Keeping Chickens Newsletter

Jump To Page

1

2

3

4

5

8

9

10

Subscriber Letters

Sue : I wrote back a few months ago concerning a couple of my hens laying soft shell eggs. I went the GNC store and bought Calcium capsules (the capsule was easy to open) and a bottle of Vitamin D. I poured in a capsule a day into their food. I also, put a full dropper of the Vitamin D in their water (1 gallon) waterer when I changed their water each day.  It has taken two to three months, but I am getting hard shelled eggs again from these two hens. Just wanted to share this information. I love reading your newsletter. Thanks and have a great day! Sue Jones

Mary Hunter : This is for the gentleman that mentioned the freezing water issue.  In the mid 70's I purchased galvanized water heaters for the 5 gallon galvanized chicken waterers.  The heaters are still available.  They are designed for use with water and are sealed.  They lasted for the 6 years I raised chickens then.  I kept them.  When I started raising chickens again 4 years ago they went back to work keeping the hens water thawed.  The heater is warm enough that you can feel it is warmer than the air but, I don't think it gets the water more than 45 degrees.  Just enough the water doesn't freeze.  This year I am using them with the 5 gallon plastic waterers and they work just as well with them.  They are cheap today compared to what I paid then, $35 in 1975.  I've seen them at about $75-$80 recently.  Well worth it as there is no risk of fire from things going wrong as can happen with a heating pad.  Because they don't heat the water much the cost of operation is small.

Our Grange is teaching a class on "Raising Chickens" taking someone new to chicken raising to butcher age or with pullets to point of lay.  It looks like a fairly intense class covering, selection of breeds, where to get chicks, care of day old chicks, making your own brooder, roost, etc.

Thanks again for the new letter.  I enjoy reading everyone's "Chicken Stories."

Steve : Wow !!!! What a great news letter you provide, and great feed back from all the other wonderful readers / chook keepers. Thank you all.

We moved from the UK 8 years ago to New Zealand and have been keeping our girls I think but don't quote me they are road island red bantams, maybe someone could confirm this, we got mum and six chicks but I put the week old male down as we are in a residential area at the moment on the South Island Christchurch.

Below are the girls

Next Page