The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

I got a call at 6 am that my HRIR chicks shipped from Ron in Arkansas had made it on to the island! All survived and are healthy, gorgeous, and HUNGRY! They were shipped Monday and spent last night in a sorting facility in Seattle. They were pretty cold when I picked them up.

I offered them my fermented chick starter and they flicked it and turned their backs, then one by one they started scarfing themselves! They never touched the water but have not stopped filling their crops with the FF! Three days to get here and I can't believe how active and vocal they are. Ravenous is a good word to describe them. I never offer dry feed to my birds. I will sprinkle it ontop if I'm in a hurry and the chicks starter ferment hasn't drained well enough. I think when chicks or chickens are reluctant to eat it, the vinegar content is too high. These travel weary chicks have taken to it and there is no going back now.

Congratulations Mumsy, they look wonderful, and so healthy!

Looking forward to grow out pictures of these babies!
MB

 

[Melabella]

Quote: Countrygirl, these littleones are so cute! I have a BA named Adele too! So funny! Love everyones chicks!

MB

 

[armorfirelady]

I got a call at 6 am that my HRIR chicks shipped from Ron in Arkansas had made it on to the island! All survived and are healthy, gorgeous, and HUNGRY! They were shipped Monday and spent last night in a sorting facility in Seattle. They were pretty cold when I picked them up.

Mumsy they are beautiful chicks.

Congrats & most importantly ENJOY them. I keep trying to imagine what you barn must look like with all those wonderful chicks. I don't know how you accomplish anything during the day because I know I would be to busy watching them babies all day

 

[aoxa]

Congratulations Mumsy, they look wonderful, and so healthy!

Looking forward to grow out pictures of these babies!
MB

x2!

I have 24 HRIR eggs in the incubator. I may just keep a few.

They are sold out of Ecoglows in Canada until mid April. Sucks!

 

[BlueMouse]

I will post pictures as soon as I have someone to help me DH is at work, and I don't think my toddlers will be responsable with the camera

as far as soaking in epsom salts... how do I restrain him to do this? He's a pretty big bird, and if he decided to thrash it would be hard to restrain him AND hold his feet in the water at the same time... If this was one of my parrots I would wrap them in a towel like a burrito with the part to be treated sticking out, and throw a fold of the towel over their head if they got really unhappy. Does the same technique work for chickens? I don't THINK that it's packed dirt, the bottoms of his feet were actually pretty clean, I had just let them out of the shed, so they hadn't been digging mud pits yet....

 

[Bulldogma]

Mumsy - congratulations on your beautiful chicks! So glad they made it OK!

 

[Bulldogma]

I will post pictures as soon as I have someone to help me DH is at work, and I don't think my toddlers will be responsable with the camera

as far as soaking in epsom salts... how do I restrain him to do this? He's a pretty big bird, and if he decided to thrash it would be hard to restrain him AND hold his feet in the water at the same time... If this was one of my parrots I would wrap them in a towel like a burrito with the part to be treated sticking out, and throw a fold of the towel over their head if they got really unhappy. Does the same technique work for chickens? I don't THINK that it's packed dirt, the bottoms of his feet were actually pretty clean, I had just let them out of the shed, so they hadn't been digging mud pits yet....

Most birds will settle right in to a warm soak. It may surprise you - LOL. Have a towel ready and if it is cold out, a blow dryer (they often sit right down in the warm water and get their fluffy-butts all wet).

 

[countrygirl74]

I will have to catch up on this morning's post later - need some help!!

Background: My silkie started laying almost 2 weeks ago at the age of about 20 weeks. Her first 5-7 eggs were very good - nice shell. Then the last few starting getting thinner and thinner. At first, they were just thin enough that they were getting cracks in them from someone else laying on them in the nesting box, however....

Today: Out in the middle of the run, in the midst of all the chickens, while I was feeding/watering, she started walking funny and squatting. The silkie roos apparently thought she was squatting for her but she'd squawk and run away, then walk funny and squat again. Just as I was going to get her, a very soft-shelled egg popped out. This one is the softest ever. I have them on grower ff, scraps, and oyster shell is set out for the taking.

How can I get calcium down her better - maybe she's not eating the oyster shell??? Let me know what I should do for her as I am worried that her eggs will continue to deteriorate.

 

[kian]

Maybe some liquid calcium that you can squirt in her mouth?

Congrats everyone on new little chicks! Adorable! I'm already thinking of more and my "babies" are 7 weeks! Kinda like with human babies LOL But I'm already at our city limit for chickens....

Welcome new posters! This is a great thread with great people! Glad you're here too!

 

[countrygirl74]

I don't have any liquid calcium on hand but I can get some today - what about calcium pills and dissolve it - I have those? How many mg of calcium should I give her??