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Barnyard Buddies:  treats for chickens  |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 12 2011 : 4:57:37 PM
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Wondered why there were still layer pellets all over the chicken run this afternoon, then remembered the HUGE head of cabbage fed to the ladies last night around dusk. There was NOTHING left but the core! We'll see if this affects egg production for the rest of the week, but with the winter solstace coming up soon ,we have been fortunate to be getting as many eggs as we have!
We have 60 or so chickens, so for those of you with less bodies, a half or quarter head would probably suffice too.
Found out recently that the Lowe's Hardware sells freeze dried meal worms in their bird feeding section this time of year for pretty cheap. Have seen where you can feed these to your chickens too, so I bet the ladies would really love these! |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2011 : 5:00:33 PM
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When we are home, everybody gets to free range, but this time of year, the hawks are really bad, so it's safer to keep everyone in unless it's warm and the sun is out.
The run is half grass and half dirt and is about 60x20, but I still like to see everybody out. So when its not possible in the winter (or when we have seedlings in one of the nearby garden plots and have to keep everybody in for awhile) it's nice to spoil them |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2011 : 01:31:43 AM
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I give mine the dried mealy worms all year around as a treat...good protein for them when its so hot or very cold & they aren't eating as well....Since its now gotten colder, below freezing at night they aren't laying like they were a week ago when it was still fairly nice but I don't mind...i have one broody girl who I am letting set on one egg that she has under her....Getting time for me to start the stone cut oats in the crock pot at night for them...michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2011 : 10:27:11 AM
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This time of year I like to give the girls sprouts that I've started in the warm house. They really dive on the green goodies.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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retasos2
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Pilar
Centereach
NY
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2011 : 12:49:48 PM
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Michele,
please tell me how to make the oats in the crock pot?
Pilar
Farmgirl Sister #2498
Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2011 : 2:12:43 PM
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Ok the way i do it is 2 cups of stone/steel cut oats to 8 cups of water in the crockpot before I go to bed & I put it on warm setting that I have instead of low setting...by the time I get up its ready...if you have a low setting it will work, mine did but it came out like paste so if using that you might want to add another cup of water...the chickens don't care if its pasty or slightly burned as I add powdered milk with cool water, yogurt ect when I get up to help thin it a bit & cool it before I feed it to them....I also add a cup of raisins or cranberries at night to it so they get that extra treat/sugar in the cold mornings to help them...you can add anything you want to it once its cooked....cracked corn, regular feed, raw oatmeal ect....i just want to make sure they are getting warmer up after being on the roost all night...so don't worry if its not perfect or even a bit undercooked...they will love you for it....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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retasos2
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Pilar
Centereach
NY
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - Dec 13 2011 : 2:22:29 PM
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thanks so much, putting it on tonight.
Pilar
Farmgirl Sister #2498
Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 05:29:39 AM
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One day I thought I'd get a container of mealyworms from the feed store and then looked at the label. They were made in China so I put them back.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 06:44:22 AM
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we grow red worms here and feed to the chickens. free for me good for them. just a thought happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 06:58:18 AM
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My chicks love the black oil sunflower seeds, and that how I bring them into their yard if they are out and about. I shake the container and they come running. I threaded a string through a head of cabbage last winter because it was so snowy they couldn't get out for a while and it kept them entertained. I just hooked it over the rafters and they pecked away at it. I spend a lot of time wondering about their good mental health!
....it's what's inside a women, when she's up against the land.
Farmgirl #680!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lessielouise22 |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2011 : 03:54:01 AM
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We have another feed store thast is locally owned. They sell a 7 layer scratch that I just love! Unlike Tactor Supply, there's actually a label on this bag. Contents are and in no particular order: milo, popcorn, corn, black oil sunflower seed, oats and millet . So on realy cold days, I mix this in w/ their layer rations. Ought to save some of this and plant it all in the spring too!
This is sold as a chicken feed, not wild bird seed, but I'm sure if the chickens didn't eat it all so fast the other birds could benifit too! We have on occasion have had wild turkey come up to the edge of the coop and share a dust bath. Pity the camera is always in the house! |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2011 : 03:58:01 AM
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And phooey on the meal worms.
I'll have to check Lowe's Hardware and see where they come from.
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2011 : 12:24:51 PM
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My Chigs love either chopped up spinach or kale and apples. I try to reserve cabbage occasionally too. I just gave them black oil sunflower seeds yesterday to see if they would like those too.
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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kpaints
True Blue Farmgirl
1564 Posts
karen
cheney
wa
1564 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2011 : 10:26:46 AM
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I just started mung beans, so my girls could have some greens. They are coming along fast, as I put them near the heat register. They free range nearly every day but it is below freezing..and has been in the teens lately so they don't get anything wonderful...I think they will love these.
I need to try the cabbage too. How do you mount it or whatever so they can get it?
A person will be just about as happy as they make up their mind to be. Abe Lincoln Find your joy and live it. http://cheneybaglady.blogspot.com/http://www.kpaints.etsy.com http://www.thevintagebaglady.etsy.com FG #377 |
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kpaints
True Blue Farmgirl
1564 Posts
karen
cheney
wa
1564 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: treats for chickens |
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treats for chickens
