NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I never thought of Choke cherries. There are a lot of fruits people just don't bother with anymore. I guess they just don't like the amount of work it takes to use them.

I know my Gooseberry jam is not sweet but very tart. Gooseberries are only sweet when added to another fruit. Raspberry/Gooseberry is good. Still I'm trying to get my bushes going.

I'm considering selling all my Columbian Rocks. 2 hens, 5 pullets near laying age and two roosters. Anyone interested? Pm me with an offer.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Red pepper flakes , chopped tomatoes ( for the yummy factor ), grated carrots
& just what every their vege treat was for the day .
It could also be mixed with Bread crumbs
...what chicken doesnt like bread ?

If I give them bread I always moisten it with milk...for extra calcium

Note : Dried seed stems and roots were tough ..most uncuttable( <-is that a word ?)
Green seed stems cut with a knife ...this worked best ..cut in smaller sections then blend or food process
if you grab the top of the seed pod & push down the seeds pop off ...however this takes forever
Next time I dont think I will add dried seeds or roots
You can be creative ..you know what your chickens like as treats..

 

[Gramma Chick]

I'm considering selling all my Columbian Rocks. 2 hens, 5 pullets near laying age and two roosters. Anyone interested? Pm me with an offer.

someone asked me from Craigslist ...about a small flock I will see if they are interested ..

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

Wow, I missed a day or two. There's been a lot going on over here on our end. We're REALLY trying to get that coop and run finished, we need to figure out if we need straw or hay for the litter method. I'm still trying to get used to the difference between the two. One is REALLY expensive, the other isn't. I noticed someone selling a first cutting of hay on Craigslist but then I wonder how you can tell if it's a quality cutting? This is all a first time we're doing this and neither of us have actually had chickens with exception to visiting friends flocks.

Another new thing that's happening is we're going to have a working dog on a trial run soon here. I have no idea if this will work as this dog is literally bred to keep predators away but she's an outdoor dog. I get so nervous even thinking about that because we have a lot of friends and family who do NOT like dogs of any kind outside in freezing temps but this breed was made for cold winters, had a coat that is resistant to water and cold weather. Because she's a working dog, she needs to be outdoors doing what she loves.

I was told she absolutely LOVES children which will be a plus because of my 3 year old and the kids who will come in from foster care who don't have a lot of trust and are just looking for something to love. (though we'll still watch them closely). I like the idea of having a guard dog. Especially our here. I don't know, we'll see how this works. We have a pekingese and they can be territorial though she's lived with 3 different dogs and two different cats from two different families.

You've all brought a smile to my face. I absolutely LOVE hearing about all the options we have, your input and also all of you trying to figure out what the berries are on the tree. I really like the feel of this forum. Your all a fun and informing bunch, thank you!

 

[boskelli1571]

Wow, I missed a day or two. There's been a lot going on over here on our end. We're REALLY trying to get that coop and run finished, we need to figure out if we need straw or hay for the litter method. I'm still trying to get used to the difference between the two. One is REALLY expensive, the other isn't. I noticed someone selling a first cutting of hay on Craigslist but then I wonder how you can tell if it's a quality cutting? This is all a first time we're doing this and neither of us have actually had chickens with exception to visiting friends flocks.

Another new thing that's happening is we're going to have a working dog on a trial run soon here. I have no idea if this will work as this dog is literally bred to keep predators away but she's an outdoor dog. I get so nervous even thinking about that because we have a lot of friends and family who do NOT like dogs of any kind outside in freezing temps but this breed was made for cold winters, had a coat that is resistant to water and cold weather. Because she's a working dog, she needs to be outdoors doing what she loves.

I was told she absolutely LOVES children which will be a plus because of my 3 year old and the kids who will come in from foster care who don't have a lot of trust and are just looking for something to love. (though we'll still watch them closely). I like the idea of having a guard dog. Especially our here. I don't know, we'll see how this works. We have a pekingese and they can be territorial though she's lived with 3 different dogs and two different cats from two different families.

You've all brought a smile to my face. I absolutely LOVE hearing about all the options we have, your input and also all of you trying to figure out what the berries are on the tree. I really like the feel of this forum. Your all a fun and informing bunch, thank you!

Hi there,
Yes - hay is expensive, straw much cheaper. I use straw for the $ factor, but remember that straw is hollow stalk. This means if you have a mite problem, they can and do live inside those hollow straws. I have never personally seen it, but have heard of it in another chicken site.
Perhaps you could add on a dog shed for the guard dog? Put it right next to the coop, that way your chickens will be safe for sure!

 

[Beer can]

@HISIRISHGEM I like free. Fresh mowed dry grass. Dry tree leaves in the fall work great.
I use a mix of tree leaves and sawdust from cutting our firewood.

Our Tennessee mountain cur is outside, he doesn't seem to like it inside even in the winter. He's close to the coop and I'm sure keeps predators away.

 

[Stuffedcritter]

If your using hay for bedding look for mulch hay normal around $1.00 per bale stick your hand in there pull out a clump smell it if it's moldy leave it check more then one bale. Shake it apart outside of the coop if your standing in dust cloud use watering can sprinkle it just enough cut dust. When using hay or straw need clean the coop once a week because it molds. I also use maple leaves, Pennysaver, woodstove pelletes (same as horse bedding 1/2 the cost) and hay shaft. I base my bedding on what's needed for the garden beds and what can be used for both chickens and rabbits and in pinch used cardboard. What are going to do with used bedding?

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

If your using hay for bedding look for mulch hay normal around $1.00 per bale stick your hand in there pull out a clump smell it if it's moldy leave it check more then one bale. Shake it apart outside of the coop if your standing in dust cloud use watering can sprinkle it just enough cut dust. When using hay or straw need clean the coop once a week because it molds. I also use maple leaves, Pennysaver, woodstove pelletes (same as horse bedding 1/2 the cost) and hay shaft. I base my bedding on what's needed for the garden beds and what can be used for both chickens and rabbits and in pinch used cardboard. What are going to do with used bedding?

We're planning to do the deep litter method so I'll need to use something that won't mold. Beer can, we are definitely going to use the dry leaves that are coming. I wonder where I can get some saw dust? Maybe Lowe's or Home Depot? Saw dust won't mold will it? I also plan on using straw for the dogs bed in the winter. The used bedding and litter will be compost for our garden so it has to be something safe for our veggie garden. Which brings me to another question for you all...

Do you let your girls free range for a while and put them back in the coop or do you use a tractor in portions of the yard? We'd like to let them loose on the harvested portion of our garden but will have to be sure the winter greens will be enclosed or they'll be eating our Holy Greens. We're mainly a plant-based family but my daughter and I will be eating eggs. We'll sell some more to neighbors and friends to teach our daughter how to tithe, save and spend. She's 3 so it's a good time to teach responsibility and where money comes from. You can have fun, but most good things come from hard work.

The girls are around for aerating the soil and getting rid of the bugs that we've had rampant here as well as the compost we will get from them. We are starting to get really big into horticulture and my husband would LOVE to make a small food forest in our backyard.

One step at a time of course.

If you let your girls free range and live close to neighbors do you clip one side of their wings?

Finally, If you could rely on one book source from clipping nails, caring for chickens, troubleshooting diseases, egg issues and healthy herbs, greens and food to keep the girls healthy what book would you choose? Is there a book out there that is a WHOLE source that you can just pull out and say "okay, I see this issue, let me get the book out and get to the bottom of things" in the case we don't have access to internet? lol It sounds silly but I always like to "diversify" with go-to resources.



Gramma, I love your concoction you gave your chickens the other day. I can't remember who asked but I'd also love to know what else you feed your chickens. I just saw a YOUTUBE video about letting your chickens have access to your pastures and/or yards because the "salad" they will get is a mix of greens just like the plantains you spoke of, which is supposed to keep the chickens resistant to disease. The more free range, the better. Of course I'm guessing this also means you have to watch for predators. I hope having a working dog will help in that respect though I'm sure many of you have an actual farm with other animals. lol I'm not sure we're allowed to have other livestock outside of chickens here though we are out in the country just outside the town here.

Hi there Beer Can and Stuffed as well as anyone else I missed who has acknowledge me! It's good to meet you all.

 

[Glasshen]

For bedding I used straw for a while, but it gets pretty smelly after a while, so I've switched to pine shavings. Cedar shavings are not good for them, but pine is nice and fluffy and smells clean. I just add a bit more when it gets that not fresh smell. What I like to do is scoop all the shavings out of the nest boxes onto the floor of the coop. Then I add fresh shavings to the nest boxes. I like to think it encourages them to lay, but that could be wishful thinking.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

...

If your using hay for bedding look for mulch hay normal around $1.00 per bale stick your hand in there pull out a clump smell it if it's moldy leave it check more then one bale. Shake it apart outside of the coop if your standing in dust cloud use watering can sprinkle it just enough cut dust. When using hay or straw need clean the coop once a week because it molds. I also use maple leaves, Pennysaver, woodstove  pelletes (same as horse bedding 1/2 the cost) and hay shaft.  I base my bedding on what's needed for the garden beds and what can be used for both chickens and rabbits and in pinch used cardboard. What are going to do with used bedding?
[/quote well you just answered my question. I work on a horse farm where they used pellet bedding and it is so easy to clean. Plus it looks like it would make Awesome compost. I use everything I can to recycle and make a smaller foot print .