SufficientSelf's Chicken Thread!!!

[BarredBuff]

Egg Update! I had some pips, and peeps last night. Still have it Hopefully we will hatch soon.

 

[BarredBuff]

3 chicks

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Great. I did pretty good with my last hatch and have to put my sign out. Next hatch for me is on the 2nd of April.

 

[odd_duck99]

Just sold my first dozen of excess eggs of the year!

Might be able to do it year round once the Barred Rock pullets start up! Makin' the ladies pull their own weight...lol!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Great....Don't undersell yourself. Never let the grocery store decide what you will sell your eggs and refuse to have a price war with the local competition. I barter for other things before going down on my egg prices. I'm firm on my price......don't like it, go to the store.

 

[odd_duck99]

Ok, thanks! Wasn't sure becouse of the shells. Black oil is what she gets. I will add that to their grain mix.

You can also sprout some of them (assuming they are raw)! Then when the seeds are ready, you just toss 'em the whole head! Our gals love it!

 

[odd_duck99]

I know many of you mix and/or grow your own feed. What do you feed and in what percentages? Is it any cheaper to buy that way than commercial feed or just (likely) better? We don't have the space to grow our own, so it would have to be bought, stored, etc.

 

[BarredBuff]

11 in all right now, with more peeping and hatching No ducks yet.... :/ Im excited! Next batch due 2nd of April too!

 

[Beekissed]

Way to go, BB! Babies!!!! So...are these for keepin' or sellin'?

Odd Duck said: I know many of you mix and/or grow your own feed. What do you feed and in what percentages? Is it any cheaper to buy that way than commercial feed or just (likely) better? We don't have the space to grow our own, so it would have to be bought, stored, etc.

Love your screen name, OD! With layers I feed layer mash from the local feed mill...it is fresh ground and smells and looks as good as it seems. I feed that for peak layer seasons but will cut that with whole grains in the winter and other slow downs to save on the total cost. I've found that if I use too much BOSS(the black oil sunflower seeds) that my laying will slow down drastically.

That's what I normally do...but I'm going to try something a little different with this new, small flock that my mother is getting. I'm going to feed a mix of three whole grains and OS mix and I'm going to ferment the grains prior to feeding. They will also have full free range forage to supplement. I'm going to see how laying is with the fermented grains vs. layer mash because the grains are definitely cheaper.

 

[BarredBuff]

Another new one, keepin' The batch on the second is sellin