The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

aoxa - Let me say something back to you that you said to us, "It wasn't the heat lamps that started the fire". Don't stop enjoying the things that give you so much. I do know that it has to come when you are ready but don't let this hold you back.

LeahsMom, I don't think anyone on here even began to think your venting was aimed at us (them) and even so it would be deserved. In the past I have put a new bird(s) in with my existing ones but now realize how lucky I was. I guess my vent would be that someone did do just that and then come on here crying when they would lose their whole flock.

I'm a little afraid of even watching loanwizards newest video. I can only imagine.

MB - I'm sorry you had to make the decision with Duke. With my grandchildren running around, I will Not have an aggressive roo or hen/turkey/dog/cat around. Priorities in my mind. I know it still hurts.

lalaland-finding them dead on the coop floor is mostly how I ever lose a chicken. Other than being egg bound, I don't think I had to treat a seriously ill one. I'm so sorry.

 

[aoxa]

aoxa - Let me say something back to you that you said to us, "It wasn't the heat lamps that started the fire". Don't stop enjoying the things that give you so much. I do know that it has to come when you are ready but don't let this hold you back.

LeahsMom, I don't think anyone on here even began to think your venting was aimed at us (them) and even so it would be deserved. In the past I have put a new bird(s) in with my existing ones but now realize how lucky I was. I guess my vent would be that someone did do just that and then come on here crying when they would lose their whole flock.

I'm a little afraid of even watching loanwizards newest video. I can only imagine.

MB - I'm sorry you had to make the decision with Duke. With my grandchildren running around, I will Not have an aggressive roo or hen/turkey/dog/cat around. Priorities in my mind. I know it still hurts.

lalaland-finding them dead on the coop floor is mostly how I ever lose a chicken. Other than being egg bound, I don't think I had to treat a seriously ill one. I'm so sorry.

You're absolutely right. I just need to ensure I have the brooder all set up properly and not as unsafe as I had been prior to the fire. I had just a stick with the heat lamp attached with the basement babies. I was lucky we didn't have a house fire too. I will be hanging from a chain this time around. Hopefully the Canadian suppliers of EcoGlows have their stock in now.. I'm going to ask and just use the heat lamp for a short time.

 

[loanwizard]

Delisha, fingers crossed you get some to hatch! I might try again next week to incubate some Marans. The guy I got them from said I could get more from him.

LW great birthday song! It's my son's birthday too.

My chicks are doing great. Growing so fast. I think I will take LM's advice and try the fencing to introduce them. I think I'll wait until it stops raining. I'm about ready to build an ark!

Sing him the song I recorded only put his name in there and tell him I said Happy Birthday!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had a wonderful 4-H woman here explain to me that a rooster doesn't have to be human aggressive to be a good protector. she asked me if I had brought home a puppy and it turned aggressive and started attacking people and family members if I would keep it just because he was a good protector if someone tried to come into the house? Of course the answer would be no.
thanks,
MB

Glad you posted what she said. That is a really good comparison and it helps me think a little more clearly on the subject!

I have fermented the corn.. I took the liquid from the FF and started the whole corn.. and soak'd for 3 day's. they did soften up..
and I dont have a blender.. so i fed them whole in the FF .. my boys loved them.. and would pick them out first.. and then look up at me.. like where's the rest.. i have 2 (6-7 mo old) JG roos.. It didnt seem to bother them that the corn was not cracked.. and they always look for it first.. and if i forget to put it in.. well. the look they give me.... you'd think.. i fed them like a step child..

Thank you for your input on that.

I'm definitely looking into purchasing a supply of all my whole grains that were being coarse ground into the feed and just keeping them whole and making my own feed. Not sure how much corn I'll use, but it's good to know how it behaves in the ferment!

I have good sources for all the ingredients but was trying figure out a good way to keep 50 lbs of fish meal fresh!

My feed mill just told me that they can sell me the fish meal by the lb. since they use so much of it and always have it around so it wouldn't be a special order so I'm pretty excited about that!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Cockerel question:

At what age (range is okay) would one expect a cockerel to be fertile?

 

[Bulldogma]

Bleh - I hit the Multi-Quote button for about 16 posts I wanted to reply to but it only put in 3 of them.

And here I was going to apologize for the mega-multi-quote. I'm running behind because my youngest has pneumonia and we're taking a mini-vacation at the hospital. (I'm a special needs mom... this means that at this point in my life I have had one of my 3 children in the hospital for a sum total of about 20 weeks... or so.) It ain't my first rodeo... just wish I had time to pack a bit better this time but I was in a rush because I had to drive her myself because the ambulance service in our area would have taken her to the closest hospital... which was recently rated the worst in the US - so not going to happen! LOL. Nah - we have a favorite hospital in Roanoke which is awesome... but an hour away... (but we made it in about 40 minutes yesterday - hee hee hee) and now I'm rambling. Sleep deprivation always did have a certain comic effect on me..


Somewhere in the long list of posts, some others of y'all totally cracked me up. Thanks - I needed that! The people on this thread are the best!

I noticed my little ee wasn't quite right yesterday when I was cleaning the coop, but had meetings and thought I would take a look at her this morning. She didn't come out of the coop, and I found her dead on the floor. poor baby. empty crop. I should not have waited, I could have gotten her last night off the roost, but it might have been too late then too.

Not sure if I will be able to make myself to a necropsy tonight when I get home. THese 3:30 ams really do a number on me and I won't be home til around 7, and will want to just go to bed.

Oh, Lala... I'm so sorry! Let us know what you can find out about possible causes... and remember - sometimes chickens just die.


Ok - that spitting coffee on the screen emoticon MB posted? Please apply that here! Loin - you always keep this thread rocking.

*Secretly glad I didn't tell anyone when my birthday was! (last Saturday) LOL! High-fives to all my Aries peeps!*

 

[Leahs Mom]

GO JOHNNY!!!! Mumsy, you must give a little history for the new folks
Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

BDM... Aries, eh? Me too!

And sorry you're in the hosp again. I know you're used to it but still a bummer anyway. Prayers and thoughts for y'all!

 

[aoxa]

And sorry you're in the hosp again. I know you're used to it but still a bummer anyway. Prayers and thoughts for y'all!

x2

I know exactly how you feel about the hospitals.. we have two right around the same distance.. one is SO much better than the other. Glad we get to choose.

Good luck to your daughter. Hope she feels better soon!

 

[bbsnooks]

Delisha ..
ok .. I'm daring to post again... ; ) Please tell me why you are afraid to post?
I was daring because .. i have a tendency to stick my foot in mouth.. ; )
and my fingers.. hit key's there not supposed to. .and half written posts.. disappear.. and some get posted before finishing
.. and .. it appeared i made some off color comment about country "birthday" girl.. < it was all taken in stride.. thanks all>
happy birthday.. ,<nice song there loanwizards>
and .. I'm still trying to figure out the "dash board" on this form .. and how to post.. -- .. but really this is such a great group.. thanks to all

I want to caution people about hand feeding. Yes, it makes tamer chickens and they look to hands for feed..but remember the few times they peck pretty hard for food. Soon they will associate all people and all hands as a food source. You are training them to peck hands. Even little tiny hands.
You can use a higher percentage..they will eat less of it since they are free ranging. If they are fat you just feed less and force them to forage more.
I am in the condition stage of spring training. I am feeding way less. The snow is almost all gone. They need to go find food. I do not feed in the mornings.

Good idea here.. I wondered if this could be creating an issue later on.. maybe not with "all" the birds.. but some select personalities.. could develop an attitude. and it would be more of a problem if it were a rooster.
Could this be more of a problem .. for the small flock owner. (like me) . who.. may think of chickens as pet's.. not live stock.. " this would be me."
- what about .. playing with the chicks.. as they grow.. Mine will be in the house for the first 2 wks.. i doubt i can stay away..
so.. ? is handeling ok.. but better to not feed by hand? further explination for new egg
thankx