The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Ashdoes]

I'm a Mama Two little girl Ameraucana's came home today. My other 8 assorted breeds will arrive Mother's day week. I'm soooo excited and hubby (much to my surprise is to). I ran up to the store and came back to have him tell me he checked the heat and held them. awwwwww.

What do you have them on? Looks like pellets.

 

[OohLaLa]

It's white pine instead of shavings it's pellets. Picked it up at my feed store. It's called Woody Pet

 

[armorfirelady]

Ok here's another newbie question:

I noticed today while looking out the window how bright red the hens combs & wattles are.

The weather temps have been steady in the 30s/20s all week and they spent the last 2 days in their run (their choice pop door was open and outside run shoveled) because if heavy snow & winds.

The only food change was the addition of grower feed to their FF 9 days ago. Oh and I added some flax seed to it yesterday.

Is it just the time of the year they are so much redder or could it be because of the increased protein with the addition of the grower food?

 

[rambunctious]

We're troubled, do we keep this where the top roost is 5" from back wall but they have 12+" of roost space or do we take this out and put up a single bar centered. They'll have 8" of space per bird and the poop board will be 10-12" below. My husband is at wits end w/me trying to figure it out! I'd love some seasoned advice! Thank you so very much!!

 

[Mumsy]

Ok here's another newbie question:

I noticed today while looking out the window how bright red the hens combs & wattles are.

The weather temps have been steady in the 30s/20s all week and they spent the last 2 days in their run (their choice pop door was open and outside run shoveled) because if heavy snow & winds.

The only food change was the addition of grower feed to their FF 9 days ago. Oh and I added some flax seed to it yesterday.

Is it just the time of the year they are so much redder or could it be because of the increased protein with the addition of the grower food?

How old are your hens? Have they been laying? Have they not started laying? Maybe they are at POL. Females start to redden when they approach POL. (Point of Lay) = Sexual maturity.

 

[armorfirelady]

My girls started laying in December and are now 46 weeks old. They all crouch when I go near them. I average 3 eggs a day from 4 hens.

 

[Pozees]

We're troubled, do we keep this where the top roost is 5" from back wall but they have 12+" of roost space or do we take this out and put up a single bar centered. They'll have 8" of space per bird and the poop board will be 10-12" below. My husband is at wits end w/me trying to figure it out! I'd love some seasoned advice! Thank you so very much!!

In my layer coop I have two roosts at equal heights. Lots of folks have multiple heights, I just preferred equal. I like them fairly close to the floor (like 12-15" off the floor) to avoid leg injuries to older and heavier hens, again this is just my preference, many birds roost in barn rafters. When in doubt, follow your gut instinct - you know your birds better than we do. You can always just start with the low one and add the higher one later if you think you want/need it, or add a second roost at the same height.

 

[Pozees]

My girls started laying in December and are now 46 weeks old. They all crouch when I go near them. I average 3 eggs a day from 4 hens.

Huh, I'm trying to remember, is Flax supposed to improve circulation? If so that could be it. Otherwise I'd say it's the increase in protein.

 

[delisha]

Quote: x2

My opinion is they will be fine. My soft side says put 1 heat lamp in there, not high, not low.... they probably won't use it.... Nice digs!

x2..

Ok here's another newbie question:

I noticed today while looking out the window how bright red the hens combs & wattles are.

The weather temps have been steady in the 30s/20s all week and they spent the last 2 days in their run (their choice pop door was open and outside run shoveled) because if heavy snow & winds.

The only food change was the addition of grower feed to their FF 9 days ago. Oh and I added some flax seed to it yesterday.

Is it just the time of the year they are so much redder or could it be because of the increased protein with the addition of the grower food?

Flax Seed is High in Phytochemicals: Flax seed is high in phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. It is perhaps our best source of lignans, which convert in our intestines to substances that tend to balance female hormones. There is evidence that lignans may promote fertility. The flax seeds are probably getting those hormones cooking.

We're troubled, do we keep this where the top roost is 5" from back wall but they have 12+" of roost space or do we take this out and put up a single bar centered. They'll have 8" of space per bird and the poop board will be 10-12" below. My husband is at wits end w/me trying to figure it out! I'd love some seasoned advice! Thank you so very much!!

You need to move this away from the wall. Than it is going to be fine.
That top 2x4 is to close. Maybe you can take it off and move it forward.

 

[armorfirelady]

Del can you use to much flax seed? I just poured some in my FF bucket maybe a 1/4 c total (guessing) the bucket is maybe a 3 gallon bucket.