The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

So cute! What breed are they?

Swedish Flower Hens.

And I see you're from KS - I used to live in Manhattan and then in Alma. People always looked at me strangely when I said I had lived in the part of KS with hills!

 

[delisha]

Mumsy, wow you have your hands full!!

How many of these chicks are you going to sell?

What time of year should I get meaties? Do you think the baby barn is a good home for meaties, or should I use it for a bachelor pad once the barn is built?

I had a coffee at 3pm. BAD idea. I am wired again.

If you get them End of April you can get them butchered out before the heat. I would not use that building for meaties. You might consider building one of these. It is like a simple A frame with a vent and hard cloth at front and back. The wood doors can be used for bad weather.

I think he has information on his website on how he built it.

Growing so fast every day until they can move into their mansion lol.



There is no replacement for good helpers by my side through every step of this build...even if they are furry. Okay true they have problems hammering, but hey we all have issues.

Really nice and welcome!!!

Quote: Bio-security never changes. The environment does. Bugs is not a problem. Bugs are easy to get rid of and nothing to worry about. Your birds at your house now have immunities that the new birds do not have and vice versa . Your environment contain different bacterias than the other place. The other place has different birds and different people bringing different bacterias. If you go to purchase a chicken so does someone else. etc..

Quote: Mumsy..I am tired too..hatching is emotionally exhausting. I am taking a break really soon. You sound like you are so happy..and full...lol

 

[aoxa]

If you get them End of April you can get them butchered out before the heat. I would not use that building for meaties. You might consider building one of these. It is like a simple A frame with a vent and hard cloth at front and back. The wood doors can be used for bad weather.

I think he has information on his website on how he built it.
Really nice and welcome!!!
Bio-security never changes. The environment does. Bugs is not a problem. Bugs are easy to get rid of and nothing to worry about. Your birds at your house now have immunities that the new birds do not have and vice versa . Your environment contain different bacterias than the other place. The other place has different birds and different people bringing different bacterias. If you go to purchase a chicken so does someone else. etc..
Mumsy..I am tired too..hatching is emotionally exhausting. I am taking a break really soon. You sound like you are so happy..and full...lol

Heat? We don't get bad heat here. I can't remember the last time we topped 90. Usually summers are in the 70's and 80's.

Dylan wants 10 meat birds, my parents want 10 and we want at least 20... So thinking we will go with 50. I hope that's not too many. :S

 

[delisha]

sorry..forgot the cherry question
a cherry egger is another hybred like the production reds. They come in whites mixed with light buff colors..nice cute chicks and lay a pretty cherry colored egg.

 

[delisha]

Quote: lol...50 is not enough..you will see. You will be fine than. When your weather warms enough..order them. You can grow them out to 8-12 weeks. Than order your next 50. Keep a pullet from each order...they are wonderful mothers. When they are old enough for sexing..pull the pullet you are going to keep and put her with your other birds. Don't feed her and make her forage all day long. Feed her at night. You will have the nicest sweetest mother for about 4 weeks. The cross breeds are nice birds for eating.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

Anyone use Agra. lime for odder control in brooder

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

Quote:
You're so lucky!! Gimme!! XD
Yup, I am. On a trip to New York, my mom told a woman that worked at Subway we were from the Flint Hills of Kansas. I wish I could of gotten my camera out to snap a picture of the look on her face... XD

 

[Mingming]

A cherry Easter egger? Oh my gosh no. Does anyone have a pic for what those eggs look like? It's the wrong season to tell me about another breed I need

 

[aaggjg]

My first thought is that if you are seeing worms in the poop, the soap is killing them and they are finally coming out. Might want to continue with the soap and see if the girls start picking up weight over the next weeks.

Thanks BDM thats what I am hoping..... I guess I am going to turn into one of those poop watchers...

So I now Know that I was wrong and Spook my lavender Catdance Silkie has not laid an egg ... nope not one. She is my last hold out!!! And quickly approaching 1 year old!!!

It is funny my Splash Catdance Silkie, Pia, doesn't think she is a silkie ... nope not at all. She thinks she is a big girl... She is brave, runs around the garden looking for treats and is often digging in a new found treasure hole of bugs.... She tried to put other hens in their place... Not to mention that she is the only Silkie out of 6 who did not immediately go broody after laying for 2 weeks.... I think she is on a good week 6 or 7 now?!!! Maybe longer I'll have to check my notes. She also tries to peck me when I pick her up! Watch tomorrow I'll go down to the coop and she'll be broody! I have 6 broodies right now so I really don't need any more!

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

A cherry Easter egger? Oh my gosh no. Does anyone have a pic for what those eggs look like? It's the wrong season to tell me about another breed I need

Cherry Eggers? Don't get me started on how bad I want them...