Getting your New chicks from a Hatchery!

My experience with raising poultry has been great I have had much success in breeding my own birds and selling them to other breeders and poultry enthusiasts, but all breeders like me all need to start somewhere. So I began my searching for chickens through a Ideal Hatchery catalogue, they are a huge company that is in Texas that hatches various breeds of poultry. There are about over 300 different breeds of poultry this includes ducks, turkeys and geese and they are all different sizes and colors. I guess it really depends on what you want to use them for. Some are bigger and have more bulk for eating, some are for showing and pets and are smaller in size. Some of the things that you will need before your birds come, a heat lamp for warmth this is very important they will die if it is to cold or to hot about 100 degrees is accurate warmth for them, a chick waterier and food dispenser, a brooder or a large refrigerator box to put them all in before putting them into the coop and last but not least chick starter, a medicated powdery chicken food, ducks and geese should not have this type of food because it can get caught in their trachea they should have Game Bird crumbles. Once you have decided on what type or color of poultry you want and have all of your essential supplies you can place and order to a hatchery of your choice, your day old chicks should arrive in about a weeks time, most hatcheries prefer that you order a minimum of twenty five chicks because they need warmth during shipment so make shure that you have plenty of room for them. Once the post office gives you a call then you can go pick them up, they will be loud in the box and full of energy. When you get them home put them into the brooder and dip each ones beek in the water, they will be very thirsty but they will not be as hungry because before they hatch the egg yolk absorbs into their belly and usually keeps them full for about 5 days but you should still provide food for them. As they get bigger they will be getting more and more curious about things, after a whole 2 weeks I usually give them grass with roots attached and worms they love that. Chicks are work to keep but they are great to watch grow and bring a smile to anyone.

What do poultry eat anyway?

I have learned in the past that many different kinds of poultry eat different foods, such as my laying hens, they eat a mixed grain of corn and other nutrients that is compacted together into pellets its call Layer pellets. They eat this type of grain because they need a grain to help them with egg production, the hens also get to go outside and eat as many bugs and grass as they would like. My silkies and goose eat something totally different, they eat a grain that is the same corn mixture but broken up into smaller pieces and has nutrients for better feather and skin growth, its called Game bird crumbles. The silkies also get some extra things in their diet because they are for showing and need more to their diet. I first get a 5 gallon bucket and combine one bag Game bird crumbles, 1 cup crimped barley, 1 cup crimped oats, 1 cup wheat, 1/2 cup safflower seeds, 3/4 cup sun flower chips, 1/2 cup flax seeds, 1 scoop Manna Pro Sho Glo a equine supplement which helps with wight control, 1 tablespoon Brewers yeast and Garlic powder, 1/4 cup Red Cell and 1/2 cup vegetable oil. My goose gets just the Game Bird crumbles and geese also need to graze, so he gets free run of the lawn. These are some of my methods of feeding my birds and keeping them looking good all the time.

How to get ready for a show

Showing my silkies is one of the most important things to me. But there is a lot to think about before you start showing, first you should find a poultry show close to where you live and find the dates of when its going to happen. Next get in touch with the organizer of the show, they will give you a sheet of how to register your birds. After you register your birds all chickens, turkeys and Guinea hens must be tested by a state veterinarian to be shure that they don't have any illnesses that can spread to other participants, although this does not apply to water fowl such as ducks and geese. After they have been tested they will have a band on their leg identifying that they have been cleared of all illness. Then I get my kit together for my silkies, my kit includes.... a fine toothed dog comb and a flea comb to keep feathers clean, nail clippers to keep the roosters spurs a reasonable length and all nails trimmed, nail file to keep beaks, spurs and nails all well rounded and clear of sharp edges, scissors to keep all feathers out of eyes, shampoos to keep the feathers looking clean. Three days before the show i get some cages together for transport, I also get my birds bathed at home to make them nice and neet for the judges. When you first arrive with your birds you will be shown where the appropriate cages are for your birds. The birds will be looked at by a judge and the judge will determine what grade your bird will win, ether grand champion, first, second or third. showing can be a great learning experience ad you can meet so many people with same interests as you, if your into breeding and learning about various breeds of poultry a show is the place to go I highly recommend going to one.

My Silkies

Showing poultry has been a huge part of my hobby list and is one of my favorite things to do. I have been showing my chickens ever since I was little. when I was 8 I won my first best of show with a little black silkie chicken, even though I was small and didn't know much about showing i still won and I felt so great getting that big ribbon from the judge. This led me to my interest of breeding and raising my own silkies for showing. So when I turned 14 my dad gave me a choice about my birthday gift, ether a pair of UGG boots or a incubator to hatch the silkie eggs, and i chose the incubator. So ever since then I have had a great interest in the silkie breed and love to share information about the breed. I have a small 4-H club dedicated to all sorts of poultry, they will soon be learning how to show their own birds. I love my silkies and will sill keep them as a hobby forever.

Raising A Gosling for the First Time

Lewie, my first Farmyard Toulouse was purchased for five dollars at a chicken swap set up by a local poultry organization which I am a member of. He imprinted on me right away. This means that he recognizes me as flock leader or mother. Lewie is very fond of grazing. He prefers clover, dandelions, tender green grass, and unfortunately some garden plants meant for us humans. I will probably need to fence in the garden to keep my plants safe. I feed Lewie game bird crumbles. Game bird crumbles are designed to be fed to all poultry but particularly water fowl. They can be purchased at any local feed store that carries livestock grains. Crumbles seem to be less likely to choke waterfowl as it is less powdery than chick starter. Also it does not contain medication which can be harmful to some waterfowl. Lewie, being a waterfowl, drinks a lot of water. I find that a standard poultry watering fount does the trick. A cheap kiddie pool satisfies his need to splash, bathe, and keep clean which is in the nature of most geese. Lewie is not as obsessive about the water as my ducks, however, he does enjoy a good swim. I recently put him in with young Silkie chicks and noticed that he seems to now prefer to be with them. I'm not really sure how to get him to bond with me again. When I take him away he runs back to the Silkie coop and cries for his chicks. Perhaps spending a bit more time with Lewie will make me his mom once again.