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Winter Bird Feeding Tips

Sunday, December 15th, 2019

Winter bird feeding is easy with the help of J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas Don’t forget your feathered friends as the weather turns cold. Winter bird feeding is important as food sources for birds slow in the cold, winter months. At J&N Feed and Seed we have a great selection of bird feeders, suet, treats and of course, Purina Wild Bird Chow to keep your backyard friends coming back year after year.

Feeding wild birds in the winter is important as food sources for birds slow in the winter. Read our proven tips and techniques to help you quickly enjoy beautiful wild birds found around your yard.

Most bird feeders are designed to attract a wide variety of wild bird species but some have features that appeal to certain species such as Goldfinches and woodpeckers. An excellent feeder design to start with is a “hopper” feeder with wide ledges which presents black-oil sunflower seeds for big and small birds already living around your backyard. This approach ensures that you will attract beautiful wild birds quickly by using the seeds they prefer.

Bird-feeding tips:

Place your feeder so you can view it from a favorite room or chair. Think of a picture window, deck railing, patio, comfortable armchair or breakfast table. Some feeders are designed to attach to your windowpane.

Your birds also need to enjoy where your feeder is placed so make sure it’s near plant or tree cover for protection from the weather and safety, yet easily found too.

Take an old, white t-shirt or towel and place it on the ground beneath your feeder (whether mounted on a pole or hanging from a hook or branch). Take a handful of black-oil sunflower seeds and sprinkle them on your “target”. Birds follow other birds’ feeding patterns so when the first bird finds these seeds, you and your feeder are in business!

Re-fill your feeder as often as necessary to encourage your backyard birds to enjoy your feeder every day too.

Get ready for your family to enjoy lots of natural fun!

Stop by your local Farmer’s Coop for Wild Bird Blend seed mix, assorted bird treats and bird feeders.

Source: National Bird-Feeding Society

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Young County Jr. Livestock Show 2020

Saturday, December 14th, 2019

The Young County Jr. Livestock Show kicks off Wednesday, January 9, 2020, and runs through Saturday, January 11, 2020, in the Main Arena of the Young County Arena. Come out and show your support for our local kids at this great event.

Before you head to the arena, stop by J&N Feed and Seed for Sullivan Show Supplies, show feeds by Lindner, Moorman, Honor Show Chow, shavings and more. Let our experts help you raise a winner in the ring this show season. Good luck to everyone showing this year!

Location: Young County Arena – 120 Barclay Blvd. Graham, TX

Date: Wednesday, January 9th through Saturday, January 11, 2020

Click here for driving directions to Young County Arena.

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Winter Cattle Management

Monday, December 9th, 2019

Good winter cattle management practices help cattle tolerate the wind and cold temperatures. During the cold winter months, close attention should be paid to herd nutrition. Taking shortcuts on your cattle nutrition during the winter months could risk next year’s calf crop, this year’s weaning weights and the long-term viability of your herd. According to information from university of Minnesota extension beef experts, winter feeding programs vary for each cattle enterprise.

Feeding programs are dependent on variables such as:

• Forage quality.
• Cost and availability of winter supplements.
• Animal type (mature cows, replacement heifers or back-grounded calves).
• Body condition of your cattle.
• Calving date, if applicable.

The Minnesota beef experts explain that generally, winter feeding can be accomplished with harvested forages such as hay and silage. Grazing crop residues can also be utilized, but may not always be feasible in areas that receive significant amounts of snowfall during early winter months.

Cows can graze through up to 9 inches of snow to get high quality forages, but reduced forage intake will occur with as little as ¼ inch of ice covering the snow. Plus, cold temperatures and precipitation can decrease the feed’s nutritional value.

Regardless of whether you feed stored forages or graze crop residues, the cow’s diet must be sufficient to uphold a body condition score (BCS) of 5 at weaning, a 6 at calving, and no less than a 5.5 score at breeding. At this level of condition, a cow is able to maintain its body weight and support production functions such as lactation and fetal growth. Maintaining adequate body condition in pregnant cattle is crucial in the two to three months prior to calving.

Feeding Supplements
Depending on the quality of forage, supplementation may be needed by cows when nutrient demands are not met by the basic diet the cow is offered, say the Minnesota experts. Typically, diets of late gestating beef cows will meet nutrient needs if they contain a minimum of 55 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN ) and 8 percent crude protein (CP). However, lactating cow minimum requirements during the winter increase to 62 percent tDn and 11 percent CP, such as with fall calving cows.

When feeding pregnant first- and second-calf heifers due to calve in the spring, maintaining a diet with tDn at 60 percent and CP at 11 percent from the beginning of winter through early lactation should be sufficient.

It is important to compare nutrient intake of the diet with nutrient requirements of the cow based on animal type and pregnancy status, and to determine what additional nutrient(s) are needed for supplementation.

Evaluate Cow Performance
Throughout the winter,it’s important to evaluate cow performance by observing body weight and condition Herd Health Program changes resulting from your feeding program. This will tell you if you are correctly supplementing your cattle through the winter and preparing those spring calving herds for the calving season.

Purina has made it easy for you to maintain your production level by designing supplemental feed products to help economically manage your herd’s nutrition needs in all life stages. these products include Sup-R-Lix®, Sup-R-Block® and Accuration®/Cattle Limiter, all controlled intake products featuring IM Intake Modifying technology®.

Purina also offers Wind and Rain® mineral supplements that have been specifically designed to meet mineral deficiencies based on forage quality and cattle nutritional requirements. These minerals are weather resistant and are proven to enhance consistent consumption.

Contact J&N Feed and Seed at 940-549-4631 with questions and how we can help you get started with this program.

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7 Plants That Need Winter Pruning

Thursday, December 5th, 2019

Between now and mid-February Texas gardeners should begin winter pruning. Neal Sperry offers this list of plants that should be pruned during this time of year.

Shade trees: remove damaged or dead branches (pruning sealant only on oak cuts). All cuts should be flush with the branch collar on the trunk.
Evergreen shrubs: prune to maintain natural growth form of your evergreen shrubs.
Peach and plum trees: prune to remove the vertical growth and keep plants low and from spreading.
Grapes: for those that grow grapes, remove as much as 80 to 85 percent of cane growth.
Summer-flowering shrubs and vines: prune damaged or excessive branches. Do not top your crape myrtle plants.
Prune dead stems and leaves from perennials to tidy up your garden beds.
Prune freeze-damaged stems from plants hurt by December cold. (Could include gardenias, oleanders, bottlebrush, pittosporum, depending on where you live in Texas.)

Spend the time now to prune and care for your trees and plants, it will pay off in the spring. Looking for garden supplies? Come visit our store!

Tags: Garden, pruning, shrubs, trees
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Mr. Heater Portable Heaters Available at J&N

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Mr. Heater, America’s most popular portable heaters are available at J&N Feed and Seed. The Mr. Heater name is known and trusted by millions of people for specialized products to meet their heating comfort needs where they live, work and play. Their broad line of heating products includes forced air propane, portable heaters, garage heaters, and more.

At J&N Feed and Seed, we carry the full line of Mr. Heater, heaters from the Buddy Portable Heater all the way up to the Forced Air Personal Heaters. Any space you need warmth, Mr. Heater has a size to fit your needs. Bring warmth and comfort with you with the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater. This a great portable and temporary heat source for campers, RVs, hunting blinds, workshops, porches, patios, decks, sporting events, tailgating, garages, ice fishing shanties, and emergency heat.

We currently stock the following Mr. Heaters Portable Heaters:

Portable Buddy Heater
Big Buddy Heater
Little Buddy Heater
Hunting Buddy Camo Heater
Single Tank Top Heater
Double Tank Top Heater
Golf Cart Heater

How Much Heat Do You Need?

You can calculate the amount of BTUs required by using the following method: Measure the space’s dimension to determine cubic feet. (Length x Width x Height = Cubic Feet). Subtract the outside temperature from the desired inside temp to determine the temperature increase. If you have measured temperature in Fahrenheit, calculate the required BTUs with this formula: (Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .133 = Required BTUs) If you have measured temperature in Celsius, calculate the required BTUs with this formula: (Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .2394 = Required BTUs)

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Traeger Grills and Traeger Wood Pellets

Sunday, December 1st, 2019

J&N Feed and Seed in Graham is your local dealer for Traeger Grills and Traeger wood pellets. Be it smoking, grilling, wood-fired convection oven, or BBQ, the Traeger Grill can satisfy all your grilling needs. Stop by and check out our selection of grills, including the new Pro-Series 575 and Pro 780 WiFi pellet grills.

Simple and safe to operate, Traeger’s draft induction technology offers continuous convection cooking to ensure even heat distribution. The results are perfectly cooked food every time, with no flare-ups, no burnt food, and no hassles.

All you do is plugin and play! Can’t get any easier than that! Traegers require only a standard 110V household current. After an initial 300 watt heat up of the wood pellets, the grill uses the equivalent of a 50 watt light bulb, making the Traeger Pellet Grill one of the most energy-efficient grills on the market today. Using Traeger’s specially formulated natural hardwood pellets, food has a rich flavor unmatched by charcoal, gas grills, and smokers. Pellets come in a variety of woods, too— your grilling experience is only limited by your imagination.

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed in Graham and our team will happily show you our selection of Traeger Pellet Grills and accessories. We’ll get you up and grilling in no time— for many years to come!

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Feral Hog Traps By Boss Hawg

Thursday, October 31st, 2019

Feral Hog Traps by Boss Hawg available at J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas. Pick up Boss Hawg Feral Hog Traps at J & N Feed and Seed. Feral hogs are a big problem for our area of Texas. Feral hogs are prolific breeders and can cause considerable damage to property. Their rooting and trampling activity for food can damage agricultural crops, fields, and livestock feeding and watering facilities. They can even damage or destroy wildlife feeders.

If you’ve got a wild hog problem, come to see us for solutions. We carry Boss Hawg feral and wild hog traps, built with reliability and durability in mind. The framework is 1½”, fourteen gauge, square steel tubing. Plenty of bracing provides additional strength to trap and retain feral and wild hog populations. They’re built with 6 gauge wire panels through-out. All material is MIG welded and all of the tubings are prime coated. These hog traps have all been field-tested and are proven winners in continuous loading, retention, and durability. And did we mention, they’re made right here in Texas?

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas for animal traps, hunting supplies, feed and more. We’re conveniently located at 450 Pecan Street, in Graham, Texas. Questions? Give us a call at 940-5494631.

Want to find out more about the feral hog problem in Texas, click here.

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Relieve Allergies With Fresh, Local Honey

Wednesday, October 30th, 2019

J & N Feed and Seed now carry fresh, local honey harvested right here in Graham, Texas.

Raw Natural Local Honey is nature’s allergy reliever— Loaded with minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, antiviral and antihistamine agents. Raw Honey may provide relief from seasonal allergies when taken regularly! And, it just tastes better, too!

Did you know, that honey is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory? There are many benefits to local, raw honey. Here are a few:

Soothes coughs
Treats wounds
Provides nutrients
May relieve seasonal allergies
Kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria (medical-grade honey)
Makes great workout fuel

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas and pick up a jar of fresh local honey. Available in pint jars for just $8.95 and quart jars for $16.95.

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Seasonal Diet Changes for Horses

Saturday, September 28th, 2019

Changing seasons can bring about potential problems for horses and horse owners.

Pasture quality fluctuates with every season, but the shift in quality from summer to fall is significant. During the fall, there are often warm, sunny days and cool nights. Pasture plants manufacture sugars in the presence of water, carbon dioxide and sunshine, and then use those sugars to fuel growth during the night. However, when nighttime temperatures drop in the autumn, it becomes too chilly for plants to grow and the sugars are stored for later use. This leads to a concentration of stored sugars in the plants, which may increase the risk of digestive upset or laminitis in some horses. Horses at most risk are those that are significantly overweight or those that have trouble managing normal blood sugar levels and are sensitive to sugar content in the diet.

Changing seasons also mean drastic swings in weather conditions and temperatures. This, combined with a major diet adjustment of moving from pasture to hay, can increase the chance of digestive disturbances. While not scientifically proven, many horse owners and veterinarians have experienced what appears to be an association between changes in barometric pressure and incidence of colic episodes in horses. A dramatic drop in temperature often causes horses to drink less water, and at the same time, horse owners will often increase the amount of hay fed to help horses stay warm. More hay and less water consumption together may lead to impaction colic.

As we move into fall and winter, hay becomes the major forage source for many horses. Switching from pasture to hay or getting a new supply of hay represent as big a change to the horse as a change in grain. These significant dietary adjustments should ideally be made gradually to decrease the risk of digestive upset. Horses should be fed good-quality hay to maximize nutrition and minimize potential digestive problems. Good-quality hay, of any variety, will be clean and have a high leaf-to-stem ratio, small-diameter stems, few seed heads or blooms, a fresh smell and appearance, and a bright color (faded, yellow or brown color may indicate aged hay or poor storage conditions). The maturity of the plant at harvest determines the hay quality more than any other factor. Young, leafy, immature plants contain more protein, energy and minerals than older plants with thicker stems. Also, as a plant matures, it contains more indigestible fiber (lignin), which reduces nutrient availability. Lower-quality hay must be supplemented with higher-quality feed to maintain horses’ good condition and health.

Fall is a season of transition and an important time to evaluate the quality of forage available for your horse and whether the grain ration is appropriate and adequate to meet your horse’s nutrient requirements. When winter arrives, horses must be in good condition to be able to withstand colder temperatures. Adjusting grain rations in the early fall will prevent weight loss due to lower-quality forage and, if horses need to gain weight, there is still time for a thinner horse to gain some before the cold weather really sets in.

Article Attributed to Purina and Dr. Karen E. Davidson

Karen E. Davison

Ph.D. – Director, Nutritionist, Equine Technical Solutions

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2019 – 2020 Livestock Shows

Friday, September 20th, 2019

2019-2020 Livestock Shows for the upcoming season are right around the corner!

The calendar is set for the 2019-2020 Livestock Shows in Texas. Here are the dates and locations happening throughout Texas. Go to the links for each Stock Show to learn more about event schedules, entry forms, ticket information and more: