If you are looking for tick control for the main purpose of the birds, I would go with Guinea fowl. They are used as tick and insect control. They have a rich, dark, ducklike meat also. They are specialists as insect controllers. My chickens hammer the insects in my yard. That is one of the benefits of having a free range flock. Tony is a great flock raiser as he provides things like toads and mealworms to his confined flock. his birds are very healthy and happy. Chickens are mini-velociraptors! I was picking up some topsoil from a guy who had a pool installed. There was a mouse nest with a handful of baby mice about 2-3 inches long. The girls were elated when they found those little protein gems and quickly dispatched and gulped them down!!! It was sweet!! Sal
So why use predators as a reason? I have been around farms most of my life and I know what goes on ... no way you can control everything your livestock eat all the time ... cows will eat mice, dead or alive and other animals and pigs will eat anything they can .. as will chickens .... you can't control it all ... sorry See above What an ignorant, judgmental statement that is! A farmer elitist! Whodathunkit! Wow......
Great point, Sal .... Guinea hens would be the answer ... they can survive better unsupervised as well!
Because they must be factored in. True but that is not what I am talking about. We are NOT talking about foraging at opportunity rate. I read comments here from people saying they have feed their chickens little toads, meal worms, snakes, grated cheese, cottage cheese, pasta, grub worms, deer carcasses or dead frogs. That is why I mentioned proper feed for chickens on our farm. You are now changing the subject by talking about roaming chickens foraging. I would hope that people would not change the subject when they are coming out behind in a discussion. It makes it hard to keep topical. I’m not certain why you are getting so worked up, unhinged, animated and angry. We are sharing ideas, you dont need to get so emotional. Your new to raising chickens, I am not. Don’t be threatened. This is not a contest. Eventually you will come to learn that calm, relaxed discussion is mutually beneficial to all parties involved.
You have a mystical power to see that I am all those things you listed... problem is your power is inaccurate as I am totally calm ... no topic was switched .... it was just built upon .... if you follow the thread in a logical way, you will see this to be true ...
Yes, its one of a variety of super powers I possess. I can see it quite clearly just as I can spot denial at lightning speed. It’s a gift.
Out working on the goat barn and found a 6 inch garter snake that was dead. Looked like something/someone landed on it. The chickens loved it. It is funny to watch them chase each other around trying to steal the choice morsel from the one that has it. The one of them swallows it like slurping a strand of spaghetti. It never ceases to amaze me how much they can eat.
I love watching slabcrappy's birds free range around his yard ... so cool! They will chase down flying critters and everything else they can :D I have a pic of my bird with a snake being chased around .... lemmee find it .......
Well, the protein was not the answer as they still do it .... its not all the time, but it is a little from every bird (22 of them ) and now most of his big tail feathers have been plucked out On to TSC today and bought some blue coate as they finally drew blood today .... sprayed the blue coate on and the birds went right to picking, but the recoiled back in disgust and wiped their beaks on the ground and left him alone ... I hope it stays that way...
Guineas are the most annoying animal on planet earth, I will not be buying them. My parents bought a neat little 1800s cabin on 10 acres to restore. It has a great little log cabin styled chicken coop in the yard. Running water is there and could be supplied for a continuous supply. They would have to be free range to come and go in the coop as they please. What kind of feeder can you set up to feed the chickens?
Hang this (or something smaller) somewhere out of the weather. http://www.randallburkey.com/Galvanized-Hanging-Feeder-40-LB/productinfo/10814/
Trev, you would also want to look into an automatic coop door to lock them in at night for protection ... or they will not live long ...
Chickens eh tony? New place of residence I see since i havent been on much in the last couple years lol. Next time I get a little to drunk at the flipside in strykersville im totally calling you to pick me up!
Al!!!! Where the HECK have you been?!?!?! You better call me if you need to .... still got my number?
Well I joined the Marines, so I havent been around too much, actually coming home on leave later this week, been a long 5 months since ive been in the area. I dont have your number anymore, got a new phone and such, shoot me a text if you still have mine. I just might find myself in that predicament next weekend haha.
Make sure you do! I have a great message on the evils of drunkenness I can preach to you as I take you home
