Tuesday, September 17, 2013

What NOT to feed your flock!

I've had lots of questions about how to feed chickens, what they can or cannot eat, so I'm devoting the next bunch of posts to strictly-feeding! First and foremost I thought I would cover the serious what not to feed your birds and move into more advanced tips and tricks in later posts. I could literally write a book on feeding birds (Ou, now that's an idea!).

Let's get started... many things with feeding chickens are no brainers, but other items on this list my shock you, that's why its important to read-up and do your research before start feeding them potentially poisonous treats. I thought about making a top-ten list, but these are all very bad for your birds and should not be taken lightly.

Some "no brainers" are; Alcohol or tobacco products. Human medicines, bio-degradable plastics and paper. They may seem silly, but people have fed these things to their birds. Some should probably reconsider keeping animals period.
Raw Potato Peels are toxic. Avocado skins and pits are toxic. Chocolate is also very toxic. Junk food has a high fat and salt content, non of which are good for these small creatures.

Moldy foods, you may have heard they are OK to feed to your chickens, but unless you're a mold expert, you never know what spores or toxic molds might harm your chickens. Sugar is just bad, it elevates the blood sugar and gets the heart racing a dangerous levels. Garlic and onions can effect the egg taste as well as be toxic. Raw meat, just don't, there's a high risk of bacteria, smell and food poisoning.
Salty foods can make your birds sick. Your average garden clippings can contain toxic or poisonous plants that your birds wouldn't know better then to eat. Feeding raw eggs may cause your birds to eat their own eggs as they now see them as a food source. Be mindful to crush up any egg shells into tiny tiny pieces before feeding back to your flock. Feeding raw beans can be dangerous because they can expand while being digested.

Other unwelcome items include:
Banana and citrus peels, certain flowers, parsley, anything really spicy, dried fruit, sugary cereal, be careful with some wild bird seeds, cheeses, raw rice and raw pasta. Feed scratch corn only in the winter months as it elevates their body temperature, avoid in warm months. Some people like to feed cooked meats and even cooked chicken... but this seems really messed up and cannibalistic.

For more information on what not to feed chickens, check out your local library for a nice big book on chickens or a credible web site, like a University's agricultural department.

Another thing to keep in mind that uneaten kitchen scraps in your coop may start to smell and get moldy, so be sure to remove uneaten waste and clean regularly, food might collect droppings and birds will eat and track around. Extra waste may also attract pests and predators.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Back on the blog!

It's been a whirlwind summer trying to operate Summer Girl Chicks all on my own, but I finally have the bull by the horns! I'll now be blogging and updating the website at least once a week, now that I have allotted some more "Summer Girl Chicks" time.

Thanks to all who purchased chicks this year and helped me raise enough money to pay for my university tuition! Next year will hopefully be twice as fruitful! I promise even more top quality chicks and breeds starting in the 2014 season!

But don't you fret, the 2013 season doesn't end with my last hatch! I'll be posting cool events and workshops, coop-design inspiration, chicken keeping ideas and trends as well as updates on my flock and my 2014 hatch plans!

Don't forget to check in with my Facebook page: Summer Girl Chick's Facebook for more pictures, events, chick listings and more. Check out the For Sale & Hatches page for adult chickens for sale as well as eggs and chicks.

Chicks Available Now!
Last 2013 Season Hatch!

Speckled Sussex
Ameraucana x (Easter Egger x Ameraucana)
Pure Blue & Black Ameraucana


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Like Summer Girl Chicks on Facebook!

Hey! Like Summer Girl Chicks on Facebook 
for even more pictures, articles and updates!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Peacocks! Oh My!

When I decided to call myself Summer Girl Chicks, I really didn't imagine going beyond breeding and hatching chicken. But much like the journey of life, some things just happen and they land right in our laps.

I have found myself very lucky, in that I have been given two peachicks to foster from a friend who works at a zoo (I won't name which). They were naturally incubated, and then the peahen decided to let them defend for themselves shortly after the hatch. I'm not sure of the gender of these little ones, but my instinct says one male and one female.

They are traditional India blue peacocks from a great flock. They have great little personalities, but I find them to be much more shy then chicken-chicks. I will be keeping them for a while longer, and then they will be available for purchase to a good home on a rural property, they are not for urban flocks, as grown peacocks need plenty of space, trees to climb and appreciation of their vocal nature.


I have named them KT and Perry, respectively. Can't wait to see how they grow out! They are quite lovely and I might hatch a batch or two for sale this season and the next. If you're interested in buying some peachicks, please do your research first and stand-by for chicks to come from me! There are many colour variations and I hope to carry and few exotics from time to time.

This is an India Blue Peacock (like KT and Perry)

This is also an India Blue but with a "Pied" or "pie-bald" gene, where sections of feathers and flesh are absent pigment. I hope to hatch a mixed batch of albino, India blue and piebald variants.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The odd couple!

I don't always have mixed breeds... unless they are Easter Eggers or Olive Eggers... but when I do I'm looking for a unique combination. Right now I have 12 very unique eggs in the incubator. Soon they will hatch and the mystery will unfold... what will they look like?

This mystery clutch of eggs comes from a handsome Partridge/Calico Silkie Rooster and a silver-frizzle naked neck hen. (Actual birds shown below!). The eggs themselves were a light blue and medium size.  Essentially the chicks will be Sizzle-Naked-Neck-Easter-Eggers. It will be interesting to see how the genes are split for these chicks.
This weird combination will likely result in Sizzle feathering/ Silkie Feathering/ Frizzle Feathering with a range of colouration from Black - Partridge - Silver or more. The naked neck gene should be present in some of the chicks, creating an unconventional "Showgirl" look to some chicks. Breed combinations like this can really make for interesting genetic projects.
If you're interested in any of these chicks, stay tuned and watch for updates on upcoming hatches and chick availability. If you're looking for a unique addition to your flock, these are definitely the birds for you!