Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Ridgerunner]

I've tried wood shavings, straw, and long cut grass (hay). They all work but I prefer the straw or cut grass. It holds its shape better and I can't beat the price. Just a tiny amount of sweat equity. Gather it up after it is cut and has dried.

It's rare but I've had eggs work their way under the shavings, probably when a hen was rearranging the nest after another egg was laid. I've never had that problem with straw or hay.

Wood pellets would probably work. It should cost you nothing but a little work to try them to see how you like them. If they get wet, won't they break down into sawdust?

 

[Outlier]

Would you old timers tell me if flax is a no or yes for chicks. I brought wild bird seed for scratch to help me get them back into the run after I let them free range a bit. It has millet,Nyjer (thistle), canary grass seed, hulled sunflower chips,flax seed and grain products. Listed in that order on the bag. I throw 1/4 of a cup on the ground to get them to come running in. It's not open and I have the receipt so I can still return it. thanks

Just one more comment on this one... Flax will actually increase the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in eggs when fed at a high enough rate. I know I read an article about a farmer that was having his local feed mill custom mix flax seed into his chicken feed. Laboratory tests of the eggs showed it did increase the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Unfortunately I don't know how much must be fed or what kind of increase in Omega 3 and 6 to shoot for. I suppose there would be some research somewhere, or perhaps an extension agent would know. Certainly would be a good selling point for eggs and possibly meat.

 

[kathyinmo]

How about mushrooms?

I found this one today, deep in the timber (near the poison ivy I now have all over me). I suppose fungi is not good for chickens, eh? Maybe I'll cook it.

 

[ONSTAD1]

How about mushrooms?

I found this one today, deep in the timber (near the poison ivy I now have all over me). I suppose fungi is not good for chickens, eh? Maybe I'll cook it.

What kind is it... mushroomed a bit and never saw anything like that!

mo

 

[stonykill]

Softwood shavings used to be an affordable option. Just they aren't anymore. They also seem to take a bit longer to decompose. I buy a trailer full of straw bales, nice clean, yellow, wheat straw from a local farmer. I like it a lot and have always used it. For the price, it simply cannot be beat for our purposes.

go to a woodworking shop and ask for planer shavings. I'm a furniture builder and my 20 inch planer creates all of the softwood shavings for all of my pens. Before my chicken and duck days I was begging to have people take away my shavings. Now not so much.

 

[stonykill]

What do you use to line your nest boxes? I'd used straw and mowed grass forever, but I got a half bag of wood pellets for a stove, and I'm thinking they'd make good nesting material too. They sure work wonders when I'm brooding ducks.

is my Sumatra coop I use pine needles. They love it. I use wood pellets for cat litter. Works much better than clay

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Squirrels are RATS with bushy tails. They are RODENTS! In our part of the world, we have only a few trees, miles and miles of flat grassland and farm ground as far as the eye can see. Squirrels will chew their way into home attics to nest for their babies, chew wires and destroy gardens. Their distruction is not cute in my eyes we get rid of them. We have a little trap that we can use to relocate them or use other means to get rid of them.

 

[Kassaundra]

"Hello, 911. what is your emergency?"

"My neighbor raises backyard chickens. I think she is growing weed to feed the chickens!"

Hey maybe you've accidentally come up w/ a way to deal w/ aggressive roos, get them so stoned they don't care.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I get wood shavings from the mill down the road, it's really nice stuff, bigger thn excelseor and holds it's shape well. Saw dust is great too,then they have little circular chips that i use in the garden...all you have to do is fork it into your truck...if the loader was working they'd load it for you. Once it dries out I will go get some more..no need for a gym around here. I've read where some people advise against straw and such, say it's too hard for the chicks to walk on, can you believe that? I think it makes them stronger, climbing around on it and tumbling down, mini jungle gym for tiny little legs...and of course it makes for a softer landing when mama hen is stratching and sends them flying. Too funny. I think they can bed down in anything that is dry and free from mold.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Wow...look what happens when I'm gone for 2 weeks.... almost 1000 posts!!!

Question for you OTs...this is probably trivia to y'all but I find it frustrating.....

I've had my 6, 17 week olds in a 10x20 run with attached hen house (10x12) for quite some time. This sits in a 2 acre lot that eventually I want them to be able to range. However, while they are still young, I want to protect them from hawks and neighborhood dogs etc.

So...I got some electronet and put it up about 1.5 weeks ago so they could at least have a larger area to run while I'm home.

First time out they all ran out hopping and skipping and jumping and one immediately flew over. Herd everyone back into the 10x20, let down a section of net and herd in the flier. Release them all again. I go into the house for about 1/2 hour, come back out and a different one is on the other side obviously in distress. They've all run into the 10x20 run again and the outsider is looking in...they're all making pitiful noises. Try to herd the outsider to the gate and she finally gives up and lets me pick her up and put her back in. Enough for day 1.

After that, they're all terrified to go out into the net. They all congregate in a corner as far away from the outside gate as possible. I finally started locking them out there (!) in the late day when there is shade, but they don't usually go on their own accord. I've given them the open gate opportunity for the last 1.5 week and still I have to "make" them go - or sit out there with them so they want to come to where I am - or they will stay in the 10x20.

They stick their heads through and eat the nice grass on the other side...

So....do I just let them be dumb and hope they'll figure it out on their own? Do I keep locking them out?

I was hoping they' learn some foraging skills and give the grass in the 10x20 a chance to rejuvenate...so much for pastured free-ranging!