The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

I officially have 6 layers now! Found an egg under the roost this morning and all the other girls had laid. So now I have 4 New Hampshires and 2 Cuckoo Marans laying. Now I have the long wait for the 8 week olds to start! One of them is a boy for sure, I'm hoping it's only the one of the 4.

Your CMs, where did you get them? Hatchery? How dark are their eggs?

 

[Leahs Mom]

ANOTHER NOTE ON THE FIRST AID KITS:

-If you use antibiotic ointment, be sure it doesn't contain added pain reliever. NO PAIN RELIEVER!!!!!! Just plain antibiotic ointment.

I also keep a package of Poly-Vi-Sol as a backup for emergency treatment. Have NEVER had to use it- I prefer to feed finely chopped liver as a preventive and just generally part of the diet but it never hurts to have an emergency supply.

-If you keep Poly-Vi-Sol: NO IRON ADDED! Just the plain kind. (There is an Added Iron version.)

 

[BlueMouse]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. It's some comfort to know I'm not the only person who's done something stupid and tragic by accident. You are all so kind!

Funny how they worm their way into your heart. Before I kept chickens I would have never thought they could be so interesting, or funny, and have so much personality. We will miss Gigi for sure! I am also going to try to learn from this so it doesn't happen again! The fold out ramp is OFF the shed, and you'd better believe I'm going to look really carefully from now on before I put anything heavy down. I thought for sure that she was inside, but it never would have occured to me that a chicken would let something fall on them either....

I'm loving reading about everyone's different ideas for first aid kits! I sure hope bulldogmama puts it together into something for that place after spring break

Countrygirl, those are some CUTE babies you have! That cochin is something else! and my Buff Orpington hen is named Mrs. Henny Penny, that made me laugh. They're name twins! She's a beautiful little girl.

(edited because I forgot about henny penny...)

 

[Sally8]

I officially have 6 layers now! Found an egg under the roost this morning and all the other girls had laid. So now I have 4 New Hampshires and 2 Cuckoo Marans laying. Now I have the long wait for the 8 week olds to start! One of them is a boy for sure, I'm hoping it's only the one of the 4.

Your CMs, where did you get them? Hatchery? How dark are their eggs?

My whole objective in having BCM is for the dark eggs but I've read a lot where the Cuckoo Marans actually have the darkest.

 

[aoxa]

My whole objective in having BCM is for the dark eggs but I've read a lot where the Cuckoo Marans actually have the darkest.

We are placing an order through McMurray for some pretty layers.

I also want to get some sexed mottled houdans from them. They have CMs, but I have heard their eggs are not dark at all. Just want to hear someone tell me they are!

 

[armorfirelady]

I know some on here are interested in feeding their hens organic. I found this link that will find ones on your area. (Includes Canada)

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams...dgrain Producers and Handlers&acct=nopgeninfo

 

[aoxa]

I know some on here are interested in feeding their hens organic. I found this link that will find ones on your area. (Includes Canada)

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams...dgrain Producers and Handlers&acct=nopgeninfo

But not New Brunswick. Darn!

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Darn sorry....there are none near me either . The closest is about 4-5 hours away

 

[delisha]

ANOTHER NOTE ON THE FIRST AID KITS:

-If you use antibiotic ointment, be sure it doesn't contain added pain reliever. NO PAIN RELIEVER!!!!!! Just plain antibiotic ointment.

I also keep a package of Poly-Vi-Sol as a backup for emergency treatment. Have NEVER had to use it- I prefer to feed finely chopped liver as a preventive and just generally part of the diet but it never hurts to have an emergency supply.

-If you keep Poly-Vi-Sol: NO IRON ADDED! Just the plain kind. (There is an Added Iron version.)

I probably should add those to my baby-aid box. I have a separate one for them. I also have a few of these in my aid box for chicks

Quote: I have CM, just one pair. I do not think they are as dark. I have BCM in my incubator now..these are dark dark eggs. Beautiful eggs. I hope they hatch. I would like a nice flock of hens, just for the eggs alone.

I know some on here are interested in feeding their hens organic. I found this link that will find ones on your area. (Includes Canada)

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams...dgrain Producers and Handlers&acct=nopgeninfo

Thank you for this link!

 

[delisha]

Thought I would post a pic of the eggs in the bator