The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Hi All,

I've mostly lurked here and on the Road and OT threads. Here's the feather posse. Can't remember who posted those lovely snow pictures but I'm so jealous. I live in New Hampshire and so far we've only gotten a little bit of snow. Didn't get much at all last year either. Really appreciate the knowledge, and pictures everyone is sharing. Got my first chicks in May so this is all new to me. The biggest lesson I've learned from this and the other two threads: don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Well, that and don't hold a chicken up to your face or you will get your eye poked out. The white thing on the wood shed is instructions for my neighbor for when he takes care of my birds. That piece of wisdom is right at the top.



Jen



Three barred rocks on the deck railing


Easter Egger


Dixie Rainbow (mutt breed), Buff Brahma and BO (+the ee)


Gratuitous dog picture. Working? What do you mean you're working? I want to go out.

Beautiful place you have..and lovely looking birds.
I love your puppy

 

[aoxa]

The hen is white and the roo is splash I think. It could be blue and splash. I would have to look at what he said. He shows his birds they have the beard and muffs so I am pretty sure they are the real macoy. He knows I show so he sent the egg as a prospect. I think it was to try to get me to love the breed and buy more...lol

It must be splash and blue. Splash to white would not be considered an Ameraucana, and would be called an EE. The only colours you can mix are blue black and splash. Also - if the chick is splash, it can be showed but will not place.

Hoping your chick (if it hatches) turns out blue! Blue to splash will result in 50 % blue and 50% splash.

Splash sure is pretty though. Hoping it will be accepted soon.

 

[delisha]

Quote: why would a white to splash make an EE

 

[bagawk]

I have switched to feeding my horses straight oats, corn and hay. I got angry at the designer feed manufacturers almost doubling the prices of feed due to "Drought" when the whole grains from the local mills have only gone up a little bit.

Anyway, the chickens really enjoy the corn and oats that the horses eat and they kick through the hay. They are free range and there's no shortage in the country of crickets, flies, and such - in the summer.

In the winter months, there will still be some bugs for them to scratch up because, well, this is Florida. However, I'm sure there won't be as many as normal. So what would you suggest I switch to to supplement their oat and corn feed to keep them healthy through the winter that is organic?

 

[delisha]

I have switched to feeding my horses straight oats, corn and hay. I got angry at the designer feed manufacturers almost doubling the prices of feed due to "Drought" when the whole grains from the local mills have only gone up a little bit.

Anyway, the chickens really enjoy the corn and oats that the horses eat and they kick through the hay. They are free range and there's no shortage in the country of crickets, flies, and such - in the summer.

In the winter months, there will still be some bugs for them to scratch up because, well, this is Florida. However, I'm sure there won't be as many as normal. So what would you suggest I switch to to supplement their oat and corn feed to keep them healthy through the winter that is organic?

Fermented grains. I would take your oats and some wheat, place them in a bucket, cover them with water, add a splash of UPACV.

 

[aoxa]

why would a white to splash make an EE

I don't agree with it, but do not ask that on the Ameraucana form. They are super angry if you ask them that.

Because any colour not in the 8 recognized colours are not considered Ameraucana. Even if you breed 1 colour to another. It's strange. I don't get how two purebred birds of different colours would make a mutt basically, but that's what they claim. If your friend who you got the eggs from shows, he wouldn't have mixed the white and splash. Must have been blue and splash.



Quote:

Gem, an Easter Egger pullet sold by Ideal Poultry as an Ameraucana.

The American Poultry Association's American Standard of Perfection contains breed and variety descriptions of all recognized standard breed poultry in North America. This means if your bird does not meet a color requirement, it is in Easter Egger. However, it is highly unlikely to see an Easter Egger which meets all APA standards yet doesn't have the correct color. They are almost always mixed birds, or those descended from the Quechua.
While many hatcheries claim to sell "Ameraucanas", "Americanas", or "Araucanas", very few of them meet true APA standards.

 

[delisha]

So all splashes are EE?

 

[Leahs Mom]

When I first joined BYC, I talked about my dogs. They are large herding dogs but they live inside too and I know that without a doubt, they would kill my chickens if given a chance. I was admonished because I was told that dogs belong outside. This morning at 5:30am I scraped my "Teddy" off the road. I had just let him out 15 min before while I fed the chickens. This year I have lost 2 cats and 1 dog to the road. Funny thing is, all my animals are inside animals. (The dogs go in and out). I will miss him so much. What else is ironic is that 8 years ago today we had a house fire and I lost a very old cat inside. I'm done now.
Done with whining, not with animals.

Kind of late - just getting on today.

I'm sorry. both that you lost your dog AND that you were admonished.

I remember years ago watching as someone swerved over to purposely hit one of my dogs. The dog was in the yard running that direction and barking and he hit her purposely. Whenever this guy would go by that dog would go nuts...guess she was a good judge of character. She never reacted that way to anyone else in the neighborhood. The guy stopped his car about a block down the road to see if there was any damage to his car. Never came back to say a word. He had done what he set out to do and was satisfied...just wanted to be sure his car wasn't hurt in the process.

Hi all! I'm poking my head in hoping to learn more

. We free range during the day (weather permitting) and ferment feed. I have ducks and chickens (quail in the bator). And we feed a middle of the road all flock...I have yet to find an organic all flock locally. I reuse our egg shells instead of buying oyster shell (simply dry and pulverize). My gals usually get a treat or 2 a day consisting of organic veggie/fruit scraps as well as the occasional hunk of day old bread, oatmeal or yogurt. They seem happy and healthy (oh and btw my pullets are growing so much better on FF! Plus I have been getting an egg every single day from my layers!!)

I have only two guessers? Both of you have a very good eye for differences from what most consider the *norm*. Good job!

This hen, believe it or not was 7 years old and still laying.
The liver had the start of possible little cancers growing. Nothing bad for her age. In a younger bird it would have caused serious problems. She could have lived another year and continued to lay, but she would have been in some pain from her liver. She had what is called *old* fat. It is not the right color of a young butcher, yet it is a good amount for her age. Not to much. It is hard to control fat in old hens. The little organs were her lungs. Nice and pink and a good texture. I butchered her out at a good time.I did not let any lung growth to get beyond a *normal*. Her intestines were good. Not a worm in sight. No extra liquids inside.

When you butcher out your first birds, take your time. Do some careful dissection and really look at what all your hard work is doing. The inner workings of your birds will tell you so much information. Look for excessive fluids, off odors, little hard growths, the way bones are fixed, the muscle system. Each time you do it you will learn more. It is better to know than not know. Sometimes you can completely make a flock decision about a certain hen from dissection.

Thanks for teaching us! Please continue. I haven't been on all day so I missed the lesson while it was out there for comment but I'm really glad you're doing it.

Heritage RIR from Mr Heintz
He also sent me a blue egg He said it is from show quality Americauna I think
I have 12 of my own RIR/mix in there too. I also tossed in one of my WR eggs to check fertility. It is a pullet egg so I am not keeping it. I will butcher it out.

I'm looking forward to maybe getting some of those in the future!

Well, that and don't hold a chicken up to your face or you will get your eye poked out. The white thing on the wood shed is instructions for my neighbor for when he takes care of my birds. That piece of wisdom is right at the top.

Yes...I remember that too...and it DID stick with me! I don't purposely pick up my chickens but strangely enough, when one of my adult daughters came over and sat on a straw bale one of the reds jumped right onto her leg. I told her right away to be sure to shield her eyes! I think that's one of those things I may not have thought of if one of our mentors hadn't said it!!!

 

[aoxa]

So all splashes are EE?

Almost everyone who breeds them sees them As Ameraucanas. They will be accepted as a variety soon. Either way, you can breed splash to black and blue and end up with showable birds - so they are not right offs.

 

[aoxa]

Sue,

That is terrible! That person would find a huge steaming pile of chicken poo all over his car the next day. What a jerk!