Archive for October, 2018

Closed Thanksgiving Day

Wednesday, October 31st, 2018

thanksgivingThanksgiving Day is a celebration, giving thanks for the harvest and our many blessings from the past year. How does your family celebrate this holiday? 

Happy Thanksgiving from J&N Feed and Seed! We are thankful for our customers and this great community we call home!

J&N Feed and Seed is closed on Thursday, November 22, 2018, in observance of the holiday.  Our staff will be enjoying the day and giving thanks for family & friends! We will resume normal business hours starting on Friday, November 23, 2018. Get your shopping done earlier in the week and avoid the rush of the holiday weekend!

J&N Feed and Seed wishes you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving day!

6 Hunting Season Preparation Tips

Saturday, October 20th, 2018

Hunting Season Preparation TipsDeer hunting season is just around the corner. Now is the time to start preparing for the season by picking up your license & taking hunter education classes; clean and repair your equipment; check the lease and property and more. Here are 6 tips to help you prepare now for a great season.

  1. Get your hunting license – Save time and purchase your hunting license ahead of time. Don’t stand in line at the last minute waiting for your license. If you are a new hunter find out if a hunter education workshop is required. Check with your local Parks & Wildlife office or with your county extension agent. Many courses are now offered online which can save you time.
  2. Check dates & regulations – many state regulations are updated annually, take the time to check them and make sure you are in compliance. Find out the dates for the opening season for the various types of deer you are hunting, and for the different hunting methods. In Texas, you can check them at the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.
  3. Clean and repair your equipment – If your equipment has been set aside for some time, take it out and clean it. Check the sight and scope of your rifle. Clean your deer feeders, and check your blinds. Any repairs needed are best done now to save you time during hunting season. Make sure you have ammunition on hand, get it early as supplies can be limited at times. Don’t forget clothing! Make sure they fit.
  4. Test your equipment – If you haven’t been practicing at least once a month, it’s time to start. This keeps you in practice for aiming, shooting and handling your gun.
  5. Check your lease or property – Do you need to clear out some areas? Is your deer feeder in the right place? Put your deer blind up so the wildlife becomes used to it. Scout out patterns and be ready for hunting season
  6. Safety first – Have a first aid kit on hand in the blind, your truck or on the property. Refill it with any missing items. Consider having an emergency plan in place, it’s always best to be prepared.

Preparation is key!  Follow these simple tips for a successful hunting season.

Yeti Coolers and Accessories at J&N Feed

Tuesday, October 16th, 2018

Yeti coolers

Pick up the Yeti coolers and drinkware at J&N Feed and Seed. We’re your headquarters for YETI Coolers, drinkware and accessories. Unlike ordinary coolers, which are essentially disposable, YETI® Coolers are made to last! We carry the full line of Yeti coolers including the Tundra, Roadie, Hopper, and stock the Rambler series of drink-ware including the Yeti Colster, 20 & 30 oz tumblers and of course the new Yeti Tundra Hauler.  Whether you are looking to protect your investment with a cable lock or just want a secure place to hold your beverage, we have what you need!  Not sure what you need? Let our knowledgeable staff

help you find the Yeti that’s right for you!

Tundra Coolers 
The original and still the best heavy-duty cooler around, the YETI Tundra is a rugged, all-purpose, large cooler that comes in a variety of sizes for wilderness expeditions, hunting, fishing, tailgating, and more.

NEW Tundra Hauler

Our first-ever YETI cooler on wheels is the answer to taking Tundra’s® legendary toughness and unmatched insulation power the extra mile. And nothing was sacrificed in the making of this cold-holding powerhouse, ensuring the Haul™ lives up to the Tundra name. The Tundra® Haul™ is now the toughest cooler on two wheels.

Roadie 20
Small but mighty, the YETI Roadie is the best personal cooler you’ll ever find to protect your drinks from the heat. Built with the same hardy one-piece construction and ice-retaining insulation as our Tundra ice chests, this small personal cooler is equipped with a heavy-duty stainless steel handle for better portability.

Hopper & Flip
Ordinary soft-sided coolers are flimsy, frail, and only slightly better at cooling beverages than just leaving them in the shade. But the YETI Hopper is a portable cooler of a different color. No matter where you carry it or how you handle it, the Hopper won’t leak or break. And just like all YETI Coolers, it’s over-engineered to keep ice for days.

Rambler Series
YETI Ramblers are advanced personal drink coolers made from 18/8 stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation. Rambler Tumblers will keep your soda or mixed drinks cold twice as long as plastic cups, and make an excellent YETI coffee mug. The Rambler Colster locks in the cold of cans and bottles using a heat-mocking ThermoLock™ Gasket. Available in 20 and 30-ounce sizes.

Rambler Bottles
This stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulated Rambler will keep your beverage as cold as science allows. But having the frostiest beer in the world doesn’t do you much good if you can’t get it open. YETI bottles are extra-durable and come in a range of sizes that fit in your pocket, in your bar drawer, and even in your cooler. Available in 18, 36 and 64-ounce sizes.

Accessories
Security Cable Lock & Bracket, Beverage Holder, Drain Plug Hose Connection, T-Rex latches, Bottle Opener, Bottle Key, Locking Brackets, Hats, Shirts and MORE!

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed, and see our selection of Yeti coolers, drinkware, and accessories.

Three Steps to a Peaceful Backyard Flock

Wednesday, October 10th, 2018

Pekin Cochin Bantam Hen - organic poultry - free range chicken egg layer

 

 

Have you ever wondered what goes through a chicken’s mind?
Wouldn’t it be helpful if they could say, “My feathers are itchy!” or “I’m bored!”? Though humans and hens don’t speak the same language, simple changes can help backyard flock conversations go smoothly.

As backyard flock owners, we are tasked with becoming chicken whisperers. Keeping a peaceful flock requires us to interpret behaviors to decipher what our chickens are telling us.

During fall and winter when chickens are spending more time in the coop, chicken boredom can bring out changes in behavior, such as pecking.

Chickens are naturally inquisitive, but they don’t have arms and hands to inspect things. They use their beaks to explore instead. Pecking is a natural chicken behavior that allows them to check out their surroundings, including their flock mates.

Though pecking is a natural occurrence, the nature of this chicken pecking behavior can change when birds spend more time inside.

Understanding the difference between curious and aggressive chicken pecking is key to knowing when there is a problem. Not all pecking is bad. When it is gentle, this behavior is fun to watch. If pecking becomes aggressive, it can be problematic to other birds in the flock.

Three tips to keep a peaceful backyard flock:

1. Investigate the reason for pecking.
If the pecking chickens become aggressive, the first tip is to determine if something is causing birds to act out.

Start with a list of questions about the environment: Are the hens too crowded? Do they ever run out of feed or water? Are they too hot or cold? Is there a predator in the area? Is there something outside of the coop that is causing them to be stressed?

After the stressor has been identified, the next step is easy: remove the problem and the aggressive chicken pecking behavior may go away or diminish.

To maintain this newfound peace, make sure your birds have a minimum of 4 square feet indoors and 10 square feet outdoors per bird. Adequate feeder and waterer space is also critical.

If a new hen is added to the flock, there may be a period of uneasiness.

Remember, there will always be some dominance in the flock as part of the pecking order. There are typically one or two boss hens who rule the roost. Once the pecking order is determined, the birds usually live together peacefully.

2. Chickens take baths, too.
The next step to prevent feather picking is to keep birds clean. Chickens take a different type of bath than you might expect. They often dig a shallow hole, loosen up all the dirt and then cover themselves in it.

This process is called a dust bath. Dust bathing is an instinct that helps keep birds clean. On our farm, we make dust baths for our hens by following these three steps: 1. Find a container at least 12 inches deep, 15 inches wide and 24 inches long; 2. Combine an equal blend of sand, wood ash and natural soil; 3. Watch your birds roll around in the bath and clean themselves.

Dust baths can also prevent external parasites such as mites and lice. If external parasites are an issue, supplement your chicken dust baths with a cup or two of food-grade diatomaceous earth.

If you add diatomaceous earth, be sure to mix it in well. Diatomaceous earth can be harmful if inhaled in large amounts. By mixing the diatomaceous earth into the dust bath, it has less probability to become airborne while still helping prevent external parasites.

3. Offer an alternative place for birds to peck.
Next, provide birds something to keep their minds busy. Perhaps the most fun of these three tips is to find chicken toys that bring out their natural instincts.

Interactive objects can make the coop more complex and exciting. Logs, sturdy branches or chicken swings are a few flock favorites. These toys provide unique retreats for hens who may be lower in the pecking order.

Another flock boredom-buster is a block for hens to peck, like the Purina® Flock Block. You can simply place this block in the coop for hens to peck. The block can be a fun experience for hens and prevent chicken boredom when they are spending more time in the coop.

The Purina® Flock Block encourages natural pecking instincts. It also contains whole grains, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and oyster shell to provide nutrients that contribute to the hen’s well-being.

Want to find a Purina® Flock Block of your own? Find a retail location near you.

Article Attributed to Purina Mills and Dr. Patrick Biggs

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