Preparing for new chicks.

[spassehl]

I have a couple of questions.

!. I heard from someone today that you have to teach chicks how to drink. That sound strange to me.

2. My husband and are going to build a chicken tractor so the girls can graze. My question is, if we fertilized the grass last year and plan to raise our chicken organically do we need to test the soil?

Thanks, Sheila

 

[Judymae]

Number 1 is easy. Just dip their little beaks in the waterer. I have no clue about Number 2

 

[redoak]

Not sure if you need to test the soil, but the requirement might be more of a time lag before you can consider the area organic pasture.

 

[AHappychick]

if you did not use organic fertilizer than yes maybe testing would be good. It is really up to you if you are going to sell your eggs and say that they only get organic feed that would be untrue, but if it is for your own consumption and you dont mind then you are fine. personally i would put down a few inches of fresh compost in the run area if it isnt too large this way whatever has seeped into the soil is under it.

 

[farmergal]

It depends on whether you're looking to be certified organic or not. If you used a non-certified-organic fertilizer, you might have to wait 3 years. But if you want to raise your birds organically in the homestead sense -- I grow veggies "organically," but for instance I use non-certified-organic manure from a neighbor as fertilizer so I'm not technically "organic" -- I honestly doubt that the fertilizer will hurt the quality of your chickens or eggs.

Just my 2 cents... I'm all for organic sustainable farming.... but I think that the USDA organic guidelines are overrated! A lot of farms with lousy farming practices (soil erosion, lots of fertilizer runoff, really crowded containment situations) are certified organic; a lot of excellent, sustainable family farms aren't. Do what works for your situation I'd say.

And yeah, some people say you have to dip chicks' beaks in water to get them to drink. I've done it both ways (dipping and not dipping) and haven't noticed too much of a difference. Prolly more important to dip chicks that have been shipped, as they've been under more stress...

 

[cmom]

I have never had to do anything with my chicks except provide their feed and water. I lost one chick that wouldn't eat or drink no matter how had I tried, but all of the others have thrived. I have fertilized an area where I was putting one of my coops. I ran a sprinkler for days before I let them graze there. I have never had any adverse affects. I had wondered about it too. I'm about to relocate one of my coops. I did not put any fert down but have been watering the area so they will have some nice grass. There are pictures on my BYC Page.