The official "everything you wanted to know about chickens" thread

#26
#26
Those are not dumb at all.

Good to hear you have a TSC near. I wont push you any direction on brand of feed. I personally have used both Dumor and Purina with equal success. For meat production birds like the 4-H and FFA kids I help, I tell them all to use Dumor based on it being convenient.

Red Cell is fine for adult birds too. I actually encourage you to use it on them as it helps with vitamin supplementation. Consider it a chicken's "One-A-Day" if you will. Lots of electrolytes which is also good for dehydration from over eating or having increased levels of protein in the feed.

Sexing a pullet is fairly easy by using the method you've been told. It's an old man's method and not 100% accurate, but hey, knock yourself out if you want to try it. I try not to handle pullets very often during the first 3-4 weeks. I don't always know what I have on my hands from earlier in the day, not sure I touched something with bacteria microbes ect ect. But if yall want to try, go for it.

Good to hear you are fine with using lamps too. I know its a bit of a pain, but its not long term and it really does make a difference in early development.
 
#27
#27
Favorite food to grill is chicken so there is that I guess.

I know, cool story brah.
 
#28
#28
My rule of thumb on sexing at this age:

Big head, no feathers - male. They'll start getting their comb in a month or a month & a half

Little pullets, lots of feathers - female.

My grandma used to bang on the pen door and swear that the birds that were still were roosters. Grandma was old and liked Vodka too so, there's that.
 
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#35
#35
orangebloodgmc said:
My granddaddy said the breed to have was Rhode Island Reds: meat, eggs, and vigorous foragers.
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I've really been reading up on golden comets. I went the route I did though to test myself before sinking some coin in on a specific breed. I do like the reds though. Pretty birds. We won't be eating our birds. These are my sons deal. Just sharing a project with him.
 
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#39
#39
Chicken, the nastiest animal on earth. Feed them whatever you want to, it doesn't matter they are going to peck shat regardless. A hog will root around in shat then the chicken will eat it. Think about that next time you order chicken strips.
 
#41
#41
Gramps said:
Chicken, the nastiest animal on earth. Feed them whatever you want to, it doesn't matter they are going to peck shat regardless. A hog will root around in shat then the chicken will eat it. Think about that next time you order chicken strips.
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I'll have you know my chickens are corn fed.
Thank you very much.


:)
 
#45
#45
Gramps said:
Chicken, the nastiest animal on earth. Feed them whatever you want to, it doesn't matter they are going to peck shat regardless. A hog will root around in shat then the chicken will eat it. Think about that next time you order chicken strips.
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umm........Zaxby's chicken strips w/dipping sauce. :hi:
 
#46
#46
Obsessed said:
Day 4 and all the babies are still alive. :)

Was going to do some upgrades this weekend but I've got to work instead.
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You need to decrease the pen temp on Monday to around 80 degrees if its not already at that temp. Also, by now, they need to be separated in to their own area. Keep the shavings beneath them clean. They'll be losing what few feathers they have developed more rapidly and begin to obtain their maturing feathers. If their flooring is not cleaned, you'll get blisters on their breast.

Also, if you've elected to go with a feed program that's great. If you'd like one I have developed for birds that are not show broilers, I can post that for you here. Just let me know.
 
#47
#47
I have multiple feed programs that are adaptable to most types of operations. I trust that you'd be a guy that would not use any of them in a way I no longer like to be a contributor to.
 
#48
#48
TXA&M07 said:
I have multiple feed programs that are adaptable to most types of operations. I trust that you'd be a guy that would not use any of them in a way I no longer like to be a contributor to.
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It would be great if you could recommend a good program. It will be solely used by me for my critters.
 
#49
#49
I'll run through my discs and pull one for you. I'll try to keep it to just the Cliff Notes version as much as possible. Let me grab lunch, and I'll have it up on here afterwards for ya.
 
#50
#50
TXA&M07 said:
I'll run through my discs and pull one for you. I'll try to keep it to just the Cliff Notes version as much as possible. Let me grab lunch, and I'll have it up on here afterwards for ya.
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No hurry. I know you are a busy man. I'm just some guy on the Internet
 
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