Recent content by Camille2t

I have heard that you should bury the 1/2" hardware cloth (vinyl coated) 1 foot underground with a J shape curled outward and, then, cover over with dirt. I have seen mink dig horizontally over 2 feet! We lost 5 chickens to mink and we are making Fort Knox, now!

I have found that galvanized 1/2" hardware cloth rots on the floor of the coop. I just bought some vinyl coated 1/2" hardware cloth to replace the rotted one. Regular hardware cloth is fine unless it is on the ground and getting wet...so, I am making my skirt with the vinyl coated, too...and...

I like the wheels!

Hi, I have seen that people use water crystals to hydrate their mealworms. I would like to throw the chick starter substrate into the coop along with the mealworms to avoid sifting (breathing issues). My question is, will the water crystals which I give the mealworms adversely affect the...

I heard that wheat middlings, also called millrun is the best.

What type of screen (aluminum, nylon, fiberglass, etc.) is good for the bottom of the top shelf to let the eggs sift down? Also, i heard that if you bake the millrun , bran, or oats, at 150 degrees for 1/2 hr., you kill the moths.

Hi, We had the BEST eggs in Norway and, now, I want to get some Norwegian Jaerhons, but, I can't find anyplace to get them. Any ideas? We live in Rhode Island. Also, the eggs in Norway were so beautifully orange and yummy...I wrote to ask what they fed their chickens, but, they said they were...

Hi, Yes, humans can eat sprouted barley and chia... :)

This from US News: "Due to the loss of some of the grain's starch, the other nutrients, like proteins, vitamins, and minerals, will increase slightly as a percentage of the total unit of grain. Some studies also suggest that certain minerals—namely iron and zinc—may become more "bioavailable"...

Hi, I am not sure of the price difference between wheat and barley, but, barley has a much better protein profile than wheat and since chickens need at least 16% protein, I went with the barley. Chia, also, has good protein, but, not much volume...I mix the two just because I bought some chia. I...

Hi, I use a scant 1 1/2 cups for 3 hens per day. That, and 2Tablespoons of chia, mixed..and they want more! But, they don't hardly touch their feed, so, it is just the right amount, I feel. I would say that 6-7 cups of barley should do it for your flock of 13. :)

Hi, I let the chia soak with the barley for 24 hours, then, I pour the mess onto a fine-mesh piece of nylon covering a cooling rack and attached at 4 corners with binder clips set upon a cookie sheet. I rinse the barley-chia twice a day and voila, in about 5 days, we have lovely sprouts...I...

Hi, my hens refuse to touch the dried whole corn.. I don't know why.. Too big kernels? I noticed that some people give what looks like popping curb to their flock, but, we just bought the regular whole corn... A 50 lb. bag for the winter! Any suggestions?

Hi, yes, I grow a mixture of barley and chia... The chicks (we have 4) go wild for it! It is great to be able to give the chicks greenery through this snow storm!