Pastoral Poultry, Traditional Farming For A Modern Era

[wsmith]

To bayocum: Seems like the threads that have the most posts are the ones where most of the people are argumentative and borderline neurotic.....Controversy attracts attention.....On one thread a few days ago about 500 posts were made between and among posters arguing over whether ignorant people should be allowed to ask dumb chicken questions.......The conversation veered from this to the ethics of raising chickens to feed to dogs and the origins of the FDA....If you really want to get a rash of immediate defensive comments and controversy started, go to the heritage sites and question the Gospel According to the Standard of Perfection....I don't know which is easier to rile, a PETA propagandist or a show breeder who thinks the Standard of Perfection ranks equal in importance to the Bible and The Ten Commandments....Keep it up...Take care and enjoy the great life in California...I just finished reading John Steinbeck's great novel, East of Eden....California is a great place....Take care...

Very true. There was a thread dedicated to Old Timers and for sharing their wisdom. The pet chicken people couldn't handle it, and it was always having the moderators involved. Lots of great wisdom shared, but in the end it was locked.

We have been suffering from a drought here for 5 + years. In spite of recent rains, there isn't enough grass growing to suppliment the chickens, nor are there many bugs. The smoke from the recent fires locally also affected the chickens, and egg production dropped for a couple of weeks. We have been cutting some of the few weeds with the weedeater, then raking up the cuttings and giving them to the chickens. They are still thriving. We also got two free trailer loads of old landscaping mulch, which we put in the middle of the chicken yard, and then scatter scratch grains on it. Keeps them busy and happy with the lack of green. Our hatches this year have been dismal. I know partly because of the wild temperature swings we had earlier this spring (one week we had a low or 19, then three days later a high of 102), and then intense heat, followed by cool again. Never seen weather like this before.

 

[Bill Matthews]

To wsmith...Thanks for reading my post...The recent weather in the Midwest and West Coast is not all that unusual historically....I read many classic novels about settlers and early pioneers in the western USA as well as other countries..... John Steinbeck wrote about the cyclical weather patterns in his two greatest works, East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath.......I try to always remember that we are all temporary and dependent on the natural environment to live successfully on earth.....California must be a great place to raise animals during the lush years but a challenge when the weather patterns shift....Take Care Always...

 

[centrarchid]

To wsmith...Thanks for reading my post...The recent weather in the Midwest and West Coast is not all that unusual historically....I read many classic novels about settlers and early pioneers in the western USA as well as other countries..... John Steinbeck wrote about the cyclical weather patterns in his two greatest works, East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath.......I try to always remember that we are all temporary and dependent on the natural environment to live successfully on earth.....California must be a great place to raise animals during the lush years but a challenge when the weather patterns shift....Take Care Always...

Cycles are shifting warmer average. Extremes on warm side more frequent. Plant and animal species are adjusting life histories and / or moving north or to higher latitudes.

 

[wsmith]

I think it is interesting to note the weather and the effects on my chickens and egg laying. I keep high/low temp records and daily egg laying and have the results on a spreadsheet that makes a line graph as it is updated. My Dominiques like the temperature to be no warmer than about 80 LOL.

Egg laying drops with any large shift in temperature from the norm, be it hotter or colder. If the temp swings more than 15 degrees either way, I can ecpect a drop in egg laying, at least for one day or two, depending on the temperature swing and duration. They aclimate within a day or two and the productions goes back to where it was.

 

[centrarchid]

When it gets really hot my free-range dominiques restrict foraging to areas with more shade except in wee hours of morning and late in evening just before dark. They quickly exhaust quality forage in those areas. I have been adjusting by allowing more shade quality vegetation patches close to more open areas to ensure greater availability of eats. You have to plan a year ahead to adjust.

High temperatures also killing hatch rate of penned birds. Pens get too hot. Last year during heat of drought when testing for broodiness, several hens would start hatching eggs after only 10 days of incubation and continue through day 21. This forced brooder rearing of early hatch chicks. Temperatures were so high incubation started as soon as eggs were laid. Hens nesting volunteer under oak trees on ground (minimal protection from varmints) faired much better. I am allowing a nice stand of white oaks and persimmons to come up to provide more shade for penned birds in coming years,


I am also enjoying a huge hatch of grasshoppers promoted by last years drought. Chickens have not even put a dent in them yet despite a good 100 birds go after them on only about 5 acres. I am also seeing a population explosion of rolly pollys that exceedes anything I have ever seen. The little buggers make piles four inches in diameter and 1/2 inch deep. I do not know if birds are eating them.

 

[wsmith]

When it gets really hot my free-range dominiques restrict foraging to areas with more shade except in wee hours of morning and late in evening just before dark.

We are still working on the shade thing.. LOL

Trees have not grown on our property, ever until we planted some. Out of 120 that we planted, we still have about 25. As we build fences, which act as snow harvesters, we are able to plant in the snow drift areas which then get more natural moisture. The wind and high elevation sun do a number on vegetation with little water.

The goal is to have natural shade aroung the outside of our fenced areas, that will lend shade inside the chicken run. I can't afford to free range, too many predators. Currently, I have built shade for them. The hen house sits in a corner of the fenced area, about 3 feet from the 6 ft wood fence. The areas between the fencing and the hen house provide the most shade for the longest period of the day. We also have some smaller scrap wood structures for them. The fence itself give quite a bit of shade as well.

What I have noticed also, is that when it is very hot, the chickens will forage in the yard from the time they leave the hen house until about 10 or 11 AM, then they will usually seek out shade. While it is hot they will nap in the shade, dust bath, etc. Then at about 6-7 PM, they will be very active again, foraging and eating until dusk.

 

[SJ]

Very true. There was a thread dedicated to Old Timers and for sharing their wisdom. The pet chicken people couldn't handle it, and it was always having the moderators involved. Lots of great wisdom shared, but in the end it was locked.

We have been suffering from a drought here for 5 + years. In spite of recent rains, there isn't enough grass growing to suppliment the chickens, nor are there many bugs. The smoke from the recent fires locally also affected the chickens, and egg production dropped for a couple of weeks. We have been cutting some of the few weeds with the weedeater, then raking up the cuttings and giving them to the chickens. They are still thriving. We also got two free trailer loads of old landscaping mulch, which we put in the middle of the chicken yard, and then scatter scratch grains on it. Keeps them busy and happy with the lack of green. Our hatches this year have been dismal. I know partly because of the wild temperature swings we had earlier this spring (one week we had a low or 19, then three days later a high of 102), and then intense heat, followed by cool again. Never seen weather like this before.

Come to WI, wild temp swings is the norm.lol We had 80's for a week in March last year followed by a blizzard to start April. It killed every blossom on my fruit trees. Then it was still in the 80s last November, 74 on Thanksgiving. I almost had my buck spoil. I got it to a butcher, (I normally butcher my own deer) just so it had cold storage. Venison fattened on acorns, apples, and hazelnuts is God's answer to feedlot beef. IMO Free ranging animals just tatse better.

I miss that Old Timers thread...I got a tip or two off of it. Like damp mulch will sprout most anything you throw in it. Sprouted grains are a healthy treat that chickies love. The nutrients in the seeds are easier for them to absorb when sprouted too.

 

[wsmith]

Come to WI, wild temp swings is the norm.lol We had 80's for a week in March last year followed by a blizzard to start April. It killed every blossom on my fruit trees. Then it was still in the 80s last November, 74 on Thanksgiving. I almost had my buck spoil. I got it to a butcher, (I normally butcher my own deer) just so it had cold storage. Venison fattened on acorns, apples, and hazelnuts is God's answer to feedlot beef. IMO Free ranging animals just tatse better.

I miss that Old Timers thread...I got a tip or two off of it. Like damp mulch will sprout most anything you throw in it. Sprouted grains are a healthy treat that chickies love. The nutrients in the seeds are easier for them to absorb when sprouted too.

Yup. I subscribed to that thread from the beginning, and even wrote down some interesting tips. Some work, some don't but good wisdom.

One of my favorites: "the chicken medicine cabinet holds only one item....the ax..."

 

[centrarchid]

We are still working on the shade thing.. LOL

Trees have not grown on our property, ever until we planted some. Out of 120 that we planted, we still have about 25. As we build fences, which act as snow harvesters, we are able to plant in the snow drift areas which then get more natural moisture. The wind and high elevation sun do a number on vegetation with little water.

The goal is to have natural shade aroung the outside of our fenced areas, that will lend shade inside the chicken run. I can't afford to free range, too many predators. Currently, I have built shade for them. The hen house sits in a corner of the fenced area, about 3 feet from the 6 ft wood fence. The areas between the fencing and the hen house provide the most shade for the longest period of the day. We also have some smaller scrap wood structures for them. The fence itself give quite a bit of shade as well.

What I have noticed also, is that when it is very hot, the chickens will forage in the yard from the time they leave the hen house until about 10 or 11 AM, then they will usually seek out shade. While it is hot they will nap in the shade, dust bath, etc. Then at about 6-7 PM, they will be very active again, foraging and eating until dusk.

I like the snow harvester concept. Are tree species better suited to your situation?

Are you in area that supports sage or pear cactus? Former can provide reasonable shade if grown in clumps. Latter can provide refuge from late day sun if cactus gets some height to it. Both might be able to get going in little fenced off areas. I do similar with my native species; stop moving and fence off a 20' x 20' area and let grow what comes up naturally. Once it gets a little height it is suitable for birds.

The extremes in heat for me can curtail daily feed consumption but sometimes biggest impacts are on vegetation where birds loaf. They scratch and peck plants to death and put a lot more feces there than I would like otherwise. To compensate I have made plantings of bamboo that really like the extra nutrients so long as rainfall is adequate.

Have you considered use of a dog to control predators? Dogs make rearing even chicks without hens possible for me and I have every bit as many predators you have. Biggest negative against that is the forage base you have may not be able to support any number of birds because of water limitations. A wet year for you may well be drier than a drought year for me.

 

[wsmith]

I like the snow harvester concept. Are tree species better suited to your situation?

Are you in area that supports sage or pear cactus? Former can provide reasonable shade if grown in clumps. Latter can provide refuge from late day sun if cactus gets some height to it. Both might be able to get going in little fenced off areas. I do similar with my native species; stop moving and fence off a 20' x 20' area and let grow what comes up naturally. Once it gets a little height it is suitable for birds.

The extremes in heat for me can curtail daily feed consumption but sometimes biggest impacts are on vegetation where birds loaf. They scratch and peck plants to death and put a lot more feces there than I would like otherwise. To compensate I have made plantings of bamboo that really like the extra nutrients so long as rainfall is adequate.

Have you considered use of a dog to control predators? Dogs make rearing even chicks without hens possible for me and I have every bit as many predators you have. Biggest negative against that is the forage base you have may not be able to support any number of birds because of water limitations. A wet year for you may well be drier than a drought year for me.

Some tree species to well, most die in the first year. Many can't handle the winters. Dry, windy and cold. We have identified the areas that collect snow drifts, and have used smaller snow fences to catch more. We can grow sage, it is all over around her, but what I really grow well is cholla. I HATE cholla. So what I am doing is planting native species of trees that do well here even in drought conditions. Takes a few years, but in time we should do OK

One of my neighbors is trying a guard dog, we'll see how thast works for them.

You are correct, we would probably love the moisture you get in a "drought year". LOL

I will be building a couple of wire mesh covered raised beds inside the main chicken yard that we can water and provide better green stuff for them during the summer and fall.