| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 10:18:14 PM
does anyone know if i can feed duck/goose food to my chickens? we buy pallets of feed that is a mixture, never know what we are gonna come up with, like reindeer cow! right now we have plenty of duck goose/food but not as much chicken feed. peace connie in alaska |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| chickabella |
Posted - Jul 17 2008 : 11:24:13 AM
quote:
Originally posted by eskimobirdlady
does anyone know if i can feed duck/goose food to my chickens? we buy pallets of feed that is a mixture ...
Would you be willing to tell of the brand? I'm having a heckuvatime finding goose-specific feed around here. We're currently using an all-purpose "flock raiser", but I'd be interested in comparing nutrition level between the two. Perhaps I can get my local feed store to order some.
 Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Tips blog: http://allingoodhealth.blogspot.com |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 11 2008 : 4:09:47 PM
hi mag, thanks so much for the reply. the chicks right now are in a box about 7 1/2 ft longX 3 1/2 ft wide. the opening is aobut 3 1/2 X 24 inches. we put the tarp over them at night or if its really cold and rainy during the day. night time temps ahve pretty much been in the 50s but sometimes in the 40s. i am hoping in the next couple weeks to get their fence up so they will at least get fresh air and more exercise (other than arguing lol) i thought about a chicken tractor but our property is mostly deep moss and trees with little room to maneuver. i will give them greens from the garden. if i remember correctly they will eat most anything right? i could even pull grasses for them. we dont have any "real" grass but lots of weed types lol. we get such a kick watchign them. the other day the lower roost was full and someone lese wanted up there so he jumped up and pulled the tail feathers of one and when it jumped down he hopped right up in its place. there are alot of roosters so we get to watch the squabbles which are mostly just posturing. it is so funny to watch the rir stand up to the black cornish who are almost twice their size! i will be sure to let you know how the winter plan works out. as they say here in about april before the snow is all gone "winter is coming!" peace connie in alaska |
| Mag |
Posted - Jul 11 2008 : 04:38:17 AM
Hi connie, sorry for the delayed response. it really depends on how big their sleeping space is. if they are in a small space their combined body heat should keep them warm, they will cuddle up with each other. I would keep the tarp on them to trap the warmth but if it is not getting any cooler than 55 or so they should be alright, especially if you have a cold hardy breed.
too bad you can't let them free range but if you have all those predators around i dont blame you. have you thought about a portable coop? i have seen this used in "high predator" areas and it allows the chickens to scratch and eat bugs without subjecting them to the threat of predators. if you have greens planted and you are not letting your hens free range you might want to think about maybe tossing some of your greens to the chickens. ours seem to lay a richer egg when they have consumed some greens then they do during the unfortunate times that we can't let them out.
your over winter plans sound like a good idea, too. i would be interested in how you get along with your chickens. we are always amazed at how much entertainment we get from just watching them, quite a social "pecking order", you know. feel free to contact me if you have other questions. i am by no means an expert but i can definately pass on my experiences to you.
cheers,
mag
|
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Jul 07 2008 : 1:21:32 PM
Chickens can be fed the mixed feed that is ment of ducks and geese, but DO NOT feed ducklings or goslings chick starter. The medications in it will kill them. For that matter, I have never fed any of my poultry medicated feeds and they did wonderfuly.
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/
http://musingandmuttering.blogspot.com |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 05 2008 : 10:37:51 PM
hi mag, we havent witnered over chickens yet but many here do. you have to insulate the coop and put heat in it. we are going to make an insulated box and attach it to the cabin with an insulated tube. that way we can put a small fan in it and just blow heat in from our wood heat from the cabin. i will let you know how it works.
i waver in my decision to feed or not to feed leftover garden produce to the chicken. we will not be lettingthem free range even tho we would like to because of predators. we have eagles, owls, ravens, hawks and falcons as well as fox, martin, bear, loose dogs, etc.
do you know how long i have to keep the chicks warm? we got most of them on the 14th of june and the rest a week later. i have been covering their coops with a tarp and have a heat lamp on them. i would rather pay electric than lose them but would rather do neither lol. daytime temps are plenty warm but its getting into the 50s and lows 60s at night.
peace connie in alaska |
| Mag |
Posted - Jul 05 2008 : 06:55:29 AM
We feed out ducks and chickens the same feed that I buy from an organic farmer, so your ducks should be alright. We made a mistake our 1st year with chickens that cost us the next. We decided to give our flock some of the too ripe tomatoes from the garden, they really seemed to enjoy these and watching them tackle the tomatoe and each other to get to the tomatoes was quite entertaining. The next year we had to fence in your garden because the hens kept eating the tomatoes, right off the vine! It seems they had acquired a taste for them. Good luck with your birds, we love ours and I can't imagine a life without a backyard flock, tomatoe pecking and all.
Connie, just curious. Do you winter your hens in AK? If so, I would like to know how you keep them warm in such a cold climate.
cheers,
mag |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 10:09:54 PM
thank yo laides. i am going to feel comfy feeding my chickens anything they want lol. and i will defiantely remember to withhold feed befroe butchering! peace connie in alaska |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 11:25:13 AM
we feed our chickens and one duck a game bird feed... they all lay pretty nicely formed good shell eggs and are fat and sassy and healthty.They also are allowed to free range through the yard every day.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 09:24:08 AM
I usually raise a few meat birds each year (promised husband I wouldn't this year though) and I don't feed them any differently than usual...just before you butcher be sure to withhold food (but not water!) for about 12 hours before butchering..less messy to clean. But as for type of chicken feed for the meat birds..nope..unless they have leg problems..some meat birds do..then you want to make sure they are getting more protein..like the game bird or meat bird feeds have. I have never had THAT much of a problem. My chickens get kitchen scraps too, though and get protein that way.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Brew Crew |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 06:25:20 AM
I haven't done specifically meat birds before (can't wait until I have time to attend to that project!), but I know that my flock eats whatever they want, when they want it. Can't tell the difference between feeds if they wanted to. ;) I haven't had one die from eating something bad yet. Black widows, scorpions, cocroaches, crickets, kid food scraps, etc. They eat all, and don't discriminate! :) I know with other animals it can be a critical difference between feeds, but I don't think that chickens are one.
Nothing like a good, grained cow in the freezer....sounds wonderful!
The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
|
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 11:08:53 PM
thank you so much for your quick answer! i figured birds are birds so it should be ok right? lol. we are giving our cows horse feed of various and sundry kinds and they are doing great! we will take the heifer off the horse feed and put her on corn for the last 6 weeks before butchering her. would you reccomend changing to meat bird food for the chickens that will be butchered? or is that not neccesary? peace connie in alaska |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 10:45:11 PM
Yes you can. Usually duck/goose food is not as powdery as layer mash or like that and is not medicated which is a good thing. But yes...to answer your question. I have even fed my hens hog mash in a pinch..I asked at the feed store (they sell it in bulk) and the only thing it was missing that layer mash has is calcium. Since I was giving my chickens clabbered milk each day I took care of that. While the cow is dry I won't use the hog mash..but it saves about $8 per 100 lb when I do use it so I will.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
