Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[vehve]

Ben, congratulations and condolences. Hopefully you can find a friend for you little hairball.

 

[KendyF]

How exciting. We are awaiting the results of our first natural hatch.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thats great KendyF! Welcome to our little thread.

Our first natural hatch did not go to plan, but I sure hope your's does!

 

[vehve]

How is your feather-duster-to-be doing Ben?

Then a question. I could ask this in some appropriate thread, but since I feel that i have gotten to know you guys a bit in this thread, I prefer to do it here, where I have a grasp of the sanity level and fanaticism of the person replying. The topic at hand, fermented feed.

Then the introduction to my inquiry. Lately I've noticed that the little buggers are creating a somewhat disgusting aroma when dispensing of their bowel contents, and also I was a bit worried about them getting enough food in them (They don't seem to use the feeder that actively, mostly they just spread the stuff into the bedding). So I started feeding them mash in the days, mixing the feed with some water and letting it swell before giving it to them, because to my understanding, wetting the feed before giving it makes it easier to digest. But now I started reading up on fermented feeds. The never ending bucket method seems like it wouldn't be too labor intensive, so I though I'd ask if you have any experience with either it or any other methods of feeding fermented feeds.

This ends my query, and I shall now continue with my usual ramblings.

On a plus side, the compost seemed to like the fact that we thought the run was starting to smell a bit. We raked up all the dried grass clippings and poo from there, and the compost went crazy when I gave it to him (Yes I'm anthropomorphizing my compost. I'm fascinated by it's function, I read that this can happen to you when you start composting. A bit like chickeneering.). Another thing that has boosted it's function is that I've started adding nitrogen and moisture to it on a semi daily basis. Karin is not thrilled about my method of doing so.

 

[CB and CG]

Congratulations on your new silkie chick Ben! Sorry to hear about the losses along the way but at least one made it. Make sure to post some pics when the silkie dry's and when you get the new chicks from Katt. Fingers crossed for a FEMALE blue Australorp this time

In other news, I am very proud of the laying capabilities of my Australorp Flock today. They laid us SIX eggs, which doesn't sound like many but considering the time of year, and the fact that the flock consists of 11 girls and a roo, I think they have put in a great effort
At the moment my boy and 2 hens are moulting, the others have all moulted and are either laying or coming onto the lay. Gotta love Australorps, eggs all year round, even in winter!
Here is a pic of the eggs....uploading from IPad so fingers crossed it works...

 

[KendyF]

It worked and nice eggs!

 

[vehve]

@CB and CG Those are some nice looking eggs. I wouldn't mind a similar inconsistency in our flock, right now they are keeping a steady zero eggs per day. And the oldest ones are already 5 months. I might have to put the garden shears next to their run to work as an incentive... Maybe that would get them to start laying, or better yet, I could hang my axe collection from the roof of the run. One of the girls has been checking out the egg nests quite often though, so I'm hoping our egg production will start soon.

 

[Bens-Hens]

How is your feather-duster-to-be doing Ben?

Then a question. I could ask this in some appropriate thread, but since I feel that i have gotten to know you guys a bit in this thread, I prefer to do it here, where I have a grasp of the sanity level and fanaticism of the person replying. The topic at hand, fermented feed.

Then the introduction to my inquiry. Lately I've noticed that the little buggers are creating a somewhat disgusting aroma when dispensing of their bowel contents, and also I was a bit worried about them getting enough food in them (They don't seem to use the feeder that actively, mostly they just spread the stuff into the bedding). So I started feeding them mash in the days, mixing the feed with some water and letting it swell before giving it to them, because to my understanding, wetting the feed before giving it makes it easier to digest. But now I started reading up on fermented feeds. The never ending bucket method seems like it wouldn't be too labor intensive, so I though I'd ask if you have any experience with either it or any other methods of feeding fermented feeds.

This ends my query, and I shall now continue with my usual ramblings.

On a plus side, the compost seemed to like the fact that we thought the run was starting to smell a bit. We raked up all the dried grass clippings and poo from there, and the compost went crazy when I gave it to him (Yes I'm anthropomorphizing my compost. I'm fascinated by it's function, I read that this can happen to you when you start composting. A bit like chickeneering.). Another thing that has boosted it's function is that I've started adding nitrogen and moisture to it on a semi daily basis. Karin is not thrilled about my method of doing so.

Reminds me to see if I can find a cheap feather duster for the brooder, I saw someone using one and the chicks loved to play under it.

All going well, but I will get back to it in a minute.

I have not really played with fermenting feed, but I have sprouted grains in what seemed like a never ending cycle of tubs in the wash house. We had some older grains that were mixed with pellets. The pellets were breaking down but the grains did well. SO I softened them over night and rinsed away the pellets, then laid out the grains to sprout. The flock loved them, but I am glad the bin ran empty as it took a bit of work.

My compost tumbler and fertiliser tub have no such relationship, maybe it would go better if we named our green roller 'spinning sticky' or something!

Congratulations on your new silkie chick Ben! Sorry to hear about the losses along the way but at least one made it. Make sure to post some pics when the silkie dry's and when you get the new chicks from Katt. Fingers crossed for a FEMALE blue Australorp this time

In other news, I am very proud of the laying capabilities of my Australorp Flock today. They laid us SIX eggs, which doesn't sound like many but considering the time of year, and the fact that the flock consists of 11 girls and a roo, I think they have put in a great effort
At the moment my boy and 2 hens are moulting, the others have all moulted and are either laying or coming onto the lay. Gotta love Australorps, eggs all year round, even in winter!
Here is a pic of the eggs....uploading from IPad so fingers crossed it works...

Thats great CB, we have low number now too, 3 today from our girls. Luna our BA started to molt last week, she kindly waited for everyone else before starting. Our BA eggs are also pretty big, often torpedo shaped being long and pointy kind of like your browner one.

@CB and CG Those are some nice looking eggs. I wouldn't mind a similar inconsistency in our flock, right now they are keeping a steady zero eggs per day. And the oldest ones are already 5 months. I might have to put the garden shears next to their run to work as an incentive... Maybe that would get them to start laying, or better yet, I could hang my axe collection from the roof of the run. One of the girls has been checking out the egg nests quite often though, so I'm hoping our egg production will start soon.

I have tried that method, not sure if it worked but I did feel better doing it.

So, we got back from Katt's with a few more chicks. I went for 3, maybe 4 if she had a frizzle in there, but ALicia found more that she liked and we came home with 5 to add to our 1! Speaking of our one, turns out it may be a cross (which is often not wanted) but for us it works out perfect. I have always loved Fancy's Wylkies, and it looks like that's exactly what we got. A shame about the others, but we are happy for what we got.

From Katt we got 3 more, which quickly grew to 5 before leaving. I tell you, lucky we got out of there when we did as there was a GLW and a REAL cute Peking duck in there too hahahaha

I might have some mistakes here, but I am pretty sure this is what we got. I have my suspicions about some but time will tell.

A lady in the hills here has made a line of Palomino New Hampshire (which could possibly be frizzled), a Silkie with white down and black specks, a buff coloured Cochin, a 'dark blue' Australorp (we will see) and a Black Minorca that looks like a BA to me but she was confident it was a Minorca.

Our Wylkie is not yet fully dried out, but it's tucked in with the rest under the lamp.

Some of the gang. The Palomino project chick is the one with a grey back. I don't know anything about the breed or the colour, so I am just taking the breeders word for it, and to me a New Hampshire is pretty much a mid sized red bird, so we will see how it turns out.


The silkie from Katt, has the same spots down it's back as it has on it's head.


Fancy's Wylkie, five toes, yellow skin and legs, although we think we can see some darker patches.

Dark Blue Australorp, although I would not be surprised if it is a black, it's very dark at this point.




Someones in love with a spotty feather duster already



More to come a bit later.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Alicia already looks smitten. That little one with spots could turn out to be a paint.

 

[CB and CG]

Hi Ben, your new additions are beautiful!
the Australorp is most definitely black in my opinion but none the less 'she' (I'm being hopeful) is very cute.
Yes I am familiar with the palomino new hampshires. Many of my Australorps come from the original breeder of the palomino New Hampshire. The breeder has been working on the line for many years and her birds are a real credit to her.
I have seen them in real life and they are actually quite large. The red contrasted with the blue in their tail and hackle feathers are stunning. They are quite interesting Frizzled as well.
If you like I can find some pics of the breeders palomino new hampshires and PM the links to you?