***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[miohippus]

I lost my little Serama hen would like to find one to put with my Roo . Also looking for silkie pullets or hens . What are OEGB ? After reading about fermented grain I tried it and can't believe how much my birds like it , I take a five gallon bucket into the pen and they try getting in the bucket while I dip it out .

This is my OEGB she is an awesome broody hen.

 

[Ksane]

Miohippus, i've come to love that color. I used to think it was a plain color but when you look at all the little lacings and details in their feathers it's so pretty.
Custom Coop, the outhouse coops are awesome!!! I'm sure they're way out of my price range but it sure gives me an idea for a future coop. Mine aren't going to look anywhere near as good as yours though. I need a set of 6-8 of them so it'll have to be a really simple design.

The 1st chick was born! The daddy is the rooster who the neighbors moved off and left 6 yrs ago, he's at least 8 yrs old now. He's certainly outlived a ton of mine! He's been here way longer than I've had chickens myself, and is a really awesome rooster since I've gotten to know him. I'm pretty sure the mama is my Gold laced Cochin, she sat on a t-shirt for 3 months this summer trying to get it to hatch, she'll be pleased to know she's a mama lol I don't have a picture of her on my iPad but here's the new baby and Spoc again. A bunch of the others are pipped, I wish they'd hurry!

Hey Bill-the Orp in the 1st picture is one of the ones I got from you as a tiny chick at POOPS 2012.

 

[Kassaundra]

Adorable!

 

[bardies]

Hatching a t shirt...to funny!!!! The sad thing is, that is what I feel like sometimes.

 

[Ksane]

Hatching a t shirt...to funny!!!! The sad thing is, that is what I feel like sometimes.

What was really funny is it was a t-shirt i had put on one of the other Cochins because she was so broody and sat so long her chest was getting raw looking. I put the t-shirt on her and the next day Gladys (the Gold Laced Cochin) had stolen it right off her back and proceeded to try to hatch it lol I had to put a different one on the 1st Cochin.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

That hadn't even occurred to me, good point. I'm tempted to just dig a hole and use the fresh dirt and dump the used dirt from the brooder back in the hole. when that hole is full I can start another. It'd be completely free and a lot less messy than these dang shavings. That would at least work good for the 1st few wks.
I was a Guinea Hater after that screaming batch of noisy girls I finally got given away last year. If I didn't know better I would think I was in love with these tiny Lavender Guineas I got last night at the auction. One thing I've greatly missed about Guineas is their watchdog abilities. In the middle of the night if anything moved outside we knew it.

depends on where the brooder is dirt means more dust

 

[Kyzmette]

Ksane, you'll have to let us know if the lavender guineas keep the peace. My grandmother swore by them to keep the fleas and ticks down, but the noise is just too much for me.

 

[Kassaundra]

Two things I will never brood w/o, sand/dirt substrate, and a "bouquet" of feather dusters suspended in the brooder box as a hen.

I personally have never noticed more dust, those little feathers growing out sloughing off dander and feather casings seem to make as much dust no matter what substrate they are on. I like feeding chicks more "natural" diets from day one (bugs, greens etc) so the dirt/sand works as baby grit, they get to dust bathe from tiny babies, the sand is much easier to keep clean, it is free and unlimited, you always dig up some insects w/ the dirt which they LOVE to hunt from day one, much easier on new unsteady legs.

Feather duster "hen" makes them feel more secure and quiets them down, gives them lots of exersize, running in under "mom" and out to get food, means you have to produce less heat, the feathers hold and trap their body heat, especially when they are sleeping at night.

 

[miohippus]

Miohippus, i've come to love that color. I used to think it was a plain color but when you look at all the little lacings and details in their feathers it's so pretty.
Custom Coop, the outhouse coops are awesome!!! I'm sure they're way out of my price range but it sure gives me an idea for a future coop. Mine aren't going to look anywhere near as good as yours though. I need a set of 6-8 of them so it'll have to be a really simple design.

The 1st chick was born! The daddy is the rooster who the neighbors moved off and left 6 yrs ago, he's at least 8 yrs old now. He's certainly outlived a ton of mine! He's been here way longer than I've had chickens myself, and is a really awesome rooster since I've gotten to know him. I'm pretty sure the mama is my Gold laced Cochin, she sat on a t-shirt for 3 months this summer trying to get it to hatch, she'll be pleased to know she's a mama lol I don't have a picture of her on my iPad but here's the new baby and Spoc again. A bunch of the others are pipped, I wish they'd hurry!


Hey Bill-the Orp in the 1st picture is one of the ones I got from you as a tiny chick at POOPS 2012.

oh, i just love mile fleur nice roo

Chili was my first chick i ever got she is the only (OEGB) i have (then i fell in love with polish) but she is defiantly a good broody hen.

 

[Kyzmette]

Kassaundra, I went back and pulled your fermenting info, since I was getting ready to start that up for my chickies. I found a small diner in town that happily gives away its foodgrade buckets, so I picked up several to use, since my flock is still small. I will simply rotate them in order to maintain a constant supply of fermented stock. Can you advise if this looks correct? Or did I miss a step?

Fermented Grain – Use mixed grains (use Boss more in the winter, avoid rye) in a large bucket or container with a lid (do not use metal as corrosion will leach into the mix). Cover with water and check several times to add more water, since grains will absorb. After a day or two the water levels should be approx. 1 inch above the grain. Cover with a lid and allow to sit for several days until it starts to bubble. Do not toss liquid, but continue to reuse it in rotated buckets.