Poultry Nutrition FB Group

 While we're on this topic, here's a poultry nutrition group that Mr Mattocks is a part of:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

What I Feed My Chickens

 

So if you're new to the site, or even to chickens, I wanted to let you know what I feed and why. I've posted about it before but we'll revist the topic! 

I'll try to keep it as short as I can! When I got serious about breeding, it became very obvious that what you feed your chickens is important. Now I grew up on a farm, and we did not pamper the chickens lol. They got basic layer mash, some corn in the winter, scraps and they free ranged as much as they wanted. They were tough barnyard mixes mostly, so it worked. If you want to show, or just have chickens that look like you do, there's more involved than farm chicken life. After studying and listening to many lectures, I messaged Mr Jeff Mattocks to see what he thought about what I came up with. Purina Flock Raiser as the base feed. Henhouse Reserve by Kalmbach, and at certain times, a supplement from Fertrell. Jeff stresses the importance of certain vitamin levels, A and E especially, and giving them a good source of protein from a meat source. The supplement has fish meal as that source. Chickens aren't vegetarians. 😊
Most commercial feeds are severely lacking, but purina Flock raiser has been the best i can find in this area. The chickens lay extremely well, and i dont see the problems I did years ago, especially in Silkies. They need higher levels of vitamins or you will see wryneck, hatching problems, weak chicks and other issues in them. When I first started, seriously, with silkies,  I ordered hatching eggs from several good breeders. I did experience some of those problems I'm talking about. Not knocking any breeders but since I changed feed and was selective in what I kept for my breeding groups, those issues went away.
I do give them some boiled eggs, especially chicks(also oats for the chicks), and some scraps here and there like things from the garden, leftover spaghetti ect. That's like us having chips as a snack, not for our breakfast or dinner lol. Don't forget to give them actual granite grit, not oyster shells. Jeff stresses the importance of grit. It works like teeth in the gizzard. And lastly, clean water.
Hope this helps!

Cheryl

Finally Fall Once Again!

 Well friends, we made it through another "hotter than hell and drier too" summer. I had gotten sick a couple of times as well and couldn't be out as much as usual so I just had to give in to the weeds and such until it cooled off. Now I'm starting to get things done again. I had quit shipping part of July through Sept because it simply wasn't safe for plants. Hope you're all doing well, and are enjoying pumpkin spice and hoodie weather! Here's some of my fuzzball Muppets to share with you!

It's Hydrangea Time Ya'll!

 

Facebook Nursery Page ● Roses

 If you'd like to see the album of the roses that I have blooming right now, also the ones I propagate for the nursery, or, if you just want to enjoy rose pictures, here's the link!

Don't forget to stop and smell your own roses! 

THE ROSES 

The Roses Bloom Once Again

 It's the best time to enjoy your roses! The first flush of Spring...

CLICK HERE

Silkie Egg Size And Color

 

Just a little example to show the difference between silkie eggs, size and color. Any breed of hen lays larger eggs each year. Believe me, that cochin egg is very large lol. So an older silkie can give you decent sized eggs. Egg shell color varies hen to hen, and diet can effect that and yolk color as well. During the laying season, hens eggs lose a little pigment with each Egg laid. The color returns next season. 

Hatching Eggs!

 I have a doz hatching 🥚🥚🥚's from my paints available for local pickup, or shipping within Mo only. 

💵 50 plus shipping because I'm out of incubator space atm! 

Normally 💵 65

Southeast Missouri 

Message to claim 😊

READ before committing:

https://cherylshenhousemo.blogspot.com/2020/09/if-i-sell-you-chicks-or-eggs.html

Drama in Chickenland

 

So guys, I hate to post about this, but I have to. Maybe it will save some you future problems. As alot of you know, I've been more focused on nursery things and other things for the last year or so than raising a lot of chicks. I haven't even been on fb much at all. So in trying to get reaquainted in chicken land, and catching up on what's going on in that world, I'm seeing alot of things after visiting my old groups and checking with breeders on a few new varieties that I'm interested in. Scamming has always been a thing, as we know. Since probably a year or so after most people got home computers and things took off. But, it's gotten worse. Fake look-a-like pages have gotten to a ridiculous level. Its almost impossible to detect. They are still stealing breeders pictures and using them to scam. That's why I started labeling mine. Also, many long-time breeders have gotten out of breeding, and tons of new ones have popped up. There's also still as many issues, if not more, when shipping and ordering eggs and live birds. I'd hoped the usps would get better, but it seems worse. Constantly raising prices. Lost egg packages and even birds, delayed by a week, hatching eggs scrambled, or broken, and frozen by the time they show up. From shipping plants(live), I highly recommend using UPS. Breeders are not doing what they should, buyers too, and terrible communication. I'm kind of dealing with this currently. Misguided expectations, lying on people trying to destroy their names. Smh, I'm taking it ALL into consideration. 

I'm not trying to discourage you from buying, selling, showing, or breeding. But, we all need to be doing our due diligence to check people and their pages and birds out as much as possible. See if anyone you know, knows the breeder. Try to find posts about fake pages and scammers. Don't forget, avian influenza is still very bad in some areas, be careful! 

Cheryl

🌷🐣🌷

Almost Spring!

 

Time to start seeds indoors, prune trees in Feb., and spray dormant oil if you plan to. Roses can be pruned soon if needed, prune off old blooms on your hydrangeas if you haven't, and hang in there for warmer days! 

Thank you to everyone who visits the blog, Facebook and my etsy shop. I also have some plants listed on ebay. 

Whether you stop by for chicken "stuffs" or plant stuff, I appreciate it! 

Merry Christmas!

 Thank you so much, to all who have supported the nursery this year, and me. It's hard work, but I enjoy it, and knowing that beautiful plants are growing for you in so many places of the US, that started right here...Pretty amazing and humbling. I hope that you all have a safe, healthy, and joyful Christmas and New Years day! 

Thanks again 

Cheryl 

🐥🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷🐥

 

Nursery Thoughts

 

Autumn Dahlias

 Dahlias are worth the wait! 

Do you have a secret garden?

 

...if you do, I'd love to hear about it in the comments! 

This is our backyard, where I also have my nursery and chickies. 

🌿🐣🌿🐣🌿

My nursery inspector comes yearly. She always tells me I should have garden tours, but I definitely don't think it's ready for that. Maybe one day...

It's a work in progress, but I enjoy my time there! 

 

Summer Check In!

 

Hope you're all surviving the summer heat ok?! It's rough this time of year to get work and watering done. 😩☀️

I have some hydrangeas and roses available,  and they are listed on Facebook marketplace as well as etsy and ebay. Other things as well. I also have some calico bantam cochins and various silkies ready for new homes. I'll try to post their pics soon. Enjoy the remainder of your summer,  stay cool, and take care! 

🐣🌺🌿☀️

Cheryl

Available On Etsy

 

Hello all!

Hope you're doing well...just a quick reminder to visit my etsy shop to order online. I also have some things listed on ebay, but if you'd like to see what's available on etsy, CLICK HERE!  

Take care and happy growing! 🌸🐝🌸🐝

Preserving Special Flowers

 

If you enjoy drying flowers for crafts and decor, or if the flowers are very special to you,  try wise dry or something similar. These peonies are from a start I was able to dig up,  which belonged to my grandma 50+ years ago. I have several growing now, and I know how much she'd enjoy knowing that we are still caring for and enjoying many of her flowers. They smell heavenly. ❤️ 

#driedflowers

2024 First Day of Spring

 Hope you all are out starting to plant and do clean up, or whatever it is that you may be doing this Spring! Start a new bed, sow seeds of something new, share starts of heirloom plants that you may have..enjoy the beautiful days before our Summer heat hits! 

Winter Seed Sowing & Cochins At 4 Months

 

2024 White Pine Seedlings

 

For those who've been waiting, the white pine trees have come in! They're rehydrating, and I'll be sorting them over the next few days. This year they all look to be close to the same size, and most will be $2.00-$3.00 each. #pinetree