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Ginger Cornwell replied to Catherine, The Herb Lady's discussion Predator Deterrent? in Micro Livestock
"BRILLIANT!!!  Now... any ideas on deterring Harris hawks?  :)"
Mar 2, 2013
Ginger Cornwell replied to Victoria Jordan's discussion Raw necks on chickens in Micro Livestock
"AAAARRGH!  How do you get rid of MITES??? "
Mar 2, 2013
Ginger Cornwell replied to Cindy McCloe's discussion Western Ranchman No Longer Has Treadle Feeders...Where Else Can I Buy One in Micro Livestock
"Oh, I'm with you... at my wit's end with the "little birds."  The doggone chickens don't defend their feed... I'm going broke feeding the little ones!  There are so many hanging around, I'm starting to feel like the prelude to Hitchcock's horror…"
Dec 3, 2012
Sheri Schmeckpeper replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"Ah, I'd forgotten about my pressure cooker! Thanks for bringing that up, Jeanne!"
Dec 1, 2012
Sheri Schmeckpeper replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"I can add one more that we learned this year...not enough supplemental feed if they're pastured hens. :)"
Dec 1, 2012
Sheri Schmeckpeper replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"Normally I roast them slowly. Brine them for a day, then cook them covered at about 300 degrees for 1/2 hour, then drop it to 250 for a few hours, removing the cover near the end. Low temps keeps from toughening the protein so older birds will be…"
Dec 1, 2012
Jeanne Tavares replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"For stewing chickens, I'm a great fan of my pressure cooker. I let the last batch cook with the weight rocking ever so gently for most of an hour. The meat came out very moist and intensely flavorful and as tender as possible for older hens."
Nov 28, 2012
Ginger Cornwell replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"Christie, everything being equal (and they follow me around like the Pied Piper, clucking for treats)... maybe it's my thoughts of homemade chicken broth that they are picking up and stressing them out?  They don't appear to be stressed... "
Nov 28, 2012
Ginger Cornwell replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"I hear you... I hate to have to pull the plug on them; they are so cute.  But I can't afford to feed them if they don't produce.  How do you stew yours?"
Nov 28, 2012
Ginger Cornwell replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"Thank you, Karis.  Where do I get chicken dewormer?  They've been doing fine with Purina Layena + treats, and they are done with moulting.  They have a light at night, and I dust them with DE.  One hen has not laid an egg in months... she's getting…"
Nov 28, 2012
Karis replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"In my experience, things that slow production are:
Moulting
extreme weather
too little protien
too little calcium (offer free choice oyster shells)
shorter days
parasites which include lice, mites and worms of all sorts. Deworming is safe and easy…"
Nov 7, 2012
Erica (Dawnfire) replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"We are down too right now. We have a small flock but we are down from 6 a day to 3-4 a day. I figure it is the changing weather and light, but I've chosen not to put a light in their coop because I figure it's good for them not to work as hard and…"
Nov 7, 2012
Sheri Schmeckpeper replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"Good to hear others are experiencing the same thing as we are, although it's not a good thing we're experiencing it!
Ours went to lower-than-usual production during the summer...last year they went down to 50% production, this year it fell to 5%.…"
Oct 31, 2012
Ginger Cornwell replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"All things are equal except the egg laying.  They've already molted and are in fine feather now.  Plain yogurt helped production during the summer... will try that again.  Don't want to consign them to the stew pot!  :("
Oct 24, 2012
bryanwhitebeyondthekitchengarden replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"we are going through our annual molt cycle ... last and this month .... that has been observed to curtail laying ..."
Oct 24, 2012
Jeanne Tavares replied to Ginger Cornwell's discussion Year and a half old hens not laying in Micro Livestock
"My own girls were doing quite well through the heat of the summer, but slowed way down about 8 weeks ago, down to 4 or 5 eggs for 17 birds. In the past few days, I started offering more treats from the kitchen waste, and a scoop of COB mix that I…"
Oct 24, 2012
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