Chicken/egg question

[Survivor_316]

@Arcticdude
I was going through my grain seed and trying to figure out what I am planting this year and I thought of you. Have you considered millet for your chickens? It is finicky but some kinds flower within a couple months and it is really nutritionally dense. You can also feed to cattle, so maybe if you could harvest the seeds, it would be dual purpose with some silage?

I found this on its nutrients. I don't know which kind you would grow there, but it has good info on all of them.

Superfood For Chickens: Millets

I may be a bit ahead of the curve with this post – by about two years – given that the United Nations has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets. Most North Americans are familiar wi…

bitchinchickens.com

 

[Arcticdude]

@Arcticdude
I was going through my grain seed and trying to figure out what I am planting this year and I thought of you. Have you considered millet for your chickens? It is finicky but some kinds flower within a couple months and it is really nutritionally dense. You can also feed to cattle, so maybe if you could harvest the seeds, it would be dual purpose with some silage?

I found this on its nutrients. I don't know which kind you would grow there, but it has good info on all of them.

Superfood For Chickens: Millets

I may be a bit ahead of the curve with this post – by about two years – given that the United Nations has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets. Most North Americans are familiar wi…

bitchinchickens.com

It's worth looking in to. Finger millet might be a good choice in our area. Just need to see if we get enough moisture for it. I may buy a few pounds and try it out.

 

[Robinjopo1]

I gave my ladies some millet that my neighbor gave me. They liked it.

 

[GaRp58]

I gave my ladies some millet that my neighbor gave me. They liked it.

Millet is a bit expensive here, but we still buy it for an extra happy feedstuff. One of the ladies will actually chase the other two away till she gets her fill, even tho she is the smaller of the three. The rooster will stand by and wait till the hens are finished and only then take some, but again he is twice their size.

 

[Survivor_316]

We grew foxtail at our old place. I don't know much about the other kinds or when why we selected foxtail.

 

[Robinjopo1]

One one store still has chick's. They are expecting delivery today and even though I don't want to, I am buying 6 to replace my lost hens.

Better buy them while you still can. I was hoping for a broody hen, so that I didn't have to go through the acclimation mess of the cage.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

You are doing the right thing to replace your hens. My new ones I bought the first of March are going in with the others next week. I’m dreading it.

 

[Survivor_316]

My new ones have been in a "holding pen" in the big hen house. We let them free range during the days while we are out and yesterday I saw the old hen wasn't chasing off the new ones. Hopefully that means they're all getting along OK.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

My routine is similar to yours. I put a hutch in the main run for the new ones. They get closed in at night, but during the day I open the door only wide enough for the small hens to get through. Gives them a place to retreat safely to.

 

[Arcticdude]

We're expecting our order of new chick's and ducks in a few weeks. I'll probably move the brooder house over by the coop so they can all see each other. Tomorrow I'll start digging post holes for the new run.

 

[Robinjopo1]

I went to pick up chicks and they only delivered ducks. Bummer.

 

[Arcticdude]

I went to pick up chicks and they only delivered ducks. Bummer.

Are the hatcheries all sold out too?

 

[Robinjopo1]

Are the hatcheries all sold out too?

Don't know AD. I always go through the co-op or Tractor Supply

 

[Survivor_316]

I hope they get some in for you, Robin.

 

[Arcticdude]

Don't know AD. I always go through the co-op or Tractor Supply

Try Murry McMurray, Stromburgs or Dunlap hatcheries. We've been using them for over 30 years, and never had a problem. The advantage of going through a hatchery is, you get to pick the breed and the traits that you want, not the feed store manager.

 

[Robinjopo1]

Any of you ever raise Brahmas? Did you use them for meat or eggs? I read they are dual, but it seems if they are big they might break eggs.

I'm asking because that is the only type the TSC got in.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

They are a bad choice if you are using them for eggs. Being a large bird, they eat a lot and only lay 3-4 eggs a weeks at best.

 

[Robinjopo1]

They are a bad choice if you are using them for eggs. Being a large bird, they eat a lot and only lay 3-4 eggs a weeks at best.

That's what I was thinking. Just not worth it. I'll wait for a new order and hope for a breed I am familiar with.

 

[Robinjopo1]

I'm hoping to get more Cinnamon Queen. They lay a month or so earlier than other breeds and are super friendly. Good layers too.

I have only seen them at the store once though.

 

[Arcticdude]

I'm hoping to get more Cinnamon Queen. They lay a month or so earlier than other breeds and are super friendly. Good layers too.

I have only seen them at the store once though.

Robin, just curious, why are you opposed to ordering from a hatchery? They overnight your day old chicks to your post office. In our case "overnight" is 2 days. We've seldom had any losses in transit. Also, they still mail out catalogs on request. There's a lot of good information in their catalogs too.