much grass. I bought some buck converters and plan on hooking up a small solar panel and 12v battery to each tractor to negate the need to swap batteries. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094721-1446362.jpg The nesting "boxes" are 2 buckets with the top quarters cut off and a half lid as the end cap. I put one fastener through the center of the bucket with a fender washer from the interior. Then I drilled an over-sized hole at an angle through the back wall and the bucket near the bottom of the bucket and dropped a nail through the hole. The nail keeps the bucket from turning, but I can pull the nail from the backside of the tractor, reach through the access door and spin the bucket upside down to clean it out. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094705-1446361.jpg Detail showing the top cross bar of 1/2" metal conduit. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_094824-1446365.jpg Refined front. No longer using any of the siding panel. The dimensional lumber used was cypress 2x3 - and in most cases cut those in half as 1.5x1.5s Excuse the gaudy brass hinges, I have a bucket full of old ones from where I replaced all the hinges in the house. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20200604_095757-1446358.jpg Parts list: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/ct-1446801.png I admit that I first through the chickens would get zapped. My chickens reach through any fence to get what's on the other side, no matter how lush the greenery in their run, cuz....chickens. If they get against it, I'm assuming they'll get shocked. With you going to a 12v battery, are you going to transform it down somehow, so they're not getting that hit? Not so much. 6 months on, and I can honestly say I've never seen one pay the energized wire any mind, much less act like they've been shocked. An electric fence requires the shockee to have both (1) a good path to ground and (2) direct exposure to the conductor. Chicken feet, like most birds, are very poor conductors for grounding - combined with their feathers being excellent insulators from the energized wires. They definitely stick their heads through the panels to get at bugs, plants, my boots, etc. I did scrap the internal bucket nesting boxes - the kids didn't like reaching in with the roosters on patrol. To stay with the "light weight" theme, the nesting boxes are externally sideways mounted heavy duty plastic storage totes (18 ish gallons IIRC). A whole was cut in the floor of the box to align with the access panel on the back wall of the coop. The lid was cut into two pieces - one strip permanently attached to keep the bedding in, and the 2/3rds upper is removable for collecting the eggs. To keep it secure from racoons, I used two lengths of wood as lock bars that pivot and pin in place to keep it secure. Tote and security bars.  Gutter nail at an angle keeps the bars tightly closed. The screw w/fender washer is the pivot point for opening.  Side view showing the through hole for the gutter nail  Security bar swung to the open position  A peek inside  |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 12:15:39 AM EDT
[#23]
Our Ayam Cemani eggs should hatch tomorrow. Everything about them is black, feathers, eyes, feet, bones, skin, meat. They should look like this:
  And our big weird chicken gobbles now and does this strange strutting dance with all of his tail feathers spread out. Its the strangest thing ever. |
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Posted: 12/18/2020 9:13:34 PM EDT
[#24]
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Posted: 12/19/2020 10:54:49 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/E3C2B423-7BAD-4B55-B50D-0EEECC8B268C_jpe-1737538.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/662B69C5-BEC8-46CA-940A-39FEC6FE2283_jpe-1737540.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/72268083-7833-42E0-ADC8-39EA1AA11001_jpe-1737544.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/0F22B407-06FA-4171-85E0-698336B71BD2_jpe-1737547.JPG https://i.imgur.com/AS7bIsJ.jpg Beautiful birds. Is that a Harris Farms incubator? If so, how do you like it? I just ordered one last night. |
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Posted: 12/19/2020 1:37:58 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Beautiful birds. Is that a Harris Farms incubator? If so, how do you like it? I just ordered one last night. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/E3C2B423-7BAD-4B55-B50D-0EEECC8B268C_jpe-1737538.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/662B69C5-BEC8-46CA-940A-39FEC6FE2283_jpe-1737540.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/72268083-7833-42E0-ADC8-39EA1AA11001_jpe-1737544.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/0F22B407-06FA-4171-85E0-698336B71BD2_jpe-1737547.JPG https://i.imgur.com/AS7bIsJ.jpg Beautiful birds. Is that a Harris Farms incubator? If so, how do you like it? I just ordered one last night. Thank you. Fred is a standard bronze heritage and is looking for some single ladies to call his own. I think he’s jealous of the roosters. I have no idea about the incubator. It’s my neighbor’s who I do the chicken thing with. It looks like we’ll end up with 6 chicks out of 14 eggs. I’m not sure what the a average is for hatching eggs, but that seems like a pretty crappy percentage, especially at $15/egg. |
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Posted: 12/19/2020 2:42:50 PM EDT
[#27]
were the eggs shipped or did you pick them up from someone? Shipping can be very hard on eggs.
We have some shipped and had 100% hatch. But most of what we have had shipped have been in the 25-50% range. Edited to add: I didn't think about them being from your own chickens, because of your comment of $15 per egg. If that is the case 6/14 or 43%is a pretty poor percentage. Ours usually runs between 90-100% in that case. If so, time to look at length of time before putting them in the incubator, temperature and humidity both before and during incubation. |
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Posted: 12/19/2020 3:54:36 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: were the eggs shipped or did you pick them up from someone? Shipping can be very hard on eggs. We have some shipped and had 100% hatch. But most of what we have had shipped have been in the 25-50% range. Edited to add: I didn't think about them being from your own chickens, because of your comment of $15 per egg. If that is the case 6/14 or 43%is a pretty poor percentage. Ours usually runs between 90-100% in that case. If so, time to look at length of time before putting them in the incubator, temperature and humidity both before and during incubation. I didn’t order them so I don’t know those details. I know the incubator is set to 99.5* at either 70% or 73% humidity. The birds that hatched seem very healthy and come up glass to check you out when you get close. |
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Posted: 12/19/2020 4:25:56 PM EDT
[#29]
Sounds like shipped eggs to me. It can be especially tough in the winter depending on the distance, etc. They get left in trailers, not in warm buildings a lot of the time.
Then thrown around, even though they have fragile all over them. Plus any road travel is going to be rough, those trucks aren't sprung for smoothness, they are sprung for longevity. |
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Posted: 12/19/2020 6:52:09 PM EDT
[#30]
I’m not terribly worried about it, these birds are for fun and a bit of a novelty/curiosity. We’ll take the 5-6 and baby them.
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Posted: 12/20/2020 12:08:38 AM EDT
[#31]
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Posted: 12/22/2020 11:18:33 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I googled it, and discovered that it was an actual thing - and through the powers of Prime... a pair of harnesses was at the farm gate the next day! www.amazon.com/dp/B07F851H5Z It's a hoot and the kids like it as much as the birds... I've blown more money on less. I still want to harness the whole flock up and see just how much the little raptors can pull! So I have gone looking. Not only is there a chicken harness, there are multiple OPTIONS for chicken harnesses. Who knew? 
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Posted: 12/22/2020 11:19:51 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This kid is a chicken catching machine. He likes to kiss them though. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/53B01FBF-7BFE-44D4-8335-EDA86D6B7739_jpe-1643124.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/279617/840CE95C-E6AD-4C87-87DE-FC4E7496FDAC_jpe-1643127.JPG Ah, man, those are the BEST pictures!!! 
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Posted: 12/22/2020 11:25:11 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Not so much. 6 months on, and I can honestly say I've never seen one pay the energized wire any mind, much less act like they've been shocked. An electric fence requires the shockee to have both (1) a good path to ground and (2) direct exposure to the conductor. Chicken feet, like most birds, are very poor conductors for grounding - combined with their feathers being excellent insulators from the energized wires. They definitely stick their heads through the panels to get at bugs, plants, my boots, etc. I did scrap the internal bucket nesting boxes - the kids didn't like reaching in with the roosters on patrol. To stay with the "light weight" theme, the nesting boxes are externally sideways mounted heavy duty plastic storage totes (18 ish gallons IIRC). A whole was cut in the floor of the box to align with the access panel on the back wall of the coop. The lid was cut into two pieces - one strip permanently attached to keep the bedding in, and the 2/3rds upper is removable for collecting the eggs. To keep it secure from racoons, I used two lengths of wood as lock bars that pivot and pin in place to keep it secure. Tote and security bars. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20201120_131601_245-1693654.jpg Gutter nail at an angle keeps the bars tightly closed. The screw w/fender washer is the pivot point for opening. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20201120_131614_855-1693655.jpg Side view showing the through hole for the gutter nail https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20201120_131657_776-1693657.jpg Security bar swung to the open position https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20201120_131619_621-1693656.jpg A peek inside https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/60523/IMG_20201120_131635_907-1693653.jpg I LOVE this as a nesting box! |
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Posted: 12/22/2020 11:28:23 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Our Ayam Cemani eggs should hatch tomorrow. Everything about them is black, feathers, eyes, feet, bones, skin, meat. They should look like this: https://www.cacklehatchery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/raven3a.jpg https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/uploads/post/large-ayam-cemani-rare-chicken-breed-black-inside-da9a80a092908aca7548de6b10ed4390.jpg https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ayam-cemani-facts-you-didnt-know.72991/cover-image And our big weird chicken gobbles now and does this strange strutting dance with all of his tail feathers spread out. Its the strangest thing ever. Those chickens are gorgeous! What color are the eggs? |
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Posted: 12/22/2020 11:50:44 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Those chickens are gorgeous! What color are the eggs? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Our Ayam Cemani eggs should hatch tomorrow. Everything about them is black, feathers, eyes, feet, bones, skin, meat. They should look like this: https://www.cacklehatchery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/raven3a.jpg https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/uploads/post/large-ayam-cemani-rare-chicken-breed-black-inside-da9a80a092908aca7548de6b10ed4390.jpg https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ayam-cemani-facts-you-didnt-know.72991/cover-image And our big weird chicken gobbles now and does this strange strutting dance with all of his tail feathers spread out. Its the strangest thing ever. Those chickens are gorgeous! What color are the eggs? White. |
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Posted: 12/23/2020 8:16:22 AM EDT
[#37]
How are you guys managing your egg production? I'm looking at 5-6 birds, unsure of what breed at this point, but I'd like to get 2-3 eggs a day. Our neighbors who have about the same size flock are getting 6-7 eggs per day, sometimes less.
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Posted: 12/23/2020 3:57:37 PM EDT
[#38]
We get enough eggs to be able to give some to neighbors. We were getting 16-18 per day before the days got shorter. Now we’re getting 11-14 per day. We have 19 hens.
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Posted: 12/23/2020 5:21:37 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How are you guys managing your egg production? I'm looking at 5-6 birds, unsure of what breed at this point, but I'd like to get 2-3 eggs a day. Our neighbors who have about the same size flock are getting 6-7 eggs per day, sometimes less. My six Barred Rocks usually deliver 4-5 and sometimes 6 eggs a day. They are fed a diet of regular organic chicken feed, some oyster shell for calcium, and dried meal worms. I had the beginnings of a cannibalism problem (hens breaking and eating eggs) until I added the oyster shell and meal worms. Seems that egg-eating is the result of a calcium and protein deficiency; they immediately stopped when I fed them this stuff, and their lust for mealyworms is comical! Wanna entertain some visiting kids? Give 'em a tuna can of meal worms and turn 'em loose in the chicken coop! |
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Posted: 12/23/2020 11:25:19 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How are you guys managing your egg production? I'm looking at 5-6 birds, unsure of what breed at this point, but I'd like to get 2-3 eggs a day. Our neighbors who have about the same size flock are getting 6-7 eggs per day, sometimes less. It depends on whether you let your chickens out, or keep them under some kind of protection (an enclosed run or tractor). To me, egg production depends on three things: 1-Whether I can protect my chickens--this keeps losses to a minimum, and keeps my production more predictable. 2-You keep the number of chickens necessary to guarantee a minimum production. If you don't keep your chickens protected, you need a lot more chickens. AND you feed them a good diet of layer plus some other stuff they need. BETTER is layer plus scraps from human fixins, and some scrambled eggs and some fats now and then. (This is not taking into account extra additives you can learn about on backyard chickens and other sites...the additives make a difference in production, I think, but I'm talking bare, old-time, Low-science, homestead style egg production. I also toast the broken eggshells and feed those back to the chickens.) 3-You light your henhouse. This means a low wattage bulb, but it keeps the hens laying all winter. This also means you will need to replace those hens sooner, as hens have only so many eggs to lay. If they lay in the winter, they will deplete their energy, and their eggs, sooner. But it means you get eggs consistently. There will still be fewer in the winter (and the cold doesn't matter much. It's a daylength reaction.) So you ALWAYS have to have more chickens than you need eggs. Nearly double, in my experience. This accounts for some attrition, but does not account for free roaming/unprotected, cuz for that you will need four times the chickens you would need for eggs, normally. My 2 cents. Just from life with chickens. Ain't nuthin scientific here.  |
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Posted: 12/23/2020 11:29:26 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: My six Barred Rocks usually deliver 4-5 and sometimes 6 eggs a day. They are fed a diet of regular organic chicken feed, some oyster shell for calcium, and dried meal worms. I had the beginnings of a cannibalism problem (hens breaking and eating eggs) until I added the oyster shell and meal worms. Seems that egg-eating is the result of a calcium and protein deficiency; they immediately stopped when I fed them this stuff, and their lust for mealyworms is comical! Wanna entertain some visiting kids? Give 'em a tuna can of meal worms and turn 'em loose in the chicken coop! @Franksymptoms Where are you getting your oyster shell and mealworms? You have a local source? |
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Posted: 12/24/2020 12:06:27 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @Franksymptoms Where are you getting your oyster shell and mealworms? You have a local source? This stuff is at tractor supply if you have that near you. Hint - buy the 50 lb bag of Oyster shell. It only costs twice as much as the 5 lb bag. I use mine to refill my 5 lb bag that I keep at the coop and on Weds and Saturday I fill up a half quart Tupperware that is screwed to the run wall by the waterer with the shells. |
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Posted: 12/24/2020 12:08:09 AM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This stuff is at tractor supply if you have that near you. Hint - buy the 50 lb bag of Oyster shell. It only costs twice as much as the 5 lb bag. I use mine to refill my 5 lb bag that I keep at the coop and on Weds and Saturday I fill up a half quart Tupperware that is screwed to the run wall by the waterer with the shells. We DO have Tractor Supply! I've never seen it there, but probably because I haven't looked specifically for that. Thank you! ETA: @Riflenoob how do you store your feed? The larger quantities and the "at the coop" amounts? I am looking at changing how I do this. |
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Posted: 12/24/2020 12:26:57 AM EDT
[#44]
The oyster shell is kept in 50 lb bag in garage and I just refill the little 5 lb bag I keep in a blocked off nesting box in the coop.
I generally use a whole bag of feed approx every 3 weeks to top off my feeders. So I don’t really store food other than a single unopened bag and maybe 10-15% of an open bag in my garage, rolled down and object on top of it to keep mice out. I have two of these in the coop and like I said I only refill them every 3 weeks or so when they are low.  Attached File[  Attached File Attached FileHere are my videos for more information on some other chicken care I do:  Introducing Chicks to Vertical Nipple Waterer  Introducing chicks to food, and some glamour shots!  Transition chicks to Horizontal Nipple Waterer at 10 days; maintenance free, clean!  Grit Feeding  Ramp Training Chicks At 2 Weeks in 2 Days or Less |
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Posted: 12/24/2020 1:02:41 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @Franksymptoms Where are you getting your oyster shell and mealworms? You have a local source? HobbitWife says she gets it from Walmart, Bimart (local to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho), and her preferred choice is Azure Standard. Azure Standard is an online store with ALL KINDS of stuff; they are a natural organic supplier for animals and hoomans alike. They ship pretty much all over the country, and are adding new routes all the time. |
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Posted: 12/24/2020 1:28:54 PM EDT
[#46]
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Posted: 12/24/2020 1:49:45 PM EDT
[#47]
We feed our birds 20% layer pellets, scratch, human food scraps (the toddlers make sure they have plenty), super worms (supposed to have a better mix of nutrients), and we crush up the egg shells and add it to the scrap bucket. They also got the pumpkins after we took down the fall decorations and I spread out some of the straw inside their run. We have yet to have any hens eat their eggs.
In other news: the two year old DOES NOT like it when the turkey struts and gobbles, and the turkey doesn’t like it when we pick up the hens. He displays rooster-like behavior. |
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Posted: 12/27/2020 11:35:56 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryIn other news: ..... and the turkey doesn’t like it when we pick up the hens. He displays rooster-like behavior. Well, when you're the only guy around, you gotta step up, right? |
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Posted: 12/27/2020 11:39:02 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The oyster shell is kept in 50 lb bag in garage and I just refill the little 5 lb bag I keep in a blocked off nesting box in the coop. I generally use a whole bag of feed approx every 3 weeks to top off my feeders. So I don’t really store food other than a single unopened bag and maybe 10-15% of an open bag in my garage, rolled down and object on top of it to keep mice out. I have two of these in the coop and like I said I only refill them every 3 weeks or so when they are low. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/418755/2C5FFBC5-7BDA-41C8-A6B6-B1D2EB35BF58_jpe-1745510.JPG [https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/418755/541A051E-5580-4177-A8B8-C955A2D58544_jpe-1745503.JPGhttps://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/418755/D84FAFCC-AA7B-41AF-9D3D-023FD794C38E_jpe-1745504.JPG Here are my videos for more information on some other chicken care I do:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdaoB1zLf38 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIAHsyi9pTc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRRWWk-rSqo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTlNqAdV8zg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=908mzqguXbYOoooo!!! Ima watch your videos! With regard to the feeder.... I have a gazillion of those tidy cat buckets. There are two openings on one side and one on the other because that is what will fit in the bucket and allow the feed to flow??? @riflenoob ETA: And how much "short" of the bottom of the bucket do you leave the PVC fittings? A couple of inches? Anything specific about the measurements of what you do would be very welcome. I need to build these. I'm currently wasting SO much feed. |
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Posted: 12/27/2020 11:48:21 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Ooooo!!! Ima watch your videos! With regard to the feeder.... I have a gazillion of those tidy cat buckets. There are two openings on one side and one on the other because that is what will fit in the bucket and allow the feed to flow??? @riflenoob ETA: And how much "short" of the bottom of the bucket do you leave the PVC fittings? A couple of inches? Anything specific about the measurements of what you do would be very welcome. I need to build these. I'm currently wasting SO much feed. Yes Probably an inch off the bottom. They are basically zero waste, They don’t bill out food etc. I start off chicks with them after just a few days in a much smaller one. Set of hole saw bits, if you Don’t have, from Harbor Freight does the trick - they are much much cheaper than Lowe’s/ HD and you’re only cutting a few holes in soft plastic. |
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