The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Dorkings were created long ago to be good meat birds in cold climates. And they are pretty docile.

Ok, so this may be the stupidest newbie question ever, but how much of a chickens keel should you be feeling? I've been hefting around my BO rooster a lot with soaking his feet for the bumblefoot and whatnot (which is looking totally better, thank you loads everyone who posted information about that!) and, if he was a parrot, I would think that he was underweight. But.... I know that BO's can be little fatties if you overfeed them, and I don't want to do that either.... I really wish I had someone local who could come over, pick him up, and tell me if he's at a good weight. I wouldn't worry if this was the height of summer and there was forage everywhere, but this time of year they're more dependent on me, who has no idea what I'm doing. (have you ever tried to find info on how much to feed your chickens? Almost Everything just says to leave out the feed 24/7.... URGH I do not want to provide a roden buffet!) I'm only feeding them grain at night, to encourage foraging, but I put out kitchen scraps in the morning, and give them a chunk of fodder. Then they each get probably 1/2-3/4 C fermented feed when they go in for the night. it's always gone when I let them out in the AM.

a side note of good news. My hen has stopped limping, and this morning she started laying again. I'm so glad that she's getting better. for a while over the weekend I was really sure I was going to have to put her down. I'm letting her back out with my poor lonely rooster again tomorrow. I blocked off all the upper roosts (I have ladder style) to keep her from jumping down and re-injuring it. I figure I'll keep them blocked off for another week and give her a chance to be completely back to normal. The moral of the story? Epsom salts baths work really well!

My Splash Orp you can only feel his keel if you really try. He has a lot of meat on him(weighs about 13lbs). Try increasing the amount of FF at night until you start having left-overs in the morning. They may be underfed. My 7 hens and 1 rooster are getting about 8 cups of FF in the morning, it is usually all gone by evening unless they get to free range. So they are getting about a cup each. My 3 Silkies get 3 cups a day and it is gone by morning, they only free range if I am out with them. So I would say a cup per bird is about right, maybe more or less depending on how much foraging they are allowed to do. But you have to gauge your flock and feed accordingly. This is just a glimpse of what I do and works for me.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

A couple of items:

Wood ash in the dust box/dusting area Here's some info on that.
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/12/natural-way-to-rid-chickens-of-lice.html
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Dustbox.html

Certain herbs used in nest boxes.

Awesome, Thanks!

 

[aoxa]

Hello everyone!
i have a question on the Cornish rock crosses. I want to get some meat birds.. but i think the hybrid freaks me out a little it. Is there a way to feed them more humanly and not have them get so big so fast? if not, is there another good meat bird that you would recommend?

Let me just say that there are several people on this thread that raise cornish X free range. They limit the feed to once a day (nighttime I believe) and they find the rest of their own food. It keeps them healthier, they live longer (Delisha has some that are a few years old!) and are just overall happier.

I just don't like the texture of dual purpose roosters unless they are slow cooked. They are not nearly as tender as what you are used to. What you are used to eating is Cornish X. Now anything you buy in the grocery store (99% of it) is cornish X raised in factory settings with very little space to move around and unlimited feed in front of them. This is why they have leg issues.. If you have free feed 24/7 they are going to over eat. You can stop them from over eating.

I wish I could find that video Bee had of her cornish x free ranging. If anyone else can find it please post it. That video is inspiring.

Del you are going to have to take one of your older Cornish X's. You are the only one I know who has mature birds of the cross.

 

[Bulldogma]

Hello everyone bbsnooks let me know about this wonderful forum - so, here I am! I live in south-central Kansas.. have a variety of the usual chickens, some guineas, ducks, goslings, cats and 2 Great Pyrenees. I'm fairly new to this lifestyle, but loving every single minute of it and continue to learn with each new thing I try. I tried goats and learned in 2 days they weren't for me - how's that for fast learning!?

I look forward to getting to know you guys.

Welcome!!!

Hello everyone!
i have a question on the Cornish rock crosses. I want to get some meat birds.. but i think the hybrid freaks me out a little it. Is there a way to feed them more humanly and not have them get so big so fast? if not, is there another good meat bird that you would recommend?

I raise Dark Cornish meat birds - I have one that follows me around like a dog. Well... like a bulldog.

I wish I could find that video Bee had of her cornish x free ranging. If anyone else can find it please post it. That video is inspiring.

 

[jlynnet]

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

.
He's 14 so you know how Not cool that would be! I'm already his crazy Mom. I did drive to Sandusky for a dirt bike, but that won't make me any more cool!

 

[loanwizard]

I don't know whether I am distressed or proud..... Seems I made 3,4 maybe 5 women spit today.... just sayin.....

And yes, if it has wheels, an engine or bristles.... I can ride it!

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I have plenty of land for cornish hens to free range - I'd prefer for them to do that rather than feed them in a smelly pen all day - after seeing that video, I'm seriously considering it. Anyone else free range their broilers? I assume I'd still need to feed them at night though - yes?

 

[aoxa]

Welcome!!!


I raise Dark Cornish meat birds - I have one that follows me around like a dog. Well... like a bulldog.

So glad you posted that video!! This is what made me decide that not all cornish X's are living a terrible life. I can give them a nice place to live that isn't spent laying around eating whatever they can reach.

Now... How many should I order?

 

[aoxa]

I have plenty of land for cornish hens to free range - I'd prefer for them to do that rather than feed them in a smelly pen all day - after seeing that video, I'm seriously considering it. Anyone else free range their broilers? I assume I'd still need to feed them at night though - yes?

As chicks I would say yes for sure. But lets wait for Del to chime in.

 

[jlynnet]

I don't know whether I am distressed or proud..... Seems I made 3,4 maybe 5 women spit today.... just sayin.....

And yes, if it has wheels, an engine or bristles.... I can ride it!

I can always count on you to make me smile!