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Parrothead

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Parrothead

Before I post this update, I want to say this has been a learning experience for me. It has also been somewhat costly for me - but not nearly as costly as it could have been. Either way, maybe I can save others headaches and money, by posting threads as I learn.

 

Onward.

 

We have been busy. In the past few weeks, we have built a second chicken house, had one chicken end up with wry neck, moved the first flock of chicks out to the farm, and have started making plans for future housing for more birds - and extending the Chicken King's Empire throughout Cambodia! Okay, maybe that is a bit much. But, if we can house a few more birds here and there, the few extra bucks earned will be worth it.

 

Our first babies - 60 of them in all (minus the one that was already at the farm, below), were moved to new digs on Tuesday, just under two weeks back. As you can see in the photo below, they made themselves at home right away:

 

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Anyway, if you recall, one of the chicks ended up with a case of Wry Neck (fotos in this post), prior to the transfer. I didn't have the heart to cull (kill) the little guy. (Dumb arse me.) So, we sent it out to the farm with the intention of keeping it isolated from the other chicks. This newbie (READ: That's me, the dumb arse) at keeping chickens found that to be a lesson to be learned, when one of Chan's relatives did the unthinkable, after we transferred the other 60 chicks to the farm. I won't make that mistake ever again. The cost is far too high, to allow one chick to possibly destroy an entire flock of birds. 

 

On the 26th of April, we dispatched the little guy. He / She was not doing well. We had transferred it to the farm on the 21st. So, folks, if you are considering raising chickens, especially any amount of birds you would NOT want to lose, do NOT keep a bird alive that could spread anything to the rest of the flock. It may cost you more than you will ever know. I certainly didn't want to lose 100 birds because of one. Lesson #1 learned.

 

On a lighter note, here is a much cheaper lesson in efficiency and money saving. Some time back I purchased a large feed dispenser, trying to think ahead for when the birds were bigger. In the brooder / coop at the apartment, we primarily use feed trays, like the blue ones pictured below: 

 

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But, I knew we would need something larger once the chicks were transferred to the farm and housed in a larger coop. It was a spur of the moment purchase that seemed like a good idea at the time. However, that dispenser really needs some modifications to its design, in order to stop the birds from spilling large quantities of food from it. Do not buy one of these dispensers. Trust me, here. Whether set on the ground, or hanging, it is not a very efficient way to feed the flock. Not to mention the birds jump on it, and in it, to feed. They drop litter all in the feed as well. Lesson #2 learned.

 

This is the dispenser I am talking about:

 

IMG_0800rc.jpg

 

So, while online a day or two ago, I noticed that someone had posted an image on a friend's Facebook wall. It happened to be a chicken feeder made from PVC pipe. I had seen these types of feeders before, but had not really given much attention to them.

 

We went to the farm yesterday (Saturday). It just so happened that Chan's mom mentioned how much the birds jump on and in the feeder, causing it to spill valuable feed - in no small quantities. (The birds had spilled so much feed, that the family ended up putting a plastic sheet down to catch the feed. Amazing. I had just the answer to this little issue. It was a simple design that I remembered seeing the day or so before. I figured we could make up one or two and try them out at the farm. We did and they work well. Here is the information and photos of the PVC chicken feeders: 

 

1 - 4 meter length of 4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe.

2 - 90 degree elbows, 4" Schedule 40 PVC.

2 - 45 degree elbows, 4" Schedule 40 PVC.

1 - small can of PVC glue (which I ended up not using).

 

Total cost, $13.00 USD. 

 

 

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I will pick up two more elbows (1 - 45 and 1 - 90 degree) so we can make one more feeder from the left over pipe at the farm.

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jimmyboy

any of them crowing yet?

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Parrothead

any of them crowing yet?

 

No. But some are still pecking the hell out of the others. If they get that taste of blood in them, we will be in serious trouble. 

 

I don't know what to do to solve this issue, yet. 

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jimmyboy

separate them.

get some of those bell baskets and put the victims in there under some trees

 

they will be going to market soon anyway

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jimmyboy

so what the HELL have you got there?

white layers and a broiler strain?

or color sex link broilers?

 

most hatchery chickens in the region are broilers.

today, i discovered that 3 "connected" guys produce all the chicken eggs for Phnom Penh.

 

that is emblematic of the poultry industry globally.

 

the most eroded of all the useful animals in terms of genetic diversity, and a critical resource for nutrition in the developing world.

 

I will start a separate thread about this anomalous situation in the global poultry industry. not a monopoly- 5 poles- but certainly a consortium that has gained remarkable dominance globally.

 

it is a story of rich and poor, and how corporations can establish control over a global market by simple technology.

 

more tomorrow on this hobby horse.

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Parrothead

They are definitely getting big. They will be 10 weeks old this upcoming weekend.

 

IMG_1014r.jpg

 

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I'm pretty certain they are all meat chickens. 

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Read2Learn

No. But some are still pecking the hell out of the others. If they get that taste of blood in them, we will be in serious trouble. 

 

I don't know what to do to solve this issue, yet. 

Eat the aggressive ones, problem solved. :cooking:  :rofl: 

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Parrothead

I am learning, slowly but surely. I think there are just more aggressive breeds and less aggressive breeds. Typically, you cannot put them together in the same environment, especially if space is somewhat limited.

 

This finally hit me today, because I have 20 chicks in the coop here at the house. They are all the same breed. None of them have bothered the others at all. Not a single peck from what I can tell. And, there are 2/3rds fewer birds in the same space. In fact, the only pecking I have noticed is them establishing hierarchy in the coop. 

Edited by Paul
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jimmyboy

when is market day?

going to have a dinner?

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Parrothead

I can't bear the thought of it, market day. 

 

Originally, she thought about 10 weeks. That isn't going to happen. They need to grow more. 

 

Largest birds are 1.5 Kilos, though. So, not bad. I'm willin' to wait just a bit longer.

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