[Ag-eq] my chickens

[Nella Foster]

Susan:

I've been feeding them pieces of fruits and vegetables.  They really seem to 
like that.  They also find bugs and such when I let them into the yard.

I was told that the laying hen food is very rich and can be hard on them; is 
this true.

Nella
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens


> Not yet, I'd wait til August if they're telling you they will lay towards 
> the end of August.
>
> Go ahead and feed them soft or squishy fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, 
> squash, and even a piece of cabbage will also keep them occupied to peck 
> on.
>
> Susan
> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:14 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>
>
>> Susan:
>>
>> I met to say the chickens might start laying near the end of August.  I 
>> believe they hatched on March 30 and I was told they could start laying 
>> at 18 weeks.  From everything I've read these breeds are known for laying 
>> early.
>>
>> I just started feeding them the chicken scratch; I was feeding them the 
>> stuff for chicks.  Do you think I should feed the food for laying hens?
>>
>> Nella
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 4:53 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>
>>
>>> Nella,
>>>
>>> How old are your hens.  I usually got mine in April or May at about 4 to 
>>> 8 weeks old and then they would start laying by October.  I fed them the 
>>> baby crumble up til they were about 12 weeks and then switched to adult 
>>> laying mash.  You don't want to give them the adult stuff too early 
>>> because they can't handle the extra calcium until they are a bit older.
>>>
>>> Susan
>>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Nella Foster" <nfoster at extremezone.com>
>>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 8:54 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>>
>>>
>>>> Susan:
>>>>
>>>> Yesterday it got up to 115!  I was so worried about the chickens, but 
>>>> they were o.k.
>>>>
>>>> Thursday evening I let the girls out to run around and eat bugs and 
>>>> such. I went back out about 8:30 to shut their gate; I could only feel 
>>>> 3 chickens in the coop, but thought the other was up on the top roost, 
>>>> which I can't reach.  Friday morning when I went out to feed here comes 
>>>> one of my chickens.  She was all upset since she was out of the run and 
>>>> the rest were inside.  I was able to catch her and put her back in. 
>>>> I've been trying to handle them a lot so they will be easier to catch, 
>>>> I guess it's paying off!
>>>>
>>>> They are really growing and filling out.  My neighbor said that their 
>>>> feathers look healthier than when I first got them.  They should start 
>>>> laying near the end of July, but I suspect they may wait due to the 
>>>> heat.
>>>>
>>>> How is everything going there?
>>>>
>>>> I hope you are having a great 4th of July weekend.
>>>>
>>>> Nella
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
>>>> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 8:56 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] my chickens
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Nella,
>>>>>
>>>>> When I can get my hands on them, I can tell the Buff Orphingtons 
>>>>> because they don't have much of a tail so to speak.  LOL
>>>>> I don't know exactly how long chickens can live.  I'm sure there are a 
>>>>> lot of factors to consider, however, right now my oldest ones are 
>>>>> about 5 years old and though they have slowed down a bit, they are 
>>>>> still laying good size eggs.
>>>>>
>>>>> That is not a problem with letting your hens out like you are doing 
>>>>> and putting them up at night.  I can't do that here, too many roaming 
>>>>> hunting dogs, farrel cats and loads of active wildlife.  We have 12 
>>>>> foot square enclosed yards for each coop.  They get plenty of sun, 
>>>>> wind, rain, bugs and mice, grass clippings, leaf rakings and whatever 
>>>>> vegetable/fruit we have of our own, local farmers market and things we 
>>>>> find really cheep on sale.  They love it all.
>>>>>
>>>>> Susan
>>>>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Ag-eq mailing list
>>>>> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>>>> Ag-eq:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Ag-eq mailing list
>>>> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>>> Ag-eq:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/dogwoodfarm%40verizon.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Ag-eq mailing list
>>> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> Ag-eq:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Ag-eq mailing list
>> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Ag-eq:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/dogwoodfarm%40verizon.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ag-eq mailing list
> Ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ag-eq_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Ag-eq:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ag-eq_nfbnet.org/nfoster%40extremezone.com