The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[camilleathome]

Camille has a no light heat lamp.

I am using ecoglows now. The chicks LOVE it. But they can't be used bellow 50F. I will be heating the brooder room so it's not an issue for me, but it would be for most who wanted to raise chicks outside in spring or fall (or even winter!)

Ive been using a ceramic head emitter for my chickens and its been working great. Pretty soon the emitter will be coming off completely. Their growing like weeds

 

[mlowen]

Kassaundra congrats on the new chicks. I love the momma feather dusters

Me, too! It took a while to figure out what thoses white "sticks" were...and then the light dawned: feather dusters! Mama!

And hooray, Stonykill. Glad to see you. Any time you have to spare for us is deeply appreciated.

 

[Kassaundra]

Kassaundra congrats on the new chicks. I love the momma feather dusters

Thanks, they really love it, my soft hearted animal loving husband wanted the chicks to feel more secure and natural. They love it, some of the quietest chicks we've had in the house.

 

[pigeonguy]

All about 8 months old.
Layers
16 Black Copper Marans
2 easter eggers

Cockerels
3 Black Copper Marans

Future culls (not included above) These are not allowed around my main flock.
2 BCMs cockerals
2 EE cockerels

Getting next month
between 6 to 10 Heritage breed Rhode Island reds all pullets.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My hatch completed today!!!! 30 eggs went in the bator, 28 made it to lockdown, 26 hatched, I think I will loose one maybe two of the new hatchlings.

Now that's adorable. Your babies are just so beautiful and have a mama!

 

[aoxa]

Ive been using a ceramic head emitter for my chickens and its been working great. Pretty soon the emitter will be coming off completely. Their growing like weeds

You keep a warm house!

I usually take my chicks off of heat at 3 weeks in the basement, four at the latest. It's pretty chilly down there, but it's all I have to work with right now.

By the way Camille, your first little call duck has just hatched. 3 days early.

 

[aaggjg]

I'm so digging this!!  I've made the decision and now I'm in my research phase.  I've determined the laws here and know what my restrictions and limits are, though I heard mentioned but not yet considered permitting or licensing.  So I need to inquire to that. I've determined that because of our zoning I can't have a small coop in my first choice location - would've been sexy tho-  I have a shed that is my fence on the alley and had determined to cage Ooff the end with a cut-out to a run.  In the end however, It would not have been enough room for the three girls I wanted to get - So I've found a new site space in a big bed on the wall of the garage in which I'll build a coop/ aviary 7' deep, 8' wide by 7' tall at the tallest at the back with a shed roof.  This will give me 56 sq ft, so I'm thinking it won't be too bad for a flock of 7 to 9 girls.  We have very nice weather here,  much cool temps here in Long beach, CA. than most of you farther north see in the summer and days in the winter are mild, we saw overnight temps dipping to 34' F.  For those reasons I am leaning to a coop with nest-boxes and roosts.  This coop will be 3' off the ground with a ramp.  The wall of the coop which faces into the aviary will be removable for access and off during the most mild weather.  It can be quite cool during the evenings all year long here too, so I'm really pouring over everything I'm reading - from all of you wonderful, generous and knowledgeable people!  We have crazy populations of all manner of varmints cautioned against.  Except maybe stoats and on that I still wouldn't bet.  So I'm going all out.  concrete footing, hardware cloth in the footing angled down and away at 45' angle,  sole plate, buried lags.  I have decided to construct each wall section as a box - nothing new, that's just standard stick-construction.  But in my OCD revelry I'm clothing the outside of the walls with hardware cloth and inside with either half x half hardware cloth or half x 2' , I think it's 14 gauge.  Inside the coop I'm going with enamel white and 4'' deep zeolite floor.  Is 4'' deep enough?  I need to go the PDZ route because I pester you all for feedback on my choice later.  I most interested in hearing of any warnings of a breed that can't tolerate others or the like.  Don't worry - I have a very good filter.  I'm really most excited at the prospect of getting know each birds personality. 
I've just discovered the thread and am now on page 57 of 1266 so I've a ways to  go.  I will fill in my profile so you  all can get a handle on me as I'm enjoying coming to know each of you.
Thank you so much for being here just when I need you.
Brian Gallentine

Hey Brian and welcome to the thread!! I am an LA chicken owner and belong to the great local LA Urban Chicken Enthusiast meetup group. One of the organizers lives in long beach and is extremely helpful. I'm on my phone so can't post the link but a goggle search will land you there!!

As far as breeds go I have a mixed flock and the get along fine. I have ameraucanas, orpingtons, silkies, bantam Cochin, sizzle , Marans & a GLW.

I know some people seem to have something against GLWs but I love mine!! She is really smart/ curious, friendly & a good layer and amazing eye candy!!. It all depends why you are getting chickens .... People who are looking for a high feed to egg conversion don't like orpingtons or wyandottes as they think they are pigs and don't lay enough eggs in return for what they eat. The one thing i will mention about my GLW is that she is a loud layer!!! Loves to sing her egg song... Oh and sge went broody last year and hatched a clutch and was a fantastic mom!!! I have my eye on a BLW some day.... I also like my orpingtons.... They are very friendly and yes they do come running as fast as they can when the treats come out but I would too :-0

Are your girls going to be confined to a run all day or will they be able to roam around the yard???

Dare to dream farms in Lompoc has a variety of chicks for sale & they deliver to LA for $20. Good luck with your chicks and keep us posted!

 

[brandislee]

Brand - where did you get your Buckeyes? I was originally going to get some but I'm possibly going a different directions.

I got my buckeyes from a BYC member (minniechickmama, if you've ever seen her around) who lives near me. They're alright. They're known for being super friendly and mellow, and they are, but that really doesn't do "it" for me. I like chickens with interesting personalities and color patterns. The solid brown of Buckeyes is kind of boring to me. BUT I can now attest that they are tasty... or at least that they taste better than Barred Rocks and Gold Stars I had narrowed my desired breeds down by cold hardiness, rate of lay, and meat taste (breeds know for being tasty, most were the typical meat bird of a particular region before the advent of the cornish cross broiler). It came down to Faverolles, Buckeyes, and Speckled Sussex. I couldn't find any Speckled Sussex ANYWHERE, and the faverolles I got completely by chance (and they're hatchery stock, so we'll see how they go...). And I've always loved EE's- some of my first chickens were hatchery EE's, and I love everything about them. If I had to have only one breed, they would be it.

 

[brandislee]

I know! I start off thinking I'm going to add this breed, and then.....well what about buckeyes, and then swedish flower hens, but hey those icelandics...
Funny thing I miss not having barred rocks in my flocks.

I've been emptying out the storage area of the coop. There is 5 years of dust in there from the hay and chickens. Found a cast iron teapot (used to be on the wood stove to add humidity til I moved into this airtight house) and it was full of mouse nest. Must have come in thru the spout.

I'm not one to scour the earth for a particular breed, but if I ever came across someone near me who bred them I would be ALL OVER both the Swedish and the Icelandic chickens. They are totally beautiful, and as I mentioned I love crazy colored birds!

 

[brandislee]

I have this romantic couple that likes to roost in a tree right above my coop and run and fly around the neighborhood. They appear to be very much in love with each other, I never knew owls kissed? (see pic)

My question is, I keep hearing about hawks, falcons, etc. How much of a threat are these owls? My chicks are pretty big now and they are locked up at night, so is there a big worry about owls attacking them? Or will they only attack at night?

Thanks, Lynn

Oh how pretty! For someone who keeps chickens (who has even lost chickens to hawks), I am disproportionatly obsessed with raptors. They're so pretty and majestic and dignified looking, not to mention the fact that they serve an important purpose by keeping the rodent population down. Not that I don't run around the yard with a broomstick like a crazy person any time I see a hawk when my chickens are out.... because I totally did that today.

I don't know the answer for sure. Owls typically prey on smaller animals, so I definitely wouldn't let any young chicks out. And it depends on the size of the owl- I don't have a good frame of reference, but these guys don't look very big. Keep in mind not all owls hunt at night, some hunt sporadically during the day (and I can't remember what types of owls do, I want to say barn owls). Obviously these owls are awake during the day, have you ever seen them fly when it was light? If not, and you just occasionally see them come out during the day, I would just be super cautious at dawn and dust- don't let your girls out until the sun is well and up, and try to get them shut up before dusk (I know I know, easier said than done- I'm lucky, the tree line to the West tricks my girls into going to bed before dusk, though). Hope all goes well and these birds can coexist with yours!