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

[therapydoglady]

After 12 hours of having feather-footed chickens, I see now, HillfamilyFarm, why you prefer the clean legged varieties! After their trip home in a cardboard box, the d-Uccle's feet are terribly stained, and bedraggled looking. The run portion of their home is just blow sand - very fine particles, much like beach sand - that they readily took advantage of, each partaking of a dirt bath. I put a shallow container of water in there as well. And of course, the first question out of the box is: Is there a proper way to keep their feathered feet in show condition? Will see what I can find later today when I get a few minutes, but thought I'd throw that one out there for you old timers. Thanx, Brie

 

[normanack]

I thought just plain old dirt would provide enough grit? I.e. if the chickens have access to a yard or pasture, that was enough?

 

[babymakes6]

After 12 hours of having feather-footed chickens, I see now, HillfamilyFarm, why you prefer the clean legged varieties! After their trip home in a cardboard box, the d-Uccle's feet are terribly stained, and bedraggled looking. The run portion of their home is just blow sand - very fine particles, much like beach sand - that they readily took advantage of, each partaking of a dirt bath. I put a shallow container of water in there as well. And of course, the first question out of the box is: Is there a proper way to keep their feathered feet in show condition? Will see what I can find later today when I get a few minutes, but thought I'd throw that one out there for you old timers. Thanx, Brie

Here's some reading that should help you with your d"Uccles: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/269521/duccle-thread

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

After 12 hours of having feather-footed chickens, I see now, HallFamilyFarm, why you prefer the clean legged varieties! After their trip home in a cardboard box, the d-Uccle's feet are terribly stained, and bedraggled looking. The run portion of their home is just blow sand - very fine particles, much like beach sand - that they readily took advantage of, each partaking of a dirt bath. I put a shallow container of water in there as well. And of course, the first question out of the box is: Is there a proper way to keep their feathered feet in show condition? Will see what I can find later today when I get a few minutes, but thought I'd throw that one out there for you old timers. Thanx, Brie

We have never had an issue with caring for the feathered shanks on any of our dumplins chickens!

I know many feathered shank breeders use show conditioning coops. One Brahma/Cochin breeder uses a barrel coop system.

 

[Goober1201]

Gots another question! I have 3 roosters and 15 hens? My one buff rooster has never crowed yet. Is that normal. They all get along very well. The 2 buff boys are brothers and never fight and they never even go to the other rooster who should start to crow soon. My buff boys are about 6 months old. Any info?

 

[Beekissed]

I thought just plain old dirt would provide enough grit? I.e. if the chickens have access to a yard or pasture, that was enough?

Yes, on normal range conditions the chickens can usually find enough grit right in the soil, particularly the places they have scratched up for dusting...you'll see all kinds of tiny stones kicked up in this process. Compacted soils in a stationary run may be a horse of a different color...never had that situation so I am assuming that most available grit particles in the dusting spots would be used up over a time and the other soils too compact to scratch up for a source...not sure, just speculating?

I've given grit one time to my adult flock during deep and persistent snows when they could not readily access grit on the range but were eating 50% whole grains and needed the extra help in digestion. Now, of course, I would be fermenting those whole grains, which makes them much easier to digest without so much need for grit.

For my CX chicks this year, I free ranged at 2 wks and started them on 50% whole grains then as well...they were much too little to scratch up some grit so I just got some great sand and pebbles from the holler, mixed it with wood ashes and put it in an old wash pan for them. They loved it and started eating it and using it for dusting right away..even when that little. It was mighty cute...

 

[bruceh]

Gots another question! I have 3 roosters and 15 hens? My one buff rooster has never crowed yet. Is that normal. They all get along very well. The 2 buff boys are brothers and never fight and they never even go to the other rooster who should start to crow soon. My buff boys are about 6 months old. Any info?

some roosters take a while to get get going. thank your lucky stars. because when they start they don;t stop. i do however have rhode isalnd red that is quiet. he only crows every once in a while. i also had 2 rock crosses that would not shut up. i technically have them . they are in the soup pot as we speak.

 

[galanie]

I had a roo that never crowed that was not the top boy. Once I rehomed him though and he was the only guy, WOW did he make up for lost time! In fact he was so loud they couldn't keep him.

ETA: This wasn't a case of "the neighbors didn't want to hear a rooster." He really was just about the loudest you've ever heard.

 

[normanack]

Thanks, Bee, for your advice on dirt and grit. The soil is pretty fine in my yard, but I know where some gritty and rocky parts are. I think I'll give the chickens a few shovelsful in an old pan just so they have a smorgasbord to choose from.

And your picture of the chicks is beautiful. You can just feel the peaceful happiness of those birds.

On roosters' crows: my little Silkie/footwipe roos are loud, scratchy-sounding, and obnoxious. My honkin' huge young Light Sussex roo has the sweetest, almost musical crow, and it's not nearly as loud. Go figure.

 

[Beekissed]

I had a roo that never crowed that was not the top boy. Once I rehomed him though and he was the only guy, WOW did he make up for lost time! In fact he was so loud they couldn't keep him.
ETA: This wasn't a case of "the neighbors didn't want to hear a rooster." He really was just about the loudest you've ever heard.

I had the same thing...sorta. My low dog roo was very quiet and my top roo crowed as per normal but not too often. Then the top roo was culled and the younger roo came into his flockdom...but still remained a quiet, dignified sort of rooster. Never really crowed much, just first thing in the morning a few times and not so much during the day. He crowed so seldom that it was noticeable when he did crow, he was that quiet. Loved that rooster!